Bamboo Fishbowl

"This I Believe" Part 2

2007-07-24T15:54:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for for something to listen to or for something interesting to read, head over to the CBC Radio Two webpage. The creative minds at CBC Radio have a brand new series called "This I Believe" consisting of different essays written and read by various Canadians. This essay was broadcast this morning was written and read by Julie Payette, Canada's Chief Astronaut who works down at NASA Space Centre.

I found her statement of beliefs introspective, inspirational and a good kick in the pants...it also sounds like something my parents used to tell me when I was young.

Check it out!: http://www.cbc.ca/thisibelieve/essays/june04_Julie_Payette.html

Kimdianna Jones

Canada Day!

2007-07-04T08:07:00.000-06:00

Happy Canada Day! To celebrate this occasion, blarge and I had one last bash at our apartment! Our place has the best view of the fireworks and to celebrate the usual suspects broke into song...not a very good song but nonetheless we sang our hearts out!

Check it out on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tXVsMorLIU

Kimdianna Jones

Demotivational Posters

2007-06-19T08:23:00.000-06:00

Remember in the 90's when those annoying motivational posters, calenders and desk plaques were in every office? You know the ones with the brightly coloured photo and a cheesy/ inspirational quotes underneath? My boss (who was totally
crazy) had them plastered all around her cubicle...i hated
them...and her...but that is another story.

Fortunately, I have found a new set of demotivational posters to inspire me thoughout the day...this one is hanging on the wall right above my computer monitor at work...i can look at it all day...it states:

"When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor."

So true.

I also have this one in my lab, it states:
" None of us is a dumb as all of us." Inspirational, no?

You can checkout more demotivational thoughts here:

http://despair.com/viewall.html

Kimdianna Jones

"Pluto Status Suffers Another Blow"

2007-06-14T13:15:00.000-06:00

I visit the BBC website daily...more specifically, the Science and Nature page. I found this article: "Pluto has suffered yet another blow to its status."

Horrifying! If you have read my blog before, you know that I am angered that "scientists" have downgraded Pluto's status from planet to largest dwarf planet. Now, these same "scientists' have decieded that Pluto is now longer the largest dwarf planet...oh the humitiation! Now this status has been revoked as well...Pluto is now just another rock...floating around, with no purpose...aimless, like me in high school...only I had mall hair...

Check it out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6751975.stm

Kimdianna Jones

"This I Believe"

2007-05-17T15:15:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for for something to listen to or for something interesting to read, head over to the CBC Radio Two webpage. The creative minds at CBC Radio have a brand new series called "This I Believe". It is hosted by Preton Manning...yes, that Preston Manning, the man does not have a radio voice, but whatever. It consists of different essays written and read by various Canadians. The one that really struck me is William Deverell's essay about the environment...serious stuff but a must read for tree huggers and more importantly a must read for non-treehuggers. (Come on you non-treehuggers, get with the bloody program.)

Check it out:
http://www.cbc.ca/thisibelieve/essays/may17_William_Deverell.html

Or if you are interested, check out this daily web blog called "Green As A Thistle". It is about a women who is slowly becoming as green as she can and has a year to do it! Great ideas to be found for everyone!

Check it out:
http://greenasathistle.com/

Kimdianna Jones

May The Fouth

2007-05-04T08:34:00.000-06:00

Happy May The Fourth Be With You Day!!!

This should be a statutory holiday. Seriously.

I plan on celebrating this underappreciated holiday with a few Vader-tinis, a creative costume and a few close friends!

Kimdianna Jones
PS: If you every get a chance to play Starwars Lego, do it!

National Hanging Out Day!!

2007-04-18T10:17:00.000-06:00

Did you know that the average North American uses more energy to run just their clothing dryers then a single African uses for everything over the course of an entire year? Kind of sickening.

Tomorrow is National Hanging Out Day! Energy activists have decided Thursday, April 19 2007 is the day to air dry your clean laundry!

I love this idea! I personally can not hang my laundry outside...living on the 11th floor of an apartment building makes it impossible. I do however, use a clothing rack to dry over half of our cloths. This saves heaps of energy not to mention loonies! If we ever are able to buy a home, I will be hanging our cloths on a cloth line, that is if the community we end up in allows it. Yup that is right, in some of the newer communities, you are not allowed to do so...

*takes hands off keyboard for fear of typing a string of profanities*

Kimdianna Jones...saving the planet one blog at a time...

The Tymkehl Fishbowl

2007-04-12T10:57:00.000-06:00

Life in the tymkehl fishbowl has been uber busy this past month…I am getting double the work load in my lab and do not have enough hours in the day to do it all. Who really wants to hear all boring details? No one I know.

El nino is still messing with the northern hemisphere. We are never really sure if spring has sprung, although the moisture is needed. Easter came and went; the long week end did not seem long enough. The only thing I have to say for myself is that Blarg and I, amongst our super busy grown up type stuff that has been going on, have found time for some much needed comic relief... we have watch five season of Scrubs in a mere 3 weeks. We are currently half way through season 6…we are quite proud of this fact...right Carol?

That is it for now! Sorry Homie Bear that I have not been on the ball and updating the Fishbowl, but I have some ideas floating around for future posts! And Rubber Ducky, wiki-fix posts coming your way soon!

I leave you with a picture…a picture that feels like me at work…to many bananas, not enough monkeys, and people laughing and pointing at you…but really can there ever be enough monkeys?

Kimdianna Jones

Cuteness Overload!

2007-02-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

I just found this on the BBC website...

“A pair of Sumatran tiger cubs and a set of young orangutans, all abandoned at birth, have become inseparable after sharing a room at an Indonesian zoo. The four have lived side by side for a month without a hitch, although this goes against. "This is unusual and would never happen in the wild," zookeeper Sri Suwarni said. "Like human babies, they only want to play." But the friendship is not destined to last as tigers start eating meat when they are three months old and will need to be separated from their new playmates."

If you want to see a few more pictures of these cute little amimals, you can check it out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6404425.stm

Kimdianna Jones

A Bit Of Archaeology For Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

And Now From The BBC:

"Archaeologists in Italy have unearthed two skeletons thought to be 5,000 to 6,000 years old, locked in an embrace. The pair from the Neolithic period were discovered outside Mantua, about 40km (25 miles) south of Verona. The pair, almost certainly a man and a woman, are thought to have died young as their teeth were mostly intact, said chief archaeologist Elena Menotti.

"It's an extraordinary case," said Ms Menotti. "There has not been a double burial found in the Neolithic period, much less two people hugging - and they really are hugging," she told Reuters news agency. Flint tools, including arrowheads and a knife, were also found alongside the couple. Scientists will now study the skeletons and artefacts to work out how and when the two people died, Ms Menotti said."

Super Cool! Check it out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6338751.stm
Kimdianna Jones

Swallow's Nest

2007-02-09T08:13:00.000-07:00

In the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in Southern Ukraine, sits a tiny, tiny, tiny Castle called the Swallow’s Nest. This mock-medieval castle was built between 1911-1912 on a cliff that overlooks the Black Sea. I compare its size to a small house being only 10 meters by 20 meters. The castles “original design envisioned a foyer, guest room, stairway to the tower, and two bedrooms on two different levels within the tower." Kind of like a caslte for a pint size Dracula...

This is one small but very cool castle.

Kimdianna Jones

Photo Friday!

2007-02-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here is another striking photo from the BBC taken by Rachel Althouse. This is the Al Akhawayn University Mosque in Ifrane, Morocco taken in the evening, right before a storm. Very cool... Check out other inspirational photos at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6287757.stm

Kimdianna Jones

BBC Photo of the Year

2007-01-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

Here is the winning photo in the BBC's Photographer of the Year. This stunning Aurora Boreas photo was taken by Max Pickerington inside the Arctic Circle in northern Finland. Looks kind of cold but wow!!! That is an amazing photo! There were some other really amazing photo's on the BBC's website you might want to look at.

To check out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5348588.stm

Kimdianna Jones

My Apologies...

2007-01-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I admit it…I have neglected Bamboo Fishbowl since Blarg and I came back from out Christmas holiday in Thailand. My apologies to all 4.3 of my faithful readers. Blarg and I have been in some serious Thailand withdrawal and can not wait to go back! This is the view looking up from our beachfront loungers on the beach...I love palm trees!!

As promised, our trip photos are available online…

Check it out ! http://picasaweb.google.com/tymkehl

Kimdianna Jones

Jet Lag

2007-01-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ouch, jet lag hurts my brain...as soon as I can tell my head from a hole in the ground I will post...with fun travel pictures...it is almost 10am here at home but it is really midnight in Bangkok...

I need a nap...

Kimdianna Jones

One Night in Bangkok!

2006-12-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

Well, 3 actually…

Blarg and I are off this Saturday to spend two weeks in Thailand! We fly to Bangkok, Oriental City… and spend a few days there. Here is where we are staying:
http://www.newsiam.net/ns/newsiam2.php?PHPSESSID=84246d8ce8cf3bbcc3ace6aca8101fea

Then we are off for 9 days on Koh Chang (photo of our hotel). We are meeting up with our good friend Cory! (G’day mate!) Here are few quick facts about the island: it located in the Gulf of Thailand 320 km south east of Bangkok, population around 5300, centre of the island is an elephant reserve (can not wait to ride an elephant!) and the name Koh Chang actually means Elephant Island.

Here is information about the Island: http://www.whitesandsthailand.com/index.asp

We are staying here: http://bhumiyama.com/home.htm

I will try and update with some photos while we are away!

Kindianna Jones
PS: 3 different planes and 25 hours of travel time…is now a bad time to mention I do not like to fly?

A Romp of Otters

2006-12-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

Did you know that a group of otters are apparently called a "romp"? Me neither. As of November 2, 2006 a Google search revealed there was at least 210 occurrences of this phrase but that the Oxford English Dictionary does not recognized it?

Did you also know that the Northern River Otter was also one of the major animals hunted/trapped for their furs during the North American Fur trade of the 1800's? Yup, the fur trade was not just about beavers my friends...sad but true.

Seriously, how super cute are these two?
Check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter

Kimdianna Jones

Bloody Mary Poppins...

2006-12-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

I know I am a little late for Halloween but I just have come across a truly brilliant clip on YouTube! It is a remake of the Disney Classic "Mary Poppins". Trust me, this one minute trailer is worth seeing! This is on par with another kids movie "The Watchers In The Woods"!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic

Have a spooky day!
Kimdianna Jones

That Is Seriously Gross Looking!

2006-11-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

Yuck, that picture is disgusting! What on earth is it you ask?

This is a picture of a rather unique type of rock found in Northern Ontario that is part of the “Gunflint Formation” called “Jasper Stromatolites”. This stromatolite rock formation is defined as "attached, lithified sedimentary growth structures, accretionary away from a point or limited surface of initiation." This is similar to stalagmites and stalactites that grow in caves; however these commonly grow above ground and “modern stromatolites are mostly found in hypersaline lakes and marine lagoons where extreme conditions exclude animal grazing.” The deep blood red colour of this formation means this rock is high in iron. The other photo is a polished Jasper pebble. Not so ugly afterall!

Check it out
http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/paleochron/05_e.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromatolites

Kimdianna Jones
PS: Homie Bear, WinChill is now -40...cool...

You know it is cold when the penguins wear socks!

2006-11-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

So, here in Canada Land it is currently -19c with a wind chill of -31c...WTF?

Question: Why are we having January temps in November?
Answer: El Nino

I CURSE YOU EL NINO!!!!! *shakes fist at sky*

I currently have a lot of layers on, I mean even thermal underwear. I kid you not; it is going to be a long, cold walk home. It is also get pretty cold in my lab during the winter! I usually do not turn on my space heater at work until January, but this morning I broke down and plugged my little darling in...ahhh, I love him...

All that is left to say is that Blarg and I picked the right year to go to Thailand!!!!

Kimdianna Jones
PS: Seriously, how uber cute is this penguin? I love him and his blue socks!!
PPS: It is one hour after I first posted and the winchill is now -32c...
PPSS: Another hour passes another degree is dropped, winchill -33c...

Crickets…Not Rickets…

2006-11-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Blarg and I live in a 16 story apartment overlooking the river valley…I love the historic neighbourhood we live in…but what I do not love is crickets (no, not the game) I mean the wee grasshopper type thingies that are usually kept to feed reptiles (I hate snakes..).

Yes, crickets are in our apartment.

A month ago, I was in our bathroom and spotted a large black cricket cruising around the back of the toilet…upon being spotted it took evasive manoeuvres and quickly disappeared behind the rubber baseboard. When Blarg peeled back the baseboard, there was a hole leading to who knows where. Well, this past Monday morning I spotted a light brown cricket strolling down our hallways near the bathroom. The bathroom hole is clearly their secret way in…and obviously someone above or below us has a reptile that eats crickets...they are not very good at keeping the reptile food confined.

What to do, what to do...Call the landlord? Yup.

Kimdianna Jones

Fun Fun For Me...

2006-11-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

It has been over a week since I last posted. I threw my back out last Wednesday and it has been a long week of muscle spams and not being able to sit at all. I have never, ever been in that much pain…in my life...Tylenol 3 had to be involved, as well as Anti-inflammatories and Physical Therapy…fun fun for me…

Glad that is mostly over.

T-Minus four weeks and one day til Blarg and I leave for Thailand!!! We will be missing two weeks of “Quality Christmas Tree Time” so to make up for this we are putting the tree up early…two weeks early…that means tomorrow people! We will be cracking out Bing’s Christmas CD and the Peanuts Christmas CD…there will be spiked eggnog and cookies…tangled fairy lights…boxes everywhere...and lots of "lift with my knees not with my back"...Right, back to work people!
Kimdinna Jones

"El Nino...that's Spanish..."

2006-11-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

The El Nino-Southern Oscillation is here this year! That right, while El Nino may well be Spanish for The Nino (tips hat to Chris Farely) this means we will be having a warmer winter with tons of snow! So while the Northern Hemisphere will have lots of precipitation, the Southern Hemisphere will be very dry, with drought like conditions in Australia. The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (or ENSO) condition seem to happen every two to seven years for about the past 300 years, but most of these have been kind of weak and not really noticeable. There are seven major theories as to why the El Nino exist, none of which I really want to type about but if you want to read about them or get more general information, check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Nino

Kimdianna Jones

November Celebrations!

2006-11-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

I can not believe it is November already! The countdown to our Thailand trip has begun and we will start marking days off our fridge calendar til we leave...6 weeks tomorrow! But there is a lot to celebrate this month, shout out too…

Beenie: Happy Birthday, you do not look a day 467! Tell me honestly, how was the Renaissance?
Gunnar: Happy First Birthday!
Blaine’s Dad: Happy Birthday, lunch is on us!

That's it for now!
Kimdianna Jones

Harriet, Harr-i-et….Haaarrr-ii-et!

2006-11-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

On June 23, 2006 Harriet the tortoise died, just shy of her 176th birthday. Harriet was no ordinary tortoise; she was thought to be one of three giant tortoises who were taken by Charles Darwin from the Galapagos Islands in 1835. This girl moved around a lot, France, England, Australia, she was well traveled! In 1987 she was moved her final home in the Queensland Reptile Zoo in Australia.

“Harriet was said to be very good-natured. She loved the attention of men and enjoyed it when people patted her on the scute. Harriet spent major part of the day by napping at her home pond. Her favourite food was hibiscus flowers.”

Check it out!:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet
http://www.cryptoworld.co.uk/darwins-tortoise-dies-aged-176/

Harriet died peacefully at the Queensland Zoo after a short illness from heart failure. Wow! Can you imagine if she could talk? Harriet was some Tortoise!

Kimdianna Jones

HAPPY ALL HALLOW’S EVE!

2006-10-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

I hope you all are channelling you inner child/imagination today and are in your Halloween character! I am and am currently doing surveillance on the parking lot outside my window…duh, cuz I am Veronica Mars, you know, a detective/university student? Did you not read the link I had up from yesterday?

Anyway, Blarg and I are heading over to the ghoulish Brososky Manor tonight for dinner and to hand out treats! Should be spooky, I swear their almost 100 year old home is haunted!

Have a Very Haunted Night Everyone!
Kimdianna Jones

Twas The Day Before Halloween....

2006-10-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

Halloween!
My favourite holiday is finally here!

In order to retain my rightful title of "Queen of Halloween" I must dress for the occasion! It is a bit trickier to do this while working for/with the government. Yes, most government employees in my branch do have a few screws loose; I still do not feel the need to stand out. I feel I should have an understated, yet fun, costume. I am going as Veronica Mars (circa season 3) and if you have no idea what I am talking about then shame on you! This is one of Joss Whedon’s favourite shows; he loved it so much he did a cameo! Check It Out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_Mars

Have a spooky day!
Kimdianna Jones

Ginger Snaps

2006-10-27T16:01:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for a great Halloween movie this week end, check out Ginger Snaps. This Canadian horror film was made in 2000 and stars Emily Perkins and Katherine Isabelle who play sisters obsessed with death. This film is way underrated and it won a bunch of awards. But not the movie poster, that should win, "You Need To Do The Poster Again Because It Sucks" Award. This movie is so worth seeing just for the first 5 minutes! Check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Snaps

Have a spooky week end! I am off to tickle some sharks...
Kimdianna Jones

Ticklish Sharks?

2006-10-24T12:49:00.000-06:00

Did you know that there are two types of tickling and these scientific terms were coined in 1897 by head shrinkers Stanely Hall and Arthur Allin? Me neither, but here they are...

Gargalesis: “harder, laughter-inducing tickling, and involves the repeated application of high pressure to sensitive areas. This "heavy tickle" is often associated with play and laughter. Response to the gargalesis type of tickle is likely limited to humans and primates…it is usually impossible to produce gargalesthesia response on oneself.”

Right, Ok, Stay With Me...Keep Reading....

Knismesis: “the light, feather-like type of tickling…generally does not induce laughter and is often accompanied by an itching sensation…requires low levels of stimulation to sensitive parts of the body, and can be triggered by a light touch or by a light electrical current. Knismesis can be triggered by crawling insects, prompting scratching or rubbing, thereby removing the pest. It is possible that this function explains why knismesis produces a similar response in animals. In a famous example, described in Peter Benchley's Shark!, it is possible to tickle the area just under the snout of a great white shark, putting it into a near-hypnotic trance.”

OK…what? Who is crazy enough to think of that experiment?

“Hey Authur, lets see if a great white shark is ticklish…I’m just going to gently and lightly tickle his under snout…right below his 5000 rows of razor sharp teeth just to see if it calms down this blood thirsty crazed killer. Opps! I better put a band-aid on that paper cut of mine before I start…”

Pure genius, I bet that experiment was over fast...

Look It Up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knismesis_and_gargalesis

Kimdianna Jones

Rocks Are Neat...

2006-10-18T12:38:00.000-06:00

I have dry mounted photo hanging in my kitchen of a canyon that I think is really stunning. The sandstone rocks are all sun lit with bright reds, oranges and yellows. I often sit back and stare at it, wondering where in the h*ll this photo was taken…

Now, remember that scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Indy and his pals are emerging from the Canyon of the Crescent Moon on horseback after finding the Holy Grail?

What do these two bits of information have in common? Well recently, I found my canyon photo on Wikipedia! My photo was taken at Antelope Canyon in Utah. This canyon and the one from the Last Crusade are a geological formation called a slot canyon.

These interesting rock formations are the result of million of years of erosion by water and wind cutting their way through the soft sandstone. Super Cool Stuff!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slot_canyon
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Antelope_Canyon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade

Kimdianna Jones

Let Them Eat Cake....

2006-10-13T13:45:00.000-06:00

With the release of Sofia Coppola’s new movie “Marie Antoinette” coming up, I did a little digging on Little Miss Let-Them-Eat-Cake herself. Turns out Marie had a small rural townscape erected on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. This small “hameau” as it was called included a farmhouse and a functioning dairy. The rustic looking farmhouse was not so rustic….it was actually quite luxurious and the dairy was complete with clean docile cows for the Queen and her attendants to milk. Of course what fun would it be to be playing milkmaid and shepherdesses without a full wardrobe of country peasant clothing?

No wonder most of France hated her…..

Look it up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit_hameau

So to recap a few interesting things I have found….Julius Augustus Caesar was a pirate and Marie Antoinette was a milkmaid…. Oh those wacky royals! I wonder what else I am gong to find?

Kimdianna Jones

What About You?

2006-10-12T11:08:00.000-06:00

Miscellaneous Stuff....
Super cute puppy I want to have, I will name him Indy...
Number of turtlenecks I own: 12...that is alot....huh...
Lunch eaten at my desk today: Greek salad, aged cheese w/ryvita, fresh pineapple, green tea
New favorite band: Metric
Last Ebay purchase: Ashby’s of London Tea
New favorite drink: Cranberry Juice and Tonic Water
What is happening outside my window at work: repaving the parking lot

So, what about you?
Kimdianna Jones

The Week Of Blaine!

2006-10-04T17:00:00.000-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAINE!!!

It is my wonderful husbands' birthday today and as we can tell by this recent photo he turns 8...and he is also having a showdown at the Boot Hill Cemetery! Best of luck partner...hope to see you at the Saloon later...

I Love You Blaine!

Kimdianna Jones

Julius Caesar, The Pirate....

2006-09-27T13:05:00.000-06:00

Did you know….

In 74BC when Julius Caesar was 26 he was crossing the Aegean Sea on his way to Rhodes for oratorical and philosophical studies when he was kidnapped by Cicilian pirates? Yup, pirates. When the pirates “told Caesar they would ransom him for 20 talents of gold, Caesar laughed and told them he was worth at least 50 (12,000 gold pieces).” Kinda pomous. While in captivity he made the best of it and decided to join them for a while (like a year) and have a good time. When the ransom was eventually paid in 75BC, Caesar got a fleet together and captured/killed the very pirates that he had joined! He was a wild and crazy guy!

Check It Out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar

Kimdianna Jones

Eketorp…Not Just An Ikea Sofa Anymore….

2006-09-22T08:19:00.000-06:00

While Ikea product names make me giggle, they are actual words in Swedish, Danish, Finish or Norwegian. Most Ikea furniture, coffee tables, bookshelves and media storage units are named after places in Sweden. Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of Ikea, was dyslexic and found that naming products with proper names/words made it easier for him to remember them.

Here is an example, the Eketorp sofa:

“Eketorp is an Iron Age fort in southeastern Öland, Sweden, which was extensively reconstructed and enlarged in the Middle Ages. The Eketorp fortification is often referred to as Eketorp Castle. Throughout the ages the fortification has served a variety of somewhat differing uses: from defensive ringfort, to medieval safe haven and thence a cavalry garrison. In the 20th century it was further reconstructed to become a heavily visited tourist site and a location for re-enactment of medieval battles. Eketorp is the only one of the 19 known prehistoric fortifications on Öland that has been completely excavated, yielding a total of over 24,000 individual artifacts. The entirety of southern Öland has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.”

Look It Up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eketorp, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikea

I love Ikea and UNESCO ….I will be blogging about both of them in the future…

Kimdianna “Klippan” Jones

(yes, that is my Ikea name….I’ll let you figure out what it means….)

ACHOO!!

2006-09-19T12:34:00.000-06:00

Did you know.....

"Photic sneeze reflex is a medical condition by which people exposed to bright light sneeze. This condition is also called sun sneezing, photogenic sneezing, or ACHOO (autosomal dominant compelling helio-ophthalmic outburst). The photic sneeze reflex is caused when the optic nerve is over stimulated which in turn triggers the trigeminal nerve. This can also cause one to sneeze many times consecutively. The condition occurs in 17% to 25% of humans with more common occurrence in Caucasians. The condition is passed along genetically as a dominant trait."

No? This is new to you?
Check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze_reflex

Kimdianna Jones "The Sun Sneezer"

Crepuscular Rays....

2006-09-15T08:30:00.000-06:00

With the last three days of rain I have been thinking about how great it would be to see the sun again so I dug up this on my favorite Wikipedia….

“Crepuscular rays are rays of sunlight that appear to radiate from a single point in the sky. These rays, which stream through gaps in clouds, are parallel columns of sunlit air separated by darker cloud-shadowed regions. The name comes from their frequent occurrences during twilight, when the contrasts between light and dark are the most obvious. Various airborne compounds scatter the sunlight and make these rays visible. The reason we see the light so defined is because of diffraction, reflection and scattering.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Science

Stay dry....Kimdianna Jones

September Celebrations Updated!

2006-09-11T08:37:00.000-06:00

In my head cold stupor of last week I missed a few September Babies!
So a big Happy Birthday also goes out to
Lisa: Yes, my spies tell me everything…
Homie Bear! Love your blog...check it out! http://homiebear.blogspot.com/

I was checking out one of my favorite blog when I came across this video…Orlando Bloom makes fun of himself…I made me chuckle….Beenie, you should appreciate this…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRnWrIXLdEU&eurl=

Kimdianna Jones

September Celebration!

2006-09-06T15:52:00.000-06:00

I like to call September Indian Summer...or the more politically correct term Native North American/First Nation Summer? Whatever.....there are lots of reason to celebrate this month and here are two big "Happy Birthdays" going out to:

Pauline (Sept 5) the best lab mate and long time friend!
Jenica (Sept 20) my good friend and fellow Halloween enthusiast!

Blarg and I are also celebrating our second wedding anniversary (Sept 12) this week end! We will be celebrating in style with a romantic night at La Boheme thanks to our very generous friends!

Kimdianna Jones

I Love Old Movies!

2006-09-01T15:00:00.000-06:00

I truely love old movies...I grew up on old black and white movies with Abbott & Costelo and Bob Hope. A few weeks ago Blarg and I were being mindless and we ended up watching "Murder by Death" on TV. It is a campy whodunit made in 1976, written by Neil Simon and there were lots of old 1970’s stars like Peter Sellers, Peter Falk, Alec Guiness. I could have done without Truman Capote as the bad guy but other then that I enjoyed it!

Have a great Labor Day everyone!
I'm on my late summer holidays!

Kimdianna Jones

Still Peeved About Pluto...

2006-08-30T08:18:00.000-06:00

I am still peeved about Pluto being downgraded from a full fledged planet to dwarf planet and I am glad others are too...I feel the need to stew a while about this...

I also feel the need to tell you what song I am listeningg too right now...I hope it will float around in your heads...

Thomas Dolby, 1982, "She Blinded Me With Science!" Love it! They just do not write them like that anymore do they?

Kimdianna " I Love Pluto As A Planet And 80's Music" Jones

Pluto Will Always Be A Planet To Me….

2006-08-28T09:50:00.000-06:00

I have some issues to discuss with you astronomers…seriously…after all this time you decide now that Pluto is not a planet? I do realize that if you went with the old criteria to rate a planet that the total number of planets in our solar system would go up to 200 but come on….cutting Pluto out entirely? Downgrading Pluto to a Dwarf Planet?

Seriously as of August 24 2006 Pluto is no longer a full fledged planet thus reducing the number of planets in our solar system to eight. Well that is just not fair…how would you feel if you got downgraded from “Astronomer” to “35 year old geeky virgin who lives in his parents’ basement and spends his time alone in the woods at night with a telescope”? Huh? How does that feel? Wait...that is what an astronomer is! Take that!

Check it out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4789531.stm
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060824-pluto-planet.html

Kimdianna Jones

Cute Overload!

2006-08-24T12:29:00.000-06:00

"A sea lion cuddles her baby at the Nuremberg Zoo, southern Germany, where four baby sea lions were born in early July, 2006. "

I can not remember where I got the information
on these sea loins, but I love the photo!

Kimdianna
PS: You know you can leave comments right?

He Ain't Done Right By Nell...

2006-08-21T13:41:00.000-06:00

Here is your first look at one of the promotional shots for Blarg's play that is on now at the Edmonton International Fringe Play!! Blarg is on the left in the stylish red checked shirt!

There are four more shows left so GO SEE THIS PLAY!!!!

Here are the dates and times:
August 22 (Tuesday) 1:00 pm
August 24 (Thursday) 9:00 pm
August 25 (Friday) 12:00 pm
August 27 (Sunday) 12:15 pm

Advance tickets can be purchased in person at the Festival Box Office (10330-84 Avenue, west entrance) or by calling the Ticket Hotline at 409-1910. You can also buy tickets one hour before the show right in front of the Walterdale Playhouse (right next door to the Farmer's Market)

Kimdianna Jones

Greenbrier Ghost

2006-08-21T13:28:00.000-06:00

I was cruising around my favorite site Wikipedia and came across this.....

"The Greenbrier Ghost is the name popularly given to the ghost of a young woman in Greenbrier County, West Virginia who was murdered in 1897. The events surrounding the haunting have led to it becoming the only instance in American legal history in which the testimony of a ghost was accepted at a murder trial."

That is so bizarre! Check it out! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbrier_Ghost

Kimdianna Jones

Today is Monday and I can prove it....

2006-08-14T13:50:00.000-06:00

There is nothing like a beautiful summer day…and that day is today…..it is going to be 28 degrees and there is not a cloud in the sky. I decide that because it is going to be such a nice summer day, that I will wear my nice white t-shirt and my fancy black beaded skirt. It’s Monday and I’ll dress up and that will make Monday feel less crappy. I will even head upstairs and actually see the other humans that I work with/for…I will make a good impression today, you know, clean myself up a bit for a change. Yeah, that sounds great…

Or Does It?....

Nothing like going to the effort to look nice, maybe impress coworkers, only to then spill hot tea down your front …tea…on a white t-shirt…hot…not even lunch break yet….have not even made it upstairs…oh no, do I have to wear my grotty old work out t-shirt the rest of the day?

Or Do I?…

There is also nothing like having a washer and dryer only 10 feet away from your desk….and washing your clothes while you work…

Kimdianna Jones

Happy (insert type of celebration here) !!!!!

2006-08-11T12:44:00.000-06:00

Blarg and I would like to take this opportunity to wish various people a variety of happy August birthday/anniversary/etcs!

Here goes….
Happy Birthday: Dad, Jayson, Maya, Georgia Peach and Blu
Happy Anniversary: Mom and Dad, Jayson and Deanne
Happy Other Birthday/Anniversary: BeenDip/Gabrielle/Vampire Nomad

So Happy one of the above various things and see you on various dates at the various parties soon!

Kimdianna Jones and Blarg

Edgewater.....

2006-08-10T16:06:00.000-06:00

My apologies to the 4.5 people who regularly read my blog, Blarg and I have been away on a luxury camping vacation in Radium, BC for the last week and have not posted. We had a fantastic vacation and would like to thank the Resse-Perschon family for inviting us along! We had a wonderful time! The weather was prefect and at times it was hotter then hindu but we managed to keep cool by splashing around the mountain stream that runs thru the campground. This trip was jam packed with fun including multiple trips to the hot springs, multiple trips to Edgewater with the eventual writing of their new town anthem, white water rafting and golfing (have never done either), rhubarb gelato (so yummy!) and lots of good food and drink by the campfire!! I will eventually put up a few pictures from the trip as per Paulini’s request.

That’s it for now!
Kimdianna Jones

PS: You are all too scared of the Sharks aren't you? admit it.....chickens....

Green Onion Cake Season Is Here!

2006-08-02T14:05:00.000-06:00

Unless you are living under a rock, you know that the last two weeks of August in Edmonton means the International Fringe Theatre Festival! The 2006 Green Onion Cake/Fringe season is quickly approaching! This is your chance to see my very talented husband Blarg act with a southern drawl! He has landed the role of the hero in melodrama “He Ain’t Done Right By Nell”!

This play runs from August 19-27 at The Walterdale Playhouse:
August 19 (Saturday) 6:30 pm
August 20 (Sunday) 12:30 pm
August 22 (Tuesday) 1:00 pm
August 24 (Thursday) 9:00 pm
August 25 (Friday) 12:00 pm
August 27 (Sunday) 12:15 pm

Advance tickets go on sale August 10 and can be purchased in person at the Festival Box Office (10330-84 Avenue, west entrance) or by calling the Ticket Hotline at 409-1910.

If you are wondering where you can get those yummy green onion cakes year round, you can buy them in the frozen section of the T&T Market for about $4.

Kimdianna Jones

Selachophobia

2006-07-28T14:48:00.000-06:00

I have Selachophobia.

I am scared snottless of sharks.

I am working very hard to get over this...I have done hours of research, watched countless documentaries, and even visited small sharks at Big Al’s Tropical Aquarium store (oh sorry Blu, I meant Big Gal’s). Even the hammerhead shark/man/undead guy in the new Pirates movie freaked me out. I believe the more I know about sharks, the less I will fear them. As a result I know so much about these razor sharp toothed, blank staring solitary killing machines that I could write a book. Still this phobia persists. How irrational…I mean I live in a land locked province for bloody sakes, there are no sharks within a very large number of kilometres from here and since there is no such thing as a “Land Shark” I really just needed to get over it.

But I am not alone…..oh no my freinds….there are some famous selachophabians out there: Christina Ricci thinks sharks will find their way into her pool. Charlie Sheen bought a beach front house thinking he could get over his fear of sharks but it did not work and he moved inland.

Well, it is “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel running July 30-August 4. Look It Up…if you can….I dare you: http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/sharkweek/sharkweek.html

Kimdianna Jones....

My Kind Of Club…

2006-07-21T07:45:00.000-06:00

I saw a very cool hoodie a few days ago that I really thought was clever.

“Club Sandwiches Not Seals”

I want one. I want one but not because the hoodie was cute and would keep me warm but because of the message it conveys. I will not go into one of my usual rants about how humans can be so cruel to animals or my opposition to the Canadian seal hunt.... if you want to find information on this, check out the WSPA web page: http://www.wspa.ca/.

Kimdianna Jones

We Miss Our Fish....

2006-07-20T15:17:00.000-06:00

We are sad to report that Princess Hidey Anastasia the first died suddenly on Saturday afternoon…she will be greatly missed…here is a photo we took just days before....

Kimdianna Jones and Blarg

STEP OFF!!!!!

2006-07-17T19:38:00.000-06:00

What a week end! Blarg and I had our good friend Mr. Walt Struth stay for the week end from Taipei! We ate too much, laugh constantly and had a blast! So Walt, I hope that you get a phone call from you shirt mate! Best of luck and Struth, G’Day, “roll your tongue” and Step Off!

But more importantly "WAAAALLLLLLLLLLTTTTT!” …it will never get old…right? We love you man…hugs and bum pinches…
Here is Mr. Struth prentending to be napping.

Kimdianna Jones and Blarg (of Blarg Industries, TM)

The Oddness That Is Me....

2006-07-11T08:04:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I am at work or home with my head propped up on my left hand....I will look down for some reason....like to look at my keyboard...and I think the freckle on my left wrist is a spot of melted chocolate....I try to lick it off...only to be very disappointed each time...that freckle is definitely not chocolate....and with all the years of licking...it should be farirly faded by now....

I am so not kidding.....

Kimdianna Jones

Quote of the day:

2006-06-26T13:52:00.000-06:00

My husband Blarg has a big heart. I do not mean he has a medically enlarged heart that is jeopardizing his health; I mean he is a great humanitarian who cares deeply for all life: people, animals and the environment.

“Anyone who can read a WSPA brochure and not want

to donate money is a real asshole.” Blarg, 2006.

Look It Up: http://www.wspa.ca/

Kimdianna Jones

Good To Know...

2006-06-23T15:26:00.000-06:00

Here is a bit of information on the knowledge that people seem to think I possess vs what I really know:

Dinosaurs: They are extinct possibly due to a meteorite impacting the earth and their bone were lithified.
Egypt and the Pyramids: Never been but the ones who built them are dead.
Ancient Romans & Greeks & all their ruins: Never been but they have great food!
The Mayans: The are all dead
The Incas: They are all dead
The Aztecs : They are all dead

And finally, I also feel the need to tell you that a perfectly round rock is nothing but a perfectly round rock…..

Kimdianna Jones

Wilkes Land Crater: It Scare The Crap Out Of Me

2006-06-21T15:30:00.000-06:00

You know what scares the crap out of me? Massive meteorites hurtling towards earth at light speed just seconds away from annihilating all life on earth except cockroaches and sharks...

Well, a new crater has been found this year by scientist in the Antarctic called the Wilkes Land Crater. This crater is 300 km wide, is located beneath the Antarctica ice sheet and is the result of a meteorite impact about 250- 500 million years ago (they are not sure).

Scientist think this crater “could be associated with the Permian-Triassic extinction event that occurred 250 million years ago, believed to be the largest extinction event since the origin of complex multicellular life.” The Permian-Triassic extinction event has also been called “The Great Dying” and is one of five of Earth’s most severe extinction events. It is estimated that most marine type dinosaurs (96%) and vertebrate/terrestrial organisms (70%) died during this event.

I will freely admit that I know absolutely nothing about dinosaurs except that they are all extinct… and that the famous T-Rex died out in the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event, much later on. Yeah, the extinction of multicellur life…that scares the crap out of me……only because I know that if another meteorite impacts earth, that sharks and cockroaches will survive just like they have in the past….damn sharks…I hate them….

Look It Up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkes_Land_crater
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian-Triassic_extinction

Kimdianna Jones

One of a Million Little Things:

2006-06-20T15:52:00.000-06:00

Did you know that Endangered Species Chocolate Bars gives 10% of their net profits to organizations committed to protecting endangered animals and plants? The Endangered Species Company produces 30 different and these chocolates are seriously tasty! Prices vary but where I live a 3oz bar can range from $2-$4, and they also produce 1.4oz bars and 0.35oz bite-size bits. Here are two write-ups from the Endangered Species web site to wet you appetite and awaken your inner humanitarian.

Look it up! http://www.chocolatebar.com/

Tiger Bar: Dark Chocolate with Espresso Beans:
This 3oz bar is made with all-natural, shade-grown, ethically traded rich dark chocolate enrobed with all-natural espresso coffee beans. It contains 70% cocoa content and artwork from Judi Rideout of the tiger printed on recycled paper using 6.2% soy inks. The chocolate is ethically traded along with the espresso beans guaranteeing the workers fair wages and humane working conditions. This product is also certified Kosher by Union Orthodox Dairy. On the inside of the label you can learn about the plight of the tiger as well as additional information on ESC's core value reverence for life, conservation tips and coupons for ESC's other products.

Giraffe Bar: Organic Milk Chocolate (52% Cocoa Content) with Organic Peanut Butter:
Organic, Fair Trade Certified milk chocolate perfectly blended with organic peanut butter. This 1.4oz bar features artwork from Judi Rideout of a baby Giraffe printed on recycled paper using 6.2% soy inks. On the inside of the label you can learn about the plight of the giraffe as well as conservation tips, information about ESC's core value reverence for life and coupons for our other products.

These tasty Endangered Species Chocolate bars is just one of a million little things we can do to help others and can be found at organic/natural food stores across North America.

Kimdianna Jones

PS: The wrappers can also be recycled into fun Halloween masks…try the tiger bar…trust me, it is freaky…

Dear Cyclops: I know it was you...

2006-06-14T07:58:00.000-06:00

Gabrielle tipped me off….she saw you in her minds eye in the drivers seat with your tell tale shades and cheese ball smirk. All the attention I was giving Wolverine made you jealous, you are always so jealous of Wolverine. First Jean Grey…then me. I am happily married you know. Cyclops, you need therapy...talk about your feelings and stuff. This is bordering on stalking, and if this continues I will have to tell Professor X.

Kimdianna Jones

PS: On a lighter note, my stitches were removed yesterday and it no longer looks like I have a goatee and/or chocolate pudding on my chin….

Dear Wolverine: A Wee Apology

2006-06-12T12:40:00.000-06:00

In light of the last few days, I feel the need to apologize to you. I am now sorry that I besmirched your good name. I was wrong. Your super mutant healing power is nothing to laugh at, nor is your misleading name. I wish I had your mutant ability today.

Yours Truly
Kimdianna Jones and the Cross Walk Doom

PS: To the Ass who ran the red light in the white pick up truck…. Thanks to you I now have six stitches, two chipped teeth, a ripped up hand, a bruised knee and hip…and had a tetanus shot …I do not have warm feelings towards you, I hope you go bald and your truck rusts real bad ….

Flowers and Dirt

2006-06-08T11:06:00.000-06:00

I work on an old historic building…it is very cool place, right on campus. There are lots of big, old trees, lush green lawns and on the steps of the main door are two planters full of flowers. I wait patiently though the winter for these two small planters to arrive. They symbolize summer to me and I make a point of stopping every morning on my way into work to admire them. Well, my beloved planters arrived last week full of bright yellow and orange begonias, and small purple pansies. Summer!!

Today on my way into work, one of the planters was knocked over and was tossed out across the sidewalk onto the front lawn.

Wow, did this every piss me off. You have no idea…
Insert string of profanity here…

So, I ran down to my lab, grabbed my work gloves and headed back out into the rain to save my flowers. This was no small task. There were flowers buried in dirt under the upturned planter and across the sidewalk. I could only scrap up so much dirt off the grass and concrete….

What kind of an idiot picks on a planter full of small flowers? Seriously, are there no mail boxes left to tip over? There is a newspaper box within eye sight… go pick on that you f***-wad and leave my summer alone….

Rant Over...Deep Breath...Calm...
Kimdianna Jones

Dear Wolverine: Part One…I Propose A Name Change….

2006-06-07T08:27:00.000-06:00

I get to research all kinds of odd things for my job, for example manufacturing dates for of Go-Bots and the history of manual tincan openers. Today I am researching mammalian species commonly found in the Canadian Rockies for a faunal analysis I am writing for an Alberta Archaeological site.

To the rant or Blarg will just scroll down…

So, I am researching wolverines and this fits nicely with the fact that Blarg and I have just seen “X-Men, The Last Stand” last night (loved it!) I browsed over to my beloved Wikipedia for information/useful links on wolverines (or Gulo gulo). This animal is the largest mammal belonging to the Weasel family. Yes, Weasel. Did you know that an actual wolverine “resembles a small bear with a long tail” and have “also been known to give off a strong, unpleasant odor, giving rise to the use of the term "skunk bear"? NO? Well, look it up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine.

So, tie this information into the X-Men and it is not quite the image we have on screen is it? I mean, if Wolverine (the guy) was to emulate the characteristics of an actual wolverine (a weasel) he would be uglier, shorter, fatter and other X-Men would always be holding their noses and making comments about his bathing habits ….

“Oh no, here comes Skunk Bear! Wow, he smells bad!
He must have eaten an entire wicker swing set*!”

*wicker swing set= eaten something high in fiber and is very gasey....

Let’s talk about Wolverines hair (besides the fat that his hair getting bigger each movie). It seems that the X-Men creators (designed by John Romita, Sr or some guy, whatever) borrowed his hairdo from cougars…actually they mixed in a bunch of characteristics from large related felines (cougar, lynx & bobcat) to create Wolverine. This character has a lot more in common with cougars then weasels but the creators could not suddenly rename his character “Cougar” now could they? Can you imagine? I can….

Scene: Night, Darkened study at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Two figures are lit by moonlight speaking in hushed tones, standing close to each other.

Cougar: (Grabs Jean) Leave him Jean! You know what you mean to me…..

Jean Grey: (sniffles, whines) But I love Scott!

Cougar: (Steps back) But Jean, I love you! (Pans up slowly from floor to the legs of middle-aged women in miniskirt, tight tube top, long red finger nails with clown-school makeup, big hair and holding highball.)

And End Scene

Ewwww….I mean seriously, where can you go from there?

The End Rambling Here…

Kimdianna Jones

Test

2006-05-27T10:40:00.000-06:00

We like bamboo. We like fish. We hate fishbowls but Bamboo Fishbowls sounds better than Bamboo Aquarium. Doesn't it?

More to come....