Happy Birthday!

January 17, 2012December 31, 2014 / cyrakitty / Leave a comment

January 17 is an amazing day to be born judging by those celebrating their birthday today. Here are a couple people I would like to highlight.

Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706. One of America’s Founding Fathers who was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. Whew!

An accomplished musician, Franklin is known to have played the violin, the harp, and the guitar. He was a composer and even invented a much-improved version of the glass armonica, in which the glasses rotate on a shaft, with the player’s fingers held steady, instead of the other way around.

But the thing I admire most is that he was very liberal. He had common sense in spades. During the Pontiac Rebellion, when a group of settlers known as the Paxton Boys murdered a group of peaceful Susquehannock Indians in retaliation to other Indian raids Franklin said, “If an Indian injures me, does it follow that I may revenge that Injury on all Indians?”

And who does not love my next personality? The wonderfully spunky Betty White! Born in 1922 and 90 years young today, this amazing actress, comedienne, author, and television personality is probably best known for her role Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls. She has won seven Emmy Awards and nominated for 20 more. In May 2010, she became the oldest person to host the hit show Saturday Night Live!

Betty is a pet enthusiast and animal health advocate who works with a number of animal organizations, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, the Morris Animal Foundation, and Actors & Others for Animals. Her interest in animal rights and welfare began in the early 1970s while she was both producing and hosting the syndicated series, The Pet Set, which spotlighted celebrities and their pets.

An amazing lady with a fantastic sense of humor! Take a look at how President Barack Obama sent birthday greetings this year.

The stunning Ertha Kitt was born in 1927 on a cotton plantation in South Carolina. An accomplished singer probably best known for her 1953 rendition of Santa Baby. She spoke four languages and sang in seven, which she demonstrated with astonishing ease in many of the live recordings of her cabaret performances.

But who could forget her naturally purring voice that led her to be the most amazing Cat Woman on record.

She was an outspoken advocate for homosexual rights and same-sex marriage.

Sadly she passed away on Christmas Day 2008.

Next up is our very own current First Lady, Michelle Obama. Born in 1964 in Chicago. A Harvard Law graduate and an advocate for many causes including public service, military families and the organic movement.

As with any public eye, she has endured scandals (such as touching the queen of England). However, she has maneuvered through them with a style and grace not seen since Jackie Kennedy.

I may not agree with everything her husband has done while in office, but there is no denying her kindness and generosity that radiates from her.

There are many, many more amazing people who were born on January 17 and if you would like to see a list (as well as important dates) be sure to check out the Wikipedia page here. But I will only mention one more: the drool worthy Benno Fürmann!

Benjamin “Benno” Fürmann is a German actor born in 1972 near Berlin. Americans man not be overly familiar with him as most of his work is in foreign films. However, he did star alongside the late Heath Ledger in The Order.

I first became aware of him while watching The Princess And The Warrior, a German language film where he plays Bodo – an ex-soldier and drifter. It was an amazing movie and I urge anyone who has not seen it to give it a try. Check out the trailer:

I would like to conclude by saying Happy Birthday to a personal friend, Joseph, who has been there for me for the last 15 years or so. I hope I have returned the favor at least a little.

Best wishes to everyone! Many happy returns!

Fear vs. Phobia

January 16, 2012January 17, 2012 / cyrakitty / 2 Comments

I have been fascinated by this topic for some time now. So I thought I would get some feedback from readers.

Let’s start with the basics. What makes a fear a phobia? The technical difference between a fear and a phobia is that a fear has a legitimate or rational basis while a phobia is irrational. So someone who has a fear of ax wielding madmen has just that – a fear – as it is perfectly rational to be afraid. But someone who has a fear of ladybugs (also known as ladybirds) has a phobia – Coccinellidaephobia, as a matter of fact. And the reason it is a phobia – or irrational fear – is that ladybugs are actually considered a very beneficial beetle, especially to gardeners and rarely cause problems for humans. Another example I have heard is that a fear of flying (Pteromerhanophobia) is irrational but a fear of crashing is rational.

But then why are some phobias not fears? For example, there are some phobias that I believe to be completely rational. For example: fear of rape (Virginitiphobia), fear of sharks (Selachophobia – I’m guilty of this one), fear of pain (Agliophobia), fear of nuclear weapons (Nucleomituphobia) and the fear of disease (Pathophobia). These all seem like legitimate reasons for fear. Or are they considered phobias because the likelihood of experiencing or encountering these events is sufficiently rare that they are no longer rational? And if this is the case, what system – if any – do they base it on?

Then there are the natural phenomenon that have the potential for death and destruction. There is the fear of tornadoes and hurricanes (Lilapsophobia), fear of water (Hydrophobia – another one of mine – *sigh*), fear of floods (Antlophobia) and fear of fire (Pyrophobia).

If anyone is interested there are many sites devoted to phobias. However, my personal favorite is List Of Phobias. It seems to have a good list and an in depth page when you click on the phobia.

I would like to share a few more that I thought were interesting and/or unusual. There are fears of books (Bibliophobia), ugliness (Cacophobia), knees and chins (Genuphobia and Geniophobia), step-mother/father (Novercaphobia and Vitricophobia) and beautiful women (Venuatraphobia).

Sadly, I do not have answers to any of the questions I posed. So I would like to ask my readers to tell me their opinions.

And as a final note, I find this just plain mean (in a funny sort of way): Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – a fear of long words.

Happy Holidays

December 22, 2011 / cyrakitty / 1 Comment

I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season. And be careful out there!

No animals were hurt or embarrassed but we have one very tired photoshop person!

Christmas email already. . .

November 10, 2011November 10, 2011 / cyrakitty / Leave a comment

I just received an email entitled “Your First Christmas Card” and I admit it was the first time I had ever seen it – although a friend has said this particular email has been in circulation for quite a long time. But it contained a poem based upon “A Visit from St. Nicholas” or more commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas” which was originally published in 1823 by an anonymous author (who I imagine is spinning in their grave at this particular adaptation).

Here is the text of that email:

Twas the Month before Christmas

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas – no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday’.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears

You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holiday!

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is The Reason’ for the Christ-mas Season!

Pretty harsh words coming from “Christians”, right?

The world over uses this time of year (December/Christmas, etc) for religious festivities. It does not belong exclusively to the Christians. From the Winter Solstice to, yes, Kwanzaa (Ramadan isn’t even currently celebrated around Christmas) many countries use this time for celebration. So why is it wrong to say Happy Holidays and include all cultures, as opposed to saying Merry Christmas and including just one? And if these people have been sharing holidays for eons of time why is it now “taking away” the day from Christians? What happened to the element of Christian charity? Why is it not extended to anyone but other Christians?

As some of you may know, I have been studying Buddhism for many years now. I may not be a good Buddhist, but it is my chosen path. Yet, I still celebrate Christmas more out of habit or tradition rather than actual belief. “This is the time of year, though, when those of us who aren’t Christian, or who don’t celebrate Christmas, most feel our minority status.”¹ December is when Buddhists celebrate Rohatsu or the enlightenment of the Buddha. But I do not ask why there are so few meditating Buddhas or Bodhi trees among the reindeer and Christmas trees.

“But there is an ugly, bullying aspect to this [Anti-Christmas] dispute, in which the pro-Christmas forces are not only asking, reasonably, that their religion be treated with equal status and respect but in which they are attacking legitimate efforts at inclusivity. It’s this sense of aggrieved victimhood that confuses me: What, exactly, is so threatening about calling the school holiday a winter break rather than Christmas vacation?” [¹ and this were excerpts from Ruth Marcus’ excellent article What ‘War On Christmas’?]

I look at everything I do not understand as gravity. It sounds odd, but there is valid reasoning. I am not a physicist so basically I do not grasp the nature of gravity to any real degree. I may not comprehend it but I sure respect it enough to not try jumping off a bridge. So the same goes for Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or others. I may not understand it but I respect it and I respect your right to celebrate it. I mean, my birthday is frequently shared with Memorial Day. I don’t like war. But I am not on top of a skyscraper shouting that my birthday was “stolen” from me.

Our planet has just reached 7 billion people. I think it is way past the time when we should have been respecting each other. This lump of dirt and water may not be perfect but it is all we have. It is up to each one of us to make it a nice place to live.

Thank you, Mac1949!

October 23, 2011November 15, 2011 / cyrakitty / 1 Comment

I would like to thank Mac1949 for his sweet and loving post about our dearly missed little girl, Cyra, who passed away on October 19th. Please pop over to his site for more information. As he covered the subject quite well I will not add anything here except a few more photos. Since my little girl was around pre-digital, I was going through actual prints (*gasp* I know) to select a great photo to give to the vet office. And here are a few I came across. Enjoy! Click on the photos to see larger versions.