More Maxx's Comet

Reuters/David Curtis

It's still cloudy and raining here, so I still haven't seen Maxx's comet. This photograph was taken over Dunedin in New Zealand.

Rainbow

AP/Michael Probst

Pretty. Photographed in Germany after this week's terrible storms.

Maxx's Comet

I'm really disappointed that the cloudy weather in central Texas has prevented me from seeing Maxx's comet the past two weeks. Luckily the weather has been better in other latitudes.

This gorgeous picture comes from Spaceweather.com. The photographer, Jamie Newman, shot this at twightlight over Auckland, New Zealand. Look at that plushy tail!!

Hat tip to smalfish.

I don't wanna be blessed!!

AP/Daniel Ochoa de Olza (both photographs)

From the Blessing of the Pets: The Feast of Saint Anton, the patron saint of pets, Madrid, Spain.

That cat is not enjoying himself.

Death Squads

Over at the swamp, Joe Klein lets us know that he's objectively pro-death squad:

A reader writes

Hey, Joe. How about addressing indications that the Bush Administration has employed the "Salvador" strategy to train death squads to take out militia leaders?

I certainly hope so. If ever there was an appropriate circumstance for covert action--in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere--it is the effort to find and eliminate terrorists. They really are the enemy, you know. (my emphasis added)

Oy. Where to start. Does Klein realize that he's advocating death by execution without trial?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's still illegal under U.S. law. Now I'm delighted that he thinks said 'death squads' ought to refrain from raping and killing nuns, but that's hardly taking a morally courageous stand.

I guess I should take heart- if I ever decide to become an amoral, murdering, assassination happy mercenary, Joe Klein will have my back.

Feh.

Memorial Cat Blogging

A golden oldy of the plushiest, sweetest kitty evah.

As much as I miss Maxx, I don't want thoughts of him to be sad. I was talking to a colleague about him yesterday, and just remembering all the silly, funny things about him made me smile. Rather than dwell on his sad early death, I want to celebrate the wonderful year and a half I got to spend with him.

I hope you guys will celebrate with me.

Abu Gonzales

Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

I think someone didn't really enjoy their trip to capitol hill today. Panel Grills Gonzales Over Spy Program

He's a little fuckwit
Short and stout
Ask him a question
Watch him pout.

---Toonscribe

A little advice for Mr. Gonzales, think about reviewing that constitution. You seem a little confused.

Ooooof!!

A thousand thank yous to the delightful watertiger who sent me some talking critters to cheer me up.

Alex

I don't know if I'm ready, but this little guy still needs a home.

On the other hand, I'm not sure I'll ever get over Maxx. Who knows how long the adoption process will take? Maybe I'll be ready by then.

What do you guys think? He's terribly cute, eh?

Update: I'm going to meet Alex this weekend. When I talked to his foster mom she said hardly anyone has been interested in him.

Maybe he does need me.

Popularity

AP: President Bush examines cancer cells under a microscrope at the NIH.

"So these are the guys who are more popular than me!

Big Teeth

AP/EyePress

Just a friendly reminder of why it's not smart to mess with watertiger.

Saving the Tiger

AFP/Peter Parks

Great news on the siberian tiger front. Chinese Scientists have launched an artificial insemination program in a bid to rescue the endangered siberian tiger.

Scientists at China's Henghedaozi Feline Breeding Center in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang artificially inseminated a four-year-old tigress with sperm from a healthy older male on Saturday, Xinhua said.

Only about 400 tigers remain in the wild.

China has been spectacularly successful in breeding the chinese panda in captivity. Let's hope they have similar success with the siberian tiger.

Snow Leopards!!

Reuters/Siggi Bucher

The beautiful cub lives in a zoo in Zurich. Kittenz of all species are unbelievably cute, eh? I loves me the big feeties.

Kittie Pileup

These kitties live with taleoftwokitties. Left to right: Weege, Mimulus, and Bluto.

More Kitties!!

The rest of Political Cat's crew. Back to front: Zingiber, Gogira, and Madu. They live with that beast Bandicoot. No wonder they're huddled together on the bed.

(I keed, I keed)

Feral Kitties

Well, not really feral, these are the kitties that own FeralLiberal. Pippen (top) and Emma in a tree.

Last Ice Picture

This one looks a little like a waterfall. And to be clear, not everything here is shrouded in inches of ice. Most of these ice formations are caused by excess drainage off of drainspouts or something onto an unfortunate piece of vegetation that was unable to move out of the way.

You'd think the world was coming to an end.

Iraqis, "Thanks America!!"

Attending university in America:



Attending university in Baghdad:

Ghetty Images/Walhiq Khuzaie

Bush is right! They have so much to be grateful for. Iraqi students would never have gotten this intense, real-world, gritty experience without us.

3 Bombs Kill at Least 70 at University in Baghdad

Missing your plush fix?

If you're missing your daily happy Maxx photo, just look on the side bar and click on the "My Photo Albums" link. On the Yahoo page, there's a "Lion Kitty Maxx" photo album.

Browse the plushiness to your heart's content. I'll be adding photos as I find time.

Even more ice!!

To celebrate my additional day off tomorrow. Damn but I likes me some ice. Oh, and the camera isn't tilted in this photo, the wind, and gravity, combined to create this elegant display. Our amazing planet.

Don't these photos look like stuff Eli might have taken?