Wednesday 30 April 2014

As the crow flies...

View sent us this very intriguing story. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Thanks, View.

Now this is quite fascinating. Be sure to read to the end.

Researchers for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) found over 200 dead crows near greater Boston recently, and there was concern that they may have died from avian / bird flu.

A bird pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to everyone's relief, confirmed the problem was definitely NOT bird flu. The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts. However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying colors of paints appeared on the bird's beaks and claws.

By analyzing these paint residues, it was determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with trucks, while only 2% were killed by an impact with a car. MTA then hired an ornithological behaviorist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck kills versus car kills.


The ornithological behaviorist very quickly concluded the cause: when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger. They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout "cah", not a single one could shout "truck."

Sunday 27 April 2014

Not for Amy's garden...

I came across photos of this weird rose and did a bit of googling to find out whether they were real or photoshopped. The roses are indeed black in appearance and grow in Halfeti, Turkey. Unless Amy decided to go B&W, I can't see her trying to grow them.






Thursday 24 April 2014

A very chilly dive

This photo of a dive between two tectonic plates in Iceland is quite amazing!


Wednesday 23 April 2014

Surreal cartoon

Today I'm posting something quickly because my nephew is visiting us (the one staying in Dublin) and we want to go out to show him our beautiful corner of France. He has fallen in love with Dublin and has very nice things to say about our Irishgirl. He reckons she's an excellent cook!


Tuesday 22 April 2014

Not enough space...

A pub called The Wig and Pen in Cornwall, southwest England,  had been obscured by some white boards during a month of roadworks and the business was suffering. The owners ordered a large banner to indicate that they were open for business as usual. A missing space on the banner renamed their pub...



Monday 21 April 2014

Fun at the beach

This is a French video, but it's funny even without the sound...



Sunday 20 April 2014

Festive weekend - Second round

Today is GrannyJ's birthday. We decided to celebrate Amy's birthday as well, because she's very stubborn and won't tell us when it is...

Happy birthday, Amy!

A very elegant cake

Sweet pea cakes

Lilac cupcakes

A special friend


Happy birthday, GrannyJ!

A grapevine cake for GJ

A Canadian cake

Sweet Pea cupcakes

Also invited

Happy Easter also, too!




Saturday 19 April 2014

Festive weekend

We have birthday parties this weekend, get ready for some serious fun! Today we'll celebrate with our dear Tumbleweed. There are cakes, booze, soft drinks, funny pictures, a dose of cute and a yummy guest...

Happy birthday, TW! Have a great day.

This cake was contributed by GrannyJ











Friday 18 April 2014

Wednesday 16 April 2014

If it fits, I sits

This is a great compilation. I hope it helps cheer up those who are having bad weather... Enjoy!

Tuesday 15 April 2014

A very beautiful bird

Shapshifterbelly sent us this picture of a very colourful macaw. Study it carefully and share your views in the comments. This should be interesting... Thank you, SSB.


Monday 14 April 2014

Southern extremes

At a southern university, students in the psychology program were attending their first class on emotional extremes.

"Just to establish some parameters," said the professor to the student from Arkansas, "what is the opposite of joy?"

"Sadness," said the student.

"And the opposite of depression?" he asked of the young lady from Oklahoma.

"Elation," she said.

"And you sir," he said to the young man from Texas, "what about the opposite of woe?"

The Texan replied, "Sir, I believe that would be 'giddy up'."


Sunday 13 April 2014

A very good explanation

Little Reggie was a terror and had not been invited to any birthday parties for a whole year. When a new family moved to town, he received an invitation to the little girl's birthday party.



Reggie's mom lectured him from the moment the invitation arrived until she dropped him at the party.

"It's your last chance, Reggie! If you disgrace yourself this time, we might as well move to another town. None of the other mothers speaks to me anymore! Are you listening to me? You HAVE to behave yourself today! Now you go in and be a good boy. Show everybody how much you have changed."

When she returned home, the phone was ringing. It was Reggie asking to be picked up. She saw red!


Reggie was waiting outside the house and his mom shouted for him to get in the car and not say a word. "You're in big trouble, young man!"

He attempted to say something, but she wouldn't hear it. "Don't talk to me, Reggie. Just wait until your father gets back from golf and you can talk to him! I've had enough!"

Reggie was sent straight to his room to wait for his father, who arrived hours later. His wife greeted him:

"You need to talk to Reggie! He misbehaved at a party again. He lasted five minutes this time! You deal with him and tell him we can't have this kind of thing anymore. Enough is enough! I don't know what to do with this boy!"

The father went upstairs and found Reggie dozing off, fully dressed, on top of the bedcover.

"Reggie, wake up. Your mother tells me your were very naughty again. What do you have to say for yourself?"

The little boy yawned, rubbed his eyes and said:

"The party is tomorrow, Dad."

****************************************************************************

HAPPY REAL BIRTHDAY, SPIKE! Your party was quite something last night, eh? I'm glad everybody had such a good time and hope you've enjoyed yourself. Have a great day!

Saturday 12 April 2014

Party for a girl in Iowa... ***UPDATE***

Today it's Spike's birthday. We need cakes and plenty of drinks of all kinds!

Happy birthday, dear Spike.








***UPDATE***

I managed to throw Spike's party one day early! Her birthday is tomorrow. I knew that, but convinced myself today was already the 13th. Ah, well. C'est la vie... I hope I don't mess up the rest of the April birthdays!

Two happy birthdays, Spike. Party on!

Thursday 10 April 2014

Miraculous strength and a heart of gold

Mrsgunka sent us this funny video and a wicked joke. Thank you, MrsG.



************

If you think lawyers don't have heart, read the best lawyer story of all time... bar none.

The United Way realized that it had never received a donation from the city's most successful lawyer.

So a United Way volunteer paid the lawyer a visit in his lavish office.

The volunteer opened the meeting by saying, 'Our research shows that even though your annual income is over two million dollars, you don't give a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give something back to your community through the United Way?’

The lawyer thinks for a minute and says, 'First, did your research also show you that my mother is dying after a long, painful illness, and she has huge medical bills that are far beyond her ability to pay?'

Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbles, 'Uh... No, I didn't know that.'

'Secondly,' says the lawyer, 'did it show that my brother, a disabled Veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair and is unable to support his wife and six children?

The stricken United Way rep begins to stammer an apology, but is cut off again…

'Thirdly, did your research also show you that my sister's husband died in a dreadful car accident, leaving her penniless with a mortgage and three children, one of whom is disabled and another that has learning disabilities requiring an array of private tutors?'

The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, says, 'I'm so sorry. I had no idea.'

And the lawyer says, 'So, if I didn't give any money to them, what makes you think I'd give any to you?

Wednesday 9 April 2014

Priorities...

GrannyJ sent us this very funny joke. Thanks, GJ, I'm still chuckling...

A man woke up in the hospital bandaged from head to foot. The doctor came in and said, "Ah, I see you've regained consciousness. Now you probably won't remember, but you were in a huge pile-up on the freeway. You're going to be okay, you'll walk again and everything, however, your penis was severed in the accident and we couldn't find it."



The man groaned, but the doctor went on, "You have $9000 in insurance compensation coming, and we now have the technology to build a new penis. They work great but they don't come cheap. It's roughly $1000 an inch."

The man perked up.

"So," the doctor said, "You must decide how many inches you want. But I understand that you have been married for over thirty years and this is something you should discuss with your wife. If you had a five incher before and get a nine incher now she might be a bit put out. If you had a nine incher before and you decide to only invest in a five incher now, she might be disappointed. It's important that she plays a role in helping you make a decision."

The man agreed to talk it over with his wife.

The doctor came back the next day, "So, have you spoken with your wife?"

"Yes I have," said the man.

"And has she helped you make a decision?"

"Yes" said the man.

"What is your decision?" asked the doctor.

"We're getting granite counter tops."