Cat news

Cat behaviour is a source of continual amusement and, not infrequently, bemusement. LJG has been extra snuggly the last couple of days. This may be because it's too hot for the bengals to want to play with her. She also invented a new trick for yakking up hairballs; don't just projectile vomit, do it from level three of the cat tree. Thanks Jane!

lemur_catta left for California for a week yesterday so Leela, as usual, is doing her drama queen act. Mercifully she hasn't vomited blood this time but she has spent most of the last 24 hours hidden under sweaty running kit in the laundry basket. I turfed her out this morning so I could actually do the laundry.

Israel and Lebanon

This is the best piece so far on the situation in Lebanon.

Summarizing briefly Chris Bertram argues that Israel is using the threat of creating total chaos in Lebanon as a diplomatic tactic to pressure the Americans into acting against Syria and Iran.

Change of format

I finally got tired with my token quota of fuzz and got rid of it. It feels very odd. When I put a T shirt on this morning it was as if my head was covered in Velcro.

The full horror

IBARW 3

It had to happen. unblinkered mentioned Nazis.

PSA - local peeps

City of Toronto
3:05 PM EDT Thursday 20 July 2006
Severe thunderstorm watch for
City of Toronto issued

Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon.

This is an alert to the potential development of severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours. Large hail and damaging winds.

Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements. If threatening weather approaches take immediate safety precautions.



Airmass over the area is very unstable. Conditions are favourable for heavy thunderstorms to develop.

The main threats are damaging winds up to 100 km/h. Large hail and heavy downpours.

2005 Bordeaux futures redux

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the 2005 Bordeaux vintage and associated hype. Well I've now got the LCBO's second futures offer which this time includes the first growths and equivalents. One thing is clear, whether or not 2005 is the best vintage ever or the most hyped ever it will be the most expensive ever. The firsts are being offered here for between C$750 (Haut-Brion) and C$1395 (Ausone)[1] per bottle! The Medoc firsts range from C$850 to C$995. Bear in mind these are wines that probably need 15-20 years cellaring.

fn1: Not Petrus for once. That's a 'mere' C$1295/bottle.