Giant Squid Spotted on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, 2015, a tentacled wonder from the depths of the ocean visisted a Japanese Harbor.

No, it wasn't Squidard.  It was something much more amazing.

A Giant Squid was spotted beneath the boats of the Mizuhashi Fisherina in Toyama prefecture.

ARCHITEUTHIS RISES

Architeuthis, the Giant Squid, is usually found more than 2000 feet beneath the oceans surface.  The ones seen up close and personal are usually hauled up in fishing nets, their bodies white and long since dead.

Not so with this surfacing giant.

This vibrantly colored specimine was around 12 feet long, and according to Akinobu Kimura who jumped in the water to film it,

"This squid was not damaged and looked lively, spurting ink and trying to entangle his tentacles around me. I guided the squid toward to the ocean, several hundred meters from the area it was found in, and it disappeared into the deep sea."

While portrayed in movies like The Beast as being monsters hungry for human skin, this Giant Squid didn't harm a single person who swam with and filmed it.  It stayed inside the marina for several hours before being led back to open waters.

While nobody is sure why this curious squid paid a visit -- the weather was fair, ocean conditions normal and it didn't appear to be ill -- I for one am thankful for its visit, and for today's technology, and the ability to see one of these creatures

Rare Footage Of Giant Squid Swimming Along Coast Of Japan
Posted by Discovery News on Tuesday, December 29, 2015

If you are curious to know more about Architeuthis then you might want to check out the book Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster (Smithsonian) or, for the younger giant squid lovers in your life there is also Tentacles!: Tales of the Giant Squid.

And then, after you've learned all there is to know about the giant squid, you can bring home one of your very own to love!

I just want a HUG!
Love me!

See even more amazing squid video at this link:

Creature from the deep surfaces in Japanese harbor

And you can purchase any product mentioned in this post from Amazon.com.

A Doggie Howliday

We humans have been busy these past few weeks as we scrambled and scurry about, getting ready for our Christmas or other holiday.

While we were busy and excited, we might have overlooked our pets excitement.  Our holiday is their Howliday.  And while we were eagerly awaiting the jolly man in the red suit to sneak into our house and leave us gifts, they were waiting for a visit from Santa Paws.

Each year my dogs get their own gift to unwrap.  They also get their own stocking.  And they are every bit as excited to unwrap their gifts as the children are.

Some years they get new frisbees.  Some years they get new squeaky balls.  This year, for the first time in a while, they got some rawhide bones to unwrap.

 Rusty was still eager to get into his own, and other than a tiny bit of assistance, he was able to tear into his own package.

Boomer needed a little more help.  He sniffed, but didn't tear into it like he once did.  He just doesn't have the energy he once did.  He might not have many more Christmases with us.

 Once it was unwrapped, he did take it in his mouth and do a victory lap.  But only a round or two.

Please pardon my nekkid booty. 
I'm an old dog and I have skin problems.

He used to prance around and around and around the whole house.  He would have to show off his boen for 10 to 15 minutes before he chewed on it.  This time he didn't even chew on it.  He just walked a lap or two then climbed back on his sofa.

Rusty didn't really chew his either, though he did keep it close.  Just to keep anyone else from getting it.  He might not feel like chewing it, but he also doesn't feel like sharing it.

Now, while they didn't play with their bones like the once would have, they did both go nuts over their stockings.  They got Beggin Strips, one of their favorite treats that they usually only get from Santa Paws.

Did your pets get gifts this Howliday Season?  Does Santa Paws stuff them a stocking?

Northern White Rhino Faces Extinction

Have you heard about Nola?

Nola, living in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park was one of only 4 Northern White Rhino's left in the world.

Unfortunately the world lost Nola during the third weekend of November. 

While America geared up for their Thanksgiving day feasts and the shopping holiday that comes after it, the San Diego Zoo posted this sad note on their facebook page:

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of Nola, a critically endangered northern white rhino who lived at...
Posted by San Diego Zoo on Sunday, November 22, 2015

Nola, who was 41 years old, had been ill for a while.  She was suffering from a bacterial infection and had recently undergone surgery to drain an abscess in her pelvic region which was the cause of her illness.

Another female Northern White Rhino (in a different zoo) had died just this past July, also from an abcess.

The passing of these two females leaves only 3 Northern White Rhinos alive.  Two female and one male who, unfortunately, has a low sperm count.

Since poaching is the reason that the Northern White Rhino is critically endangered, Sudan is kept under constant guard, being the only male of his species left alive.  He has also has his horns cut off to make him less appealing to poachers.

Keep our #rhino #rangers safe- the men who safeguard our rhinos need your help. http://t.co/50hxQENE9d #RT #OlPejeta pic.twitter.com/nHLtJFgRR2

— Ol Pejeta (@OlPejeta) February 9, 2015

All because people with more money than sense decided that they MUST have rhino horns.

That is very silly when you realize that rhino horns are keratin all the way through.  Do you know what keratin is?  It is the same thing that our own fingernails are made of!

Since all previous insemination attempts were unsuccessful, things are looking bleak for the Northern White Rhino.

Feed Animals for Free!

If you are an animal lover, like I am, then you know there are a lot of animals out there in need.

Some of these animals are on their own in the streets, fighting for scraps of food from gutters and garbage.
Others of these animals are in shelters, where people who are kind and caring are helping house and feed them.

Animal lovers want to help all of the animals in need.  While you can't run around feed all the animals on the street, you CAN donate to animal shelters and help them feed the cats, dogs and other animals they are caring for.

Even if you don't have the spare money to help feed animals in need, you can STILL help some shelter animals eat!

How?  Simply by clicking a button!

There are a few websites online who will donate food to shelters if you visit them and click a button, or answer a question online.  They get their funds from the ads you see on their pages when you visit.

If you love animals and want to help you should try to visit all of these sites every day!

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The Animal Rescue Site

The Animal Rescue Site is the first click to feed site I was ever aware of!  You can click every day to donate food.  They also have a collection of LINKS where you can share their site on social media and your own blog or web page.  The more people who visit and click, the more food is given!

And, if you have a few extra bucks to spare you can also make donations, or buy something from the Animal Rescue Shop to further help the cause!

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Free Kibble

On Freekibble.com you answer a Trivia Question once every day.  Regardless of whether you get the answer right or wrong, they will donate 10 pieces of kibble!

If you have a little cash to spare, then for just $5 a year you can join Kibble Plus.  That will DOUBLE your daily trivia donations so that each time you click you'll be donating 20 pieces of kibble instead of 10.

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Free Kibble Kat

If you can't tell by the name and logo, Free Kibble Kat is the feline version of Free Kibble.

The same rules apply.  10 pieces of kitty kibble are donated each time you ansewr their trivia question. It doesn't matter if you get the answer wrong or right.

And, again, if you pay $5 a year to join Kibble Plus, that donation goes up to 20 pieces of kibble!

As an added bonus, you can click LuLu's Litter Box to donate kitty litter as well as kibble!

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Cute Dispute

With Cute Dispute you can get your daily dose of cute animal photos or videos, AND feed a shelter pet in need!  You are show two cute overdoses, and you have to vote for your favorite of the two.

The hardest part of this is deciding which of the two cute things you are show to vote for as the CUTEST!

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There you have 4 very simple ways to help feed shelter animals every day!  Each of them is 100% free to you, but you can donate more funds if you want to!

Do you know of any other ways to help feed shelter animals at no cost?  If so PLEASE share them in the comments below and I'll add them to my list!

SpongeBob Squarepants for Your Aquarium

Who Lives In A Pineapple In Your Aquarium?

This is a photo from my own aquarium. Spongebob by his house with one of my
Chinese algae eaters hanging out inside.

When Spongebob Squarepants first came on the scene in the late 90s, it was soon clear that the little yellow sponge was here to stay.
 
He has only grown in popularity over the years, becoming a favorite of kids and parents alike.
It was inevitable that he would be marketed in several ways. Clothing, toys, and accessories became abundant.

Despite the fact that he recently came on dry land in Sponge Out of Water, Spongebob still "lives in a pineapple under the sea" that makes him, and his wacky cast of sidekicks, PERFECT to be made into aquarium decorations.

If you know a kid, or a kid at heart, who loves Spongebob Squarepants, and wants an aquarium, then you might want to get a few of these Spongebob Squarepants decorations for them!

A Pineapple Under the Sea

How much do you know about Spongebob's house?

Did you know it has an address? (124 Conch Street)

Do you know how many times it has been destroyed (or nearly destroyed) around 15 different times, including the one time it was eaten by nematoads, and the time it simply rotted away, as pineapples under the sea are sure to do.

Don't worry though, Gary saved the day that time with a "fully furnished pineapple in a can."

The pineapple is Spongebob's Home Sweet Home, but every fishy friend in Bikini Bottom has a unique home.

Patrick has his rock.  Sandy has her tree dome.  Mr. Krabs lives in an anchor, and Squidward lives in an Easter Isalnd head with a personality of its own!  All of these homes and more are available for your aquarium decor.  Even the generic fish homes that sometimes appear as Spongebob and friends wander the streets of their town.

Bikini Bottom Buddies

Amazon makes it easy with this Penn Plax assortment
including most of the major characters!

But what good are houses if you don't have their occupants.

Sure, your aquarium fish will love hiding out in the houses (like mine do in the photo at the very top) but they would have even MORE fun with friends.

Bikini Bottom is a metropolis, bustling with a large cast of characters. There are all of Spongebob's nearest and dearest to be considered.

His pet, Gary the Snail.
His BFF Patrick.
His Neighbor Squidward.
His "girlfriend" Sandy.
His boss, Mr. Krabs
And that only scratches the surface of the Spongebob Squarepants world.

How many of them can you include in your aquarium community?

Daily Awww! Pug Puppy Meets Easter Chick

Frankie the Pug puppy has met some new friends today.  Except they are possibly the strangest puppies he has ever seen!

They are a little scary, but he's trying to be a brave little Pug and be as friendly as possible.

Today's Awww! is taken again from the Pet Collective youtube channel.

Comfy on the Sofa - Wordless Wednesday

 Sometimes Rusty gets comfortable on the sofa.

Sometimes Rusty gets REALLY comfortable on the sofa.

 

Maybe I should get him his own sofa?

Daily Awww! Fluffy Kitten vs Evil Ribbon of Doom!

If you like to start your day off with an "Awww!" Then you've come to the right place.

This morning I give you an adorable fluffy grey kitten going to battle with a springy, sproingy, evil ribbon of doom!  Who will win?  Nobody knows!



This video is one of many cute baby animal videos that the Pet Collective shares on their Youtube channel.  If you need even more Awww in your day you should check them out.

Peanut Loving Squirrel

Here is a fat and sassy looking peanut loving squirrel for Wordless Wednesday (except for the part where it is not wordless at all!):

We had gone for a walk around the neighborhood.  I had my camera in my pocket even though I didn't really expect to see anything worth taking a picture of.  Not much goes on in our neighborhood.

But as we were passing this neighbors yard I noticed this chunky squirrel nomming away on some peanuts the person had put on a pic-nick table in their yard.

 The first shot didn't turn out so good.  I kept getting the chain link fence.  My mother in law told me to walk up to the fence, but I was afraid that he would run away, or that the neighbors would think I was up to something.  (They live in our neighborhood, but we don't really KNOW them...and who wants strangers shooting pictures over their fence?)

In the end I took the risk of being branded a stalker, and I'm happy I did.  The peanut loving squirrel was so into his nuts that he didn't even THINK about scurrying up a tree.  And if the neighbors noticed me taking photos over their fence they must have realized it was because of this fellow.

My little friend there is a common creature where I live.  In fact, a lot of people call the grey squirrel a nuisance.  They get into bird feeders, and steal food right out of peoples gardens.  That can get into attics and build nests.  When they do that not only do they make a lot of noise, but they can chew wires and such too.

Personally I think they are cute, and I find it a shame that a lot of them get run over and left in the streets.

This little fellow was nomming his peanuts, but many times they will dash back and forth across the road, unsure which way to go.  And since there are so many squirrels out there, most drivers don't stop and wait for them to make up their minds!

Rest assured, we stop for the little darlings:

I Brake for Squirrels Bumper Sticker by Customizables
Find other I break for squirrels Bumper Stickers at zazzle.com

Now, if you are like me and think that squirrels are adorable and should be looked at whenever possible then you might want to check out the book The Secret Life of Squirrels.

The book (rated 4.9 stars on amazon!!!!) combines wild squirrels with miniature props for some adorable photographic goodness!