Hedgehog alert

So, I was adjusting my Google alerts a few weeks ago.  I added an alert for my name, which was recommended on various sites.  Unsurprisingly, no alerts have come into my inbox as of yet.  I also wanted to add a Google alert for something silly – hedgehogs! I find hedgehogs to be fascinating and fantastical animals and why not see what the great and might Google brings back on the topic?

First, a definition – what is a hedgehog?

A hedgehog in general is most commonly recognized as a small mammal with a coat of stiff, pointy quills covering their backs. They have pointy noses, and slightly bulging eyes located on the sides of the face. Their ears are typically rounded, though in some species, they are elongated, and located high on the sides of the head. They do have tails, but they are small and stubby, and of very little functional use. They can roll up in a ball when threatened.

 

I have come across some interesting information via the Google alert for hedgehogs. 

In the UK there are so many hedgehogs that there are hedgehog rescue centers like Tiggywinkles.  That’s right – Tiggywinkles.  Ok, Tiggywinkles takes in all kinds of animals but there is a hedgehog in its logo!  There are currently 161 hedgehogs at the center.

It seems that hedgehog couples can have a second batch of hoglets at the end of the summer, which doesn’t allow the hoglets to achieve the proper weight to make it through hibernation (600 grams).  These hoglets need to be collected and fed.  Also, many hedgehogs are orphaned during human gardening.  I mean the hogs live in the hedgerows, so they are in the line of fire (or weedwhacker or what have you).  Some of them are just injured – breaking legs is common.  Luckily they can be fitted with casts – no kidding.

Of course, there are all manner of hedgehog-themed items out there.  For instance the watermelon hedgehog:

There was a youtube clip that was going around for a while – the swimming hedgehog. I did some research and it is quite normal for hedgehogs to swim and it can be good exercise for them.

I get LOTS of Sonic the Hedgehog alerts, apparently there is a Sonic movie coming out in the near future.  Jolly.  I ignore those alerts.

One blog devoted to the joys and challenges of having a hedgehog may have convinced me that hedgehogs are perhaps not for me. Hedgehog Express talks about their fussy and moody hedgehog, Phinneus.  To be fair she also discusses the cuddly happiness of the hog. However, let’s take this quote:

Phinneus is a fiend. He always knows just how to wedge himself into tight places I cannot easily reach and cop a squat. He knows just how to ball up so that I literally have to drag him out and then hurriedly clean up the icky mess.

I don’t think I’m going to actually get a hedgehog but I’ll keep the Google alert!

* for Dummies

I’m intrigued by the whole “for Dummies” book series, which is billed as a “reference for the rest of us.”  I have to admit, I’ve read Google Apps for Dummies and Knitting for Dummies and am currently going through Photo Shop Elements 8 for Dummies and have been educated by these volumes.  I’m not offended by the “for dummies” part because I was (admittedly) a dummy when it came to Google Apps (and other topics) when I read the book.  There are, however, some “for Dummies” editions that make me laugh.  Some of these include:

• Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies and Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook For Dummies amaze me because there must be a market for this topic in order to put the effort and resources into creating these books.  I also find it a bit sad that so many people feel like they need to turn to this option.  But this post is not about my opinion on weight loss options.

 

• Happiness For Dummies and Success for Dummies are must-have books, which I clearly have not read. If I had only know it was so easy all these years – just get the book!  I can’t wait to read it myself, the blah life has been only somewhat satisfying lately.

 

• Existentialism For Dummies is definitely a companion to Happiness For Dummies.  It covers such topics as “Living a meaningful life in a meaningless world” and “Moods are the flavor of life.”  Indeed.

 

• Robot Building for Dummies is a title that doesn’t really sound like it’s meant for dummies.  Similarly, Nanotechnology For Dummies doesn’t strike me as one of those books just any person would pick up off the shelf and run with.

 

• Raising Goats for Dummies:  There are lots of animal-based volumes in the for Dummies series – Labradors for Dummies, Beagles for Dummies, Cat Care for Dummies, etc.  But raising goats seems so specific and not pet-oriented.  I’m certainly not saying that there is no value in the book but I was surprised that there is a tome specific to goat raising.

That is all.

tantalizing turkey flavor

Our little feline, Yota, gets treats once a day in addition to her regular dry food pellets.  She doesn’t like wet cat food or really any human food so her options are dry cat food pellets or treats.  She doesn’t like the semi-soft cat treats but prefers the crunchy outside, soft inside of Whiskas ® Temptations ®. 



I was absentmindedly giving her treats the other day when the back of the package caught my eye. I noticed that it said, “under 2 calories per treat.”  I know there are some fat housecats out there but advertising “under 2 calories per treat” – really?  For that to really mean anything I would need to know the average daily calorie intake of a cat of her length and weight. 

But, whatever. I then noticed the text on the back of the turkey flavored treat package:

Not to be savored but once a year, oh no! This girthy bird of paradise can be enjoyed each and every day.  I’ll wrap myself in his arms of sustenance and sink my teeth into those delectable drumsticks!  Gravy and stuffing, hah!  The only thing that’ll be stuffed is me, once I devour this phenomenal fowl…mmmm…I need my Temptations ® treaaa…zZzzZzzz…”

Is this supposed to get the pet’s person all excited to buy more of these treats knowing that the pet will be virtually sinking his/her teeth into “delectable drumsticks”??  It just made me chuckle…

Research

I work in transportation. More specifically, I work in transit. But this post really isn't about transit.

There is a lot of research going on in transportation and it encompasses everything from bikes and pedestrians to aviation and freight. I receive regular emails from various organizations doing research and getting the word out about said research. I come across some bizarre stuff, or stuff that seems bizarre to me.

Take for instance the paper I recently came across on "An Assessment of the Animal Carcass Disposal Practices of the Virginia Department of Transportation and Guidance for the Selection of Alternative Carcass Management Options."  Alternative Carcass Management Options!!!  I know these are real and serious issues related to animal vehicle collisions - especially for some person who has the title of Carcass Manager. When I'm sitting at my desk at 3 pm on a Tuesday afternoon and something like this comes into my email box, I get a little chuckley.  But when I see illustrations like the following, I, um, golly...

There are also conferences that catch my eye. For example, the National Conference on Pavement Evaluation is coming up in October. The receptions for this have got to be hot. Especially those involving the Road Profiler Users Group.

There's also the 10th Annual Conference on Low Volume Roads taking place at Walt Disney World. 

Now, given the name, I imagine the LVR conference is nothing compared to the shit that goes down at the high volume roads conference!  I see that the awards luncheon will feature the "Yoder" award and that conference attendees get to go on a field trip where they "study and observe low-volume road issues."  What might those be?

I'll keep my eye out for other interesting research.

really?

what is this?  I think these are advertisements from a place not America.




And this?



??