tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37507862567952897722024-02-22T11:59:46.204-08:00Ann Littlewood Zoo Mysteries and Other FictionAbout life, fiction, zoo mysteries, conservation, etc.Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-35371133484404777712017-08-23T18:03:00.000-07:002017-08-23T18:03:09.205-07:00The Solar System RevealedWatching the top of Mt. Saint Helens disappear in 1980 made geology abruptly real and relevant and not the least theoretical or gradual. Blam! Yup, that's geology. Watching this eclipse did the same for astronomy. Forget the left-brain physics--this was giant objects and forces doing what they do. Human desires and powers are irrelevant to the cosmos, sci-fi writers to the contrary.<br />
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We dithered about leaving Portland for somewhere south and maybe east to see the full eclipse and were saved by an invitation to a Portland Audubon fund raiser. A family named Bridges (Bridges Foundation) recently bought a property near Turner, Oregon, south of Salem, to preserve an oak forest. They offered the place for a camp-out and the ace volunteers of Audubon jumped for it. (Thank you, thank you.) So about 100 of us straggled in to Oak Haven on Saturday and pitched our tents.<br />
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We lacked water faucets, showers, and picnic tables, and porta-potties were in short supply, but we had a surplus of people delighted to see each other, brown creepers and peewees in abundance, and dogs, kids, sunshine, and oaks. This event was organized to the nines and any hitches were invisible. Everyone pitched in, nothing caught fire (a distinct possibility) and I believe we left the place spotless. The peewees called and called, morning and evening, with the odd towhee pitching in, delicate trills contributed by the creepers. Turkey vultures passed overhead now and again, but I slept through the late-night coyote chorus, alas.<br />
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People led bird walks, meditation walks, dragonfly walks, and so on. We had a sing-along and a dessert potluck and long <strike>arguments</strike> discussions about the very best place to view the eclipse. Audubon's executive director flipped pancakes for us.<br />
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Monday morning we hauled camp chairs to a grassy meadow with our special glasses, dogs, kids, and cameras and sat down for the show.<br />
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The sun is just painful to look at without the viewing glasses and half or one third of a sun is nearly as bright as a full sun, so I would guess that in pre-physicist years, people didn't really notice eclipses until they were well under way. But with the glasses, I could see that the moon was a huge thing crossing the sky, somehow much more 3-D and more intimidating as a big dark sphere during the day than it is as a yellow one at night. The sun seemed to hover motionless as the gray moon slid across it. <br />
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Even a sliver of sun is blindingly bright. But twilight slowly set in. Close to totality, the air temperature dropped and people pulled on
sweaters. The dogs and birds and horses nearby didn't do anything
unusual that I noticed. You couldn't read a newspaper, but you neither would you need a flashlight. When the sun was completely occluded, peach-colored sunset ran all around the horizon. As agreed, we were silent.<br />
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Totality is not at all like almost-totality. The sun disappeared completely--only darkness. Until I pulled off the glasses. Then I saw a flaming ring, the sun's corona around the dark moon. The corona is always there, but too faint to see without the sun's disk entirely masked.<br />
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I have had the privilege of seeing that unlikely beauty.<br />
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Then the moon slid on and we sighed and got up and began to pack for the tedious struggle home through traffic.<br />
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Thank you, universe, for our eyes and ability to take notice. We won't forget.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totality pancakes by Nick Hardigg</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sing-along</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIU3pYCzzHeZwyQfuJGg6M9LM0eTpW0lF8_nj-xyoEpDKZEn7A9C3fHiLr9d8eWtVY6eU7T7iy0FFb1aMWP0dziG1QdobDnzo6j6AeaIKDEii8f9SX2ma-lTXpH1tp0LDmaBY1cjA5Eo/s1600/2017-08-21+09.51.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIU3pYCzzHeZwyQfuJGg6M9LM0eTpW0lF8_nj-xyoEpDKZEn7A9C3fHiLr9d8eWtVY6eU7T7iy0FFb1aMWP0dziG1QdobDnzo6j6AeaIKDEii8f9SX2ma-lTXpH1tp0LDmaBY1cjA5Eo/s320/2017-08-21+09.51.08.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digi-scoped moon (thanks, Dan, for the help)</td></tr>
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<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-12066197759505155402017-06-13T15:22:00.002-07:002017-06-14T17:48:24.719-07:00The Owl on the Road to MedfordAfter three mystery novels with a mainstream mystery publisher--Poisoned Pen Press--I have embarked on a different fiction journey. I wrote a short story, it won a contest, and my muse said, "Let's do more of that!"<br />
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The original <i>Owl on the Road to Medford</i> was an experiment in voice and indirect story. (Yes, I just made up that term.) You can read it <a href="http://www.calyxpress.org/292Prose.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Calyx literary magazine picked it up after it won the 2014 Oregon Writer's Colony first prize for short fiction. Woo-hoo!<br />
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So I wrote six more short stories with the same narrator in the same setting--a wildlife rehabilitation clinic somewhere in western Oregon. I got to use a bunch of anecdotes from my zoo days and thereafter. The central character is an amalgam of men I have known and liked and sympathized with. Why a male voice? "Why not?" says the muse. Just because, say I.<br />
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These seven stories turned out to have a story arc, an adventure of the heart. Together, they seemed to me to make a novella--not as big as a novel, but not a short story collection in the usual sense.<br />
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As far as I can tell, publishers have no interest in novellas, so I set out to self-publish, as many authors are doing these days. After a short but intense struggle, <i>The Owl on the Road to Medford</i> is now available as an ebook. Click<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071716K9F" target="_blank"> HERE</a> to take a look. It soon will be available on paper, assuming that I figure out how to do that.<br />
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If you buy it and like it, do me a favor and post a little review. I'd appreciate it and my muse might, too.<br />
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<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-65570404541841291742017-06-13T15:02:00.000-07:002017-06-13T15:02:03.703-07:00When hope fails--a poem<div style="text-align: center;">
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The Real Work</h2>
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by <a href="http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?ufl=2&rtr=on&s=fj6,wyrf,dv,2ygo,a2t9,3jhj,lblj" target="_blank">Wendell Berry</a></div>
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It may be that when we no longer know what to do<br />
we have come to our real work,<br />
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and that when we no longer know which way to go<br />
we have come to our real journey.<br />
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The mind that is not baffled is not employed.<br />
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The impeded stream is the one that sings.<br />
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"The Real Work" by Wendell Berry, from <i>Standing by Words</i>. © 1983, Used by permission of Counterpoint.
(<a href="http://www.elabs7.com/c.html?ufl=2&rtr=on&s=fj6,wyrf,dv,fwxl,f7uu,3jhj,lblj" target="_blank">buy now</a>)
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Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-40281616555290332112014-10-02T11:57:00.001-07:002014-10-02T11:58:17.134-07:00Littlewoods at the Climate MarchThe Berlin Wall came down. The USSR broke up. We elected an African-Amercan president. Wyoming wolves are (maybe) back on the federal endangered species list and safe(r) from state management by shooting. Surprises happen and some of them are Good Things. This is what I think about when I am overwhelmed by climate change.<br />
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We went to New York City for the big march. We showed up. Showing up is not much, but it's what we COULD do. Paid for carbon credits since we flew from Portland, Oregon. Had tee shirts made for us and the friends and relatives who joined us. And we had a great time.<br />
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The weather was warm and the air was fall-sparkly. The crowd was huge and cheerful. Police were scarce and relaxed. The signs and chants and giant balloons and musicians were all fun. And, as Naomi Klein pointed out at a reading last night, the crowd was reasonably diverse, not just a bunch of us glum environmentalists, not just white folks, a mix of ages. You can't see much in a huge crowd, but sustainable agriculture and living-wage and many other groups were well represented. I met Peter Galvin, one of the founders of Center for Biological Diversity, and saw Kieran Suckling, another, as they accompanied Frostpaw the polar bear. Whoever was inside that costume suffered--it must have been HOT! But that bear sure got a lot of press.<br />
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And the next day, we did it again. The Flood Wall Street march was smaller and edgier, billed as an "arrestable event." We weren't up for arrest (maybe in our own town), but we marched and helped carry an enormous banner apparently targeting cameras in helicopters because no one on the ground could possibly read it. The giant "carbon bubble" balloon got stuck under a traffic light at one point and we all cheered when it got through. The march never actually got to Wall Street, which was well-barricaded. (Lots more police evident at this march.) It stalled near the New York Stock Exchange, alongside the big gold bull sculpture. Tellingly, there is no bear sculpture. The point of the march seemed to be that capitalism is the problem and prevents solutions to carbon pollution. The enormous sums the oil companies are making back that up. Naomi Klein said that energy companies spend $400,000 a day on lobbying Congress, contributing to the corruption and paralysis of our political system. <br />
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These marches are oddly tiring and we packed it in after three or four hours, but our daughter toughed it out. The police played a waiting game, and it was getting dark before they finally started arresting people. Hunger and a lack of portapotties had thinned the crowd to a hundred or so by then. You had to work at getting arrested--it was cold by that point. But our daughter managed it. She said the officer who zip-tied her hands muttered that a lot of them agreed with the march. From what I saw, the cops were tired, but calm and professional. She ended up in a cell with a mountaintop removal activist from West Virginia and emerged the next morning physically and emotionally unscathed. Whew! You never know in these situations. We want to help pay her fine, to ride her brave coat-tails.<br />
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After the marches, we took the train to Boston for our grandson's first birthday. The party was wonderful--the under-two set was well represented. The babies ate cupcakes, chased balloons, took toys away from either other, and splashed in ecstasy in three inches of water in an inflatable pool.<br />
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We can't afford not to hope. Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-4593025782409723892013-02-15T22:55:00.002-08:002013-02-15T22:55:43.793-08:00Book review: Flight Behavior by Barbara KingsolverBarbara Kingsolver trained as a biologist, she's passionate about environmental issues, and she sure can craft a sentence. <a href="http://www.kingsolver.com/books/flight-behavior.html" target="_blank">Flight Behavior</a> (2012, HarperCollins) is as compelling as it is informative. Dellarobia Turnbow, a young mother in Tennessee, finds a new monarch butterfly wintering area and her tiny world, constricted by poverty, babies, a lack of education, and a diffident husband has the door thrown open to unexpected winds from outside. The story weaves together the heart-breaking science of climate change and the heart-break of a weak marriage. Salvation for the monarchs remains unlikely in this fictional disaster, but Dellarobia may get her chance.<br /><br />The climate change theme is information-dense without being (oh, dreaded word!) "preachy" and this is an excellent way to catch up on the biological aspects of this issue. I've been tracking this for years and didn't flinch. Less familiar to me was how people live in these United States in rural poverty--bad housing, bad food, bad schools. In a brilliant scene, Dellarobia has to laugh at an earnest enviro's plea to reduce and reuse, turn down the thermostat, etc. Lack of money long ago made those decisions for her. Kingsolver represents Dellarobia's world with respect and understanding as well as with sympathy. <br /><br />Dellarobia's desperation over her lot in life is palpable and touching. The first third of the book establishes her world and the "miracle" that disrupts it, but this moves slowly. Flight Behavior is a novel more to be savored than rushed.<br /><br />The charms of this story include the varied characters: relatives, a best friend, scientists, and the unusual people attracted to any unusual event. No stereotypes here of either rural eccentrics or over-educated nerds, no one who does not carry their own gravitas and produce a surprise or two. Then there is Kingsolver's enviable way with language. "She could see that his old generosity was still there, but was sometimes being held captive by despair, like a living thing held underwater." You'll have to search hard to find a weak sentence.<br />
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Kingsolver created an appealing heroine in Dellarobia: bright and funny, a kind and dedicated mother who struggles to keep her marriage alive. I have to ask, however, if instead of a petite red-haired cutie, could the story have worked with a big, homely woman? Must all our heroines be beautiful winners?<br />
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A big-hearted, sad, gorgeous book. I'll be reading it again. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It also has good information about raising sheep.</td></tr>
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A version of this review was also posted in Goodreads. The book was a Christmas gift.Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-27946033440002887362012-12-17T15:58:00.001-08:002012-12-17T15:58:15.600-08:002012 Tapers OffHere's a guest blog on <a href="http://www.cncbooks.com/blog/2012/12/16/2012-tapers-off/" target="_blank">Buried Under Books</a>.<br />
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Happy Holidays!<br />
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Ann<br />
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<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-3118919770316965182012-12-14T10:35:00.002-08:002012-12-14T10:35:20.990-08:00Deep Thoughts: My monthly Poisoned Pen blog<a href="http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/the-life-of/" target="_blank">Here you go.</a> Click and enjoy. Leave a comment, even!Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-72013202755246497682012-12-01T13:46:00.001-08:002012-12-04T12:25:25.507-08:00Book review: Skulls by Simon WinchesterMost people who like natural history and the outdoor world are, in my experience, entranced by skulls. We find them beautiful (assuming the stinky parts are long gone) and they tell tales about the species and the individual. The individual tales are often tragic--a horse skull with a broken lower jaw, a coyote skull with a bullet hole, a smashed skull from a road-killed raccoon. The species tales are less freighted. Teeth and sagittal crests imply how the animal made its living and defended itself.<br />
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I lept at the chance to hear Simon Winchester discuss his new book <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/18-9781579129125-0" target="_blank">Skulls: An Exploration of Alan Dudley's Curious Collection</a>. He gave a nice talk to a big crowd at Powell's Books here in Portland. We would, of course, sit still for anyone with a cool British accent (not to mention his previously very successful books), but he also had an<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skulls-by-simon-winchester/id476457718?mt=8" target="_blank"> app of the book</a> up on the screen (iPad only, not iPhone). In the app, the skulls rotate--wonderful.<br />
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The hardcover is a beautiful collection of Nick Mann's photos of skulls that were prepared by a private collector, Alan Dudley. Dudley came to Winchester's attention after getting busted buying an illegal howler monkey skull. He pleaded guilty, did his service and paid his fine, and the implication is that he isn't normally one to slip up in this way. I find this pretty satisfactory--he does a great job with the skulls and shares his expertise AND he serves as a lesson to other collectors not to get carried away and promote a market for slaughtering rare animals. (Replicas of many species are readily available, by the way.) Dudley gets almost all of his skulls from zoos.<br />
<br />
Among this book's virtues are a plethora of bird, fish and reptile skulls. Photographs of mammal skulls are widely available as they are the taxonomic touchstone for mammals. The others, not so much. Partly they are less common because (I know from trying) fish and reptile skulls can be the very devil to prepare. The skull bones are often not fused and fall into separate bits when the connective tissue is gone. I wanted to learn more about Dudley's methods, but this isn't a how-to book. Fair enough.<br />
<br />
Of special interest: a great assortment of hornbills, odd and fragile skulls of venomous snakes, wild pigs with their seemingly self-destructive curving tusks. Be sure to take a look at the domestic dog skulls and consider what we have done to the sturdy wolf.<br />
<br />
Most of the photos are by Nick Mann, who has done great work on other Workman Publishing science books as well, and most are excellent. Many of the smaller skulls are out of focus, however. Printing the images against a black background works very well for most skulls, but much detail is lost for black bird bills (such as the Northern Shoveler) and the black horns of some bovids.The photo of Holbein's large painting The Ambassadors lacks details discussed in the text. Most of these weaknesses are demerits for the printer, not the author or photographer.<br />
<br />
The photos are interspersed with text about skulls in art, history, human evolution, etc. These are interesting, written for a non-technical audience, but this is primarily a visual book. <br />
<br />
You won't be able to derive the species of that squirrel skull you found in the woods from this book, but you will see an enormous variety of skulls well presented. A beautiful addition to the natural history library.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ivZS8-5Zl5_gNBgT-OLpeqx7k9DAzDyN86qDVRwtu-hyrIX6RqHJNuY_lxUDezrv6qptSGQqJ-z5dsJbhM0QQ2SvUWkdTrXST1K2_XH8HHATlnAMcHpBuj8FV8Ie0FXL_k1ebmeJ0hM/s1600/CapeBuffaloResting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ivZS8-5Zl5_gNBgT-OLpeqx7k9DAzDyN86qDVRwtu-hyrIX6RqHJNuY_lxUDezrv6qptSGQqJ-z5dsJbhM0QQ2SvUWkdTrXST1K2_XH8HHATlnAMcHpBuj8FV8Ie0FXL_k1ebmeJ0hM/s320/CapeBuffaloResting.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't even think about it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-3384101517207499862012-08-21T12:53:00.001-07:002012-08-21T12:53:15.542-07:00NW Authors' Fair this SaturdayI'm off to Lincoln City for Bob's Beach Books big annual book fair. <a href="http://www.oregoncoasttoday.com/northwest-author-fair.html" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for details. I'll be signing under the tent on Highway 101 from 11 to 2 on Saturday. This coming Saturday, that is.<br />
<br />
Hope to see you there!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakcp1bFnuroDXyv16tu26rReRPhiThYupchkx1gtt6lJK_9Ob_nv4uU-k5bgkdqevwH_zXSNRAYKiX47xvmE3LifTRJWOLEZCMDgspWd_xG4HZe1gphz65ddaPWy0fZOAusrwLwpYfg4/s1600/BobsBeachBooksCloseup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakcp1bFnuroDXyv16tu26rReRPhiThYupchkx1gtt6lJK_9Ob_nv4uU-k5bgkdqevwH_zXSNRAYKiX47xvmE3LifTRJWOLEZCMDgspWd_xG4HZe1gphz65ddaPWy0fZOAusrwLwpYfg4/s320/BobsBeachBooksCloseup.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last year with Bernadette Pajer (left) and Jeanne Matthews (right)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-66143450147907426712012-07-26T21:55:00.004-07:002012-07-26T22:00:53.935-07:00Off to California<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm heading for the Golden State soon for a book tour, taking my dog and pony. Well, my slide show, anyway. The dog didn't want to come and I couldn't find a trained pony. I'll be moving fast--catch me if you can!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><b>Thursday, August 2</b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Berkeley, 2 PM, Janet Rudolph’s Literary
Salon</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">This event
is open to the public, but in a private home. Email Janet at <a href="mailto:janet@mysteryreaders.org" target="_blank" title="mailto:janet@mysteryreaders.org">janet@mysteryreaders.org</a> for directions and to
RSVP.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><br />Friday, August 3<br />A visit
to the Sacramento Zoo for fun, then--<br /><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sacramento, 7 PM, Avid Reader, 1600
Broadway</span></b><br /><br />Saturday, August 4<br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><b>Orange, CA, </b><b>3 PM, Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin
Avenue</b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;">
<br />Sunday, August 5<br /><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">South Pasadena, CA, 12 </span></b><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Noon, Book’em Mysteries, 1118 Mission St. </span></b><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Redondo Beach,
CA, </span></b><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">2:30 PM.
Mysterious Galaxy Books. 2810 Artesia Blvd. </span></b></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;">Monday, August 6A day
at Los Angeles Zoo and home!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBb_x4WoLo7meemEPfVc8fO4YAj9gBKd0ug-qjw-k5Rk063X4jtFWYTKezX4oPibM0a7uoeY1SV3IJijaI-jHya2XAaEAaqnVVMqv447O-gxnsF6VxoK4kkRhfIN-z_BWhKhPip4zWio4/s1600/MBTBrug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBb_x4WoLo7meemEPfVc8fO4YAj9gBKd0ug-qjw-k5Rk063X4jtFWYTKezX4oPibM0a7uoeY1SV3IJijaI-jHya2XAaEAaqnVVMqv447O-gxnsF6VxoK4kkRhfIN-z_BWhKhPip4zWio4/s320/MBTBrug.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, after this tour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-25009233810270014692012-07-25T10:50:00.000-07:002012-07-25T10:50:16.157-07:00Seattle: Pictures from Woodland Park ZooI was in Seattle last weekend. Spent Friday at the zoo having a wonderful time, then spoke with Pattie Beaven's zoo book club. I "appeared" at Seattle Mystery Bookshop on Saturday (<a href="http://seattlemysteryblog.typepad.com/seattle_mystery/2012/07/dueling-authors.html" target="_blank">here's the blog I helped write</a>), then Third Place Books. A great weekend. But about those pictures...<br />
<br />
I got to meet Ray, a Malayan Tapir, and feed him carrots and sweet potatoes. What a gorgeous animal!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkRKy93izdnI87JrTt1CqL1aWLy7aLvOGrPhVk5nzrjgEh6lICOJxuAxdqSoiESL38fKcfnoHLw87ZBksXJxLHC2k6oWKHFZK5jdMgrYHtvNIS_x3mPseQT2q-H3TaJ7lPwbRyshdwIs/s1600/Ray.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkRKy93izdnI87JrTt1CqL1aWLy7aLvOGrPhVk5nzrjgEh6lICOJxuAxdqSoiESL38fKcfnoHLw87ZBksXJxLHC2k6oWKHFZK5jdMgrYHtvNIS_x3mPseQT2q-H3TaJ7lPwbRyshdwIs/s320/Ray.JPG" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treats? Did someone mention treats?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBEwzVInzEkws2O0mRb9pjX3Z3ptY9Yaiw3UHCJwog1OmK_YvP9z7v0e98vzoP_t3S5tmhEnVpoSKHKDdbd6TxzwJaAHV0McJHPYbNY97aF33lR-5HYFBsZcqzq9mPK1ao-7EDdw7ZMc/s1600/TaperTeeth_Tongue.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBEwzVInzEkws2O0mRb9pjX3Z3ptY9Yaiw3UHCJwog1OmK_YvP9z7v0e98vzoP_t3S5tmhEnVpoSKHKDdbd6TxzwJaAHV0McJHPYbNY97aF33lR-5HYFBsZcqzq9mPK1ao-7EDdw7ZMc/s320/TaperTeeth_Tongue.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teeth and a strange tongue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ovsXkW7VYE3MCRRkHAY96T4uTLbVBJynSDtRFJmNJEcVHNV9ViH4JspOxTxBwpL6uk4oxkFFncBMWr26v_bJwDz1afoRRBxJisiHqYp3m7Ed9V6WSiJ-w3eQrv4_bgNRm5rY2CxqU3c/s1600/TapirEars_Toes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ovsXkW7VYE3MCRRkHAY96T4uTLbVBJynSDtRFJmNJEcVHNV9ViH4JspOxTxBwpL6uk4oxkFFncBMWr26v_bJwDz1afoRRBxJisiHqYp3m7Ed9V6WSiJ-w3eQrv4_bgNRm5rY2CxqU3c/s320/TapirEars_Toes.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute white rims to his ears. No, he's not eating the fence.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjlznF7ns_ZACQ_Yl9eAeOmo5NOXHNhZISCRnbaESEkwXn_p88bgmNKoM8l4adCJHTUBSB4oyweLx1ku_pogBfCrjN1I_x5RrpWm3G1GcrN3dLQ3Pwn6L-V8rs5wxYMS3__fam0jzqJ0/s1600/TapirToes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjlznF7ns_ZACQ_Yl9eAeOmo5NOXHNhZISCRnbaESEkwXn_p88bgmNKoM8l4adCJHTUBSB4oyweLx1ku_pogBfCrjN1I_x5RrpWm3G1GcrN3dLQ3Pwn6L-V8rs5wxYMS3__fam0jzqJ0/s320/TapirToes.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And adorable toes, perfect for getting around in swamps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-10627819004058989132012-07-19T20:10:00.000-07:002012-07-19T20:10:48.608-07:00North to Alaska... well, not reallyI am off to Seattle at dawn-thirty tomorrow!<br />
<br />
I'll see Woodland Park Zoo and friends, maybe test my event slide show on the real experts.<br />
<br />
Saturday: <a href="http://www.seattlemystery.com/author-events-0" target="_blank">Seattle Mystery Bookshop</a> at noon. <a href="http://www.thirdplacebooks.com/auth-event" target="_blank">Third Place Books</a> at 6:30.<br />
<br />
Sunday: The King Tut exhibit with a friend, then home again, home again, jiggity jig <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXlhg99_J8cVzwfV4wvzYl69_3rIKJpnLVfiQ-whFXAAykdvgE915183BTxKKHonStlz91mFYEieVklhycSuUkzVsOXHtmAAv58FCQ1lwNNey0xINN60m6_lqoyTlMGwFMJg-4wFoBr4/s1600/Piglet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXlhg99_J8cVzwfV4wvzYl69_3rIKJpnLVfiQ-whFXAAykdvgE915183BTxKKHonStlz91mFYEieVklhycSuUkzVsOXHtmAAv58FCQ1lwNNey0xINN60m6_lqoyTlMGwFMJg-4wFoBr4/s320/Piglet.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All jigged out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-74151822675604818042012-07-13T14:17:00.002-07:002012-07-19T21:57:50.429-07:00Saturation postingI'm am all over the interwebs! Here's a list of recent guest blogs where you can learn my Innermost Secrets and Deep Thoughts. To the extent I have any of either.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/5146/1/Meet-Author-Ann-Littlewood/Page1.html" target="_blank">Book Pleasures </a> An interview that got maybe a tad too frank? You be the judge.<br />
<a href="http://www.bookpage.com/the-book-case/2012/07/03/zoo-dunits-inspire-readers-to-action/" target="_blank">The Book Case</a> Inspiring Readers to Action<br />
<a href="http://www.omnimysterynews.com/2012/07/ann-littlewood-zoo-dunit-mysteries.html" target="_blank">OmniMystery News</a> Where Baby Plots Come From. Yes, under a cabbage leaf. Don't miss the contest.<br />
<a href="http://www.giftsthatgiveblog.com/2012/07/16/ann-littlewood-has-zoo-dunnit/" target="_blank">Gifts That Give</a> Trying to save the world one mystery at a time<br />
<a href="http://page69test.blogspot.com/2012/07/endangered.html" target="_blank">The Page 69 Test</a> Just what it sounds like<br />
<br />
Ooops! Almost forgot one: Jenny Milchman's <a href="http://www.jennymilchman.com/blog/?p=2476" target="_blank">Made It Moment</a><br />
<br />
And if that's not enough:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget28339">
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<br />
<h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0 0 10px !important; padding: 0 !important; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
</h2>
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13222337"><img alt="Endangered by Ann Littlewood" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340994706l/13222337.jpg" title="Endangered by Ann Littlewood" width="100" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0 0 0 110px !important; padding: 0 0 0 0 !important;">
<h3 style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13222337">Endangered</a>
</h3>
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1574392.Ann_Littlewood" style="text-decoration: none;">Ann Littlewood</a>
</h4>
<div class="giveaway_details">
Giveaway ends July 30, 2012.
<br />
See the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/28339" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
</div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/28339">Enter to win</a>
</div>
</div>
<script charset="utf-8" src="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/28339" type="text/javascript">
</script>Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-57391872636032681532012-07-09T13:40:00.002-07:002012-07-14T10:44:12.670-07:00"Passionate Plotting"The Book Case, which is the blog for The Book Page (a huge book review site), kindly hosted a guest blog I wrote about incorporating issues important to me in my book plots.<br />
<br />
Click <a href="http://www.bookpage.com/the-book-case/2012/07/03/zoo-dunits-inspire-readers-to-action/" target="_blank">HERE</a> for the full rant. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdANLBLiAE4cXPpAMR5nWMsVErYQOV7tvH0AmzP1w6QTPFXSBE7ho1V-AsaxNxqnilavIH_avI5VZEOwYgKmHBFSFLIjnnv4yDWHF_SCh98LB4wtbsEsKnrmskK8dzWGY6fso4Kp6CGzQ/s1600/GreatWhitePelicans4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdANLBLiAE4cXPpAMR5nWMsVErYQOV7tvH0AmzP1w6QTPFXSBE7ho1V-AsaxNxqnilavIH_avI5VZEOwYgKmHBFSFLIjnnv4yDWHF_SCh98LB4wtbsEsKnrmskK8dzWGY6fso4Kp6CGzQ/s320/GreatWhitePelicans4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey! Calm down!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-89159883450275119772012-07-08T13:07:00.003-07:002012-07-08T13:07:52.007-07:00Free is a very good price!Faithful reader,<br />
<br />
Here is your chance at a reward. Hie thee to Goodreads (a fine site for sharing information about books you've read) and enter the drawing to win a free copy--hard cover no less, signed even--of <i>Endangered, </i>which will be delivered to the address of your choice by a uniformed representative of the US Government.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div id="goodreadsGiveawayWidget28339">
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_new">Goodreads</a> Book Giveaway
</h2>
<div style="float: left;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13222337"><img alt="Endangered by Ann Littlewood" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1340994706l/13222337.jpg" title="Endangered by Ann Littlewood" width="100" /></a>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0 0 0 110px !important; padding: 0 0 0 0 !important;">
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13222337">Endangered</a>
</h3>
<h4 style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0 0 10px; padding: 0;">
by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1574392.Ann_Littlewood" style="text-decoration: none;">Ann Littlewood</a>
</h4>
<div class="giveaway_details">
Giveaway ends July 30, 2012.
<br />
See the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/28339" style="text-decoration: none;">giveaway details</a>
at Goodreads.
</div>
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
</div>
<a class="goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink" href="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/enter_choose_address/28339">Enter to win</a>
</div>
</div>
<script charset="utf-8" src="http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/28339" type="text/javascript">
</script>Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-21571381125428030892012-07-05T20:58:00.002-07:002012-07-05T20:58:46.377-07:00Endangered Flies Free!Yes, <i>Endangered</i> is now Officially Released. I am thrilled, exhausted, slightly delirious.<br />
<br />
I've been neglecting this blog in favor of guest blogs. Here's one that went up today, Jenny Milchman's "<a href="http://www.jennymilchman.com/blog/?p=2476&cpage=1#comment-42249" target="_blank">Made It Moment" blog</a>. I got lots of those moments!<br />
<br />
And heads up--there will be <i>contests</i> to win free books. Watch this blog.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlyyZtbeil_VVGJDxQPcGyGsU-X24cnAZde523eHDZwYwISEjQtPbg_ObXgSvzqc1k2sDDMfqLLgIwu_Y1dWDkcGj2ghAg3HQ2-zgh2g2zsAOb-5Q_Y3I-zHIeSLW5kNHthGmZzKMTbQ/s1600/MajorReadsEndangered.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlyyZtbeil_VVGJDxQPcGyGsU-X24cnAZde523eHDZwYwISEjQtPbg_ObXgSvzqc1k2sDDMfqLLgIwu_Y1dWDkcGj2ghAg3HQ2-zgh2g2zsAOb-5Q_Y3I-zHIeSLW5kNHthGmZzKMTbQ/s400/MajorReadsEndangered.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An early reader--Major loved it, I'm told.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-81342072408981129062012-05-28T21:30:00.000-07:002012-05-28T21:30:39.236-07:00Littlewood 1: Facebook 0I went mano a mano with Facebook and won, sort of. Here's the link to my new Author Page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AnnLittlewoodZooMysteries" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
<br />
Take a look. Leave a comment letting me know what you think. Click the "Like" button please, so I don't feel I've blown an entire evening for nothing.<br />
<br />
And why did I bother? So that I could keep you up to date on <i>Endangered</i>, which is garnering some nice reviews and is set to come out about July 10.<br />
<br />
More on that soon! Right now, I need an adult beverage.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9wosv_PmJM3oPXHP9xVga76t8aEYYwpGeZ_lbG4JJaJgLgtcmpt2RR5g1EmGuxJGxQcpp_2ojUbg-Zt_Sy41vftz2KTnapbOaWAwUTnf6oMEXg_NdAm_1NVTu4y_Ywjj8fxmgVgcnJk/s1600/SpotNoseMonkey_Tusker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9wosv_PmJM3oPXHP9xVga76t8aEYYwpGeZ_lbG4JJaJgLgtcmpt2RR5g1EmGuxJGxQcpp_2ojUbg-Zt_Sy41vftz2KTnapbOaWAwUTnf6oMEXg_NdAm_1NVTu4y_Ywjj8fxmgVgcnJk/s320/SpotNoseMonkey_Tusker.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not yet an adult, but still....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-4018905339115328532012-05-08T20:06:00.000-07:002012-05-08T20:06:51.466-07:00Judging the American Cuddle Dog: Clarifications<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Dear Readers of This Blog: The following came to my attention recently and should be of interest to many of you. A. Littlewood </div>
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Dear ACD Judges,</div>
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The ACD board is hearing way too many complaints about
judging at the American Cuddle Dog trials. If we are ever to get the same <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">respect </i>as the agility and herding
events, we absolutely have to have consistency in our judging. I know you all
do your best to be fair and impartial, but it’s time we upped our game. </div>
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The American Cuddle Dog is judged on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">performance</i>. [This cannot be repeated too often.] Here are the
standards with my comments (the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ACD board’s</i>
comments) in brackets. Read them carefully<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
and follow them to the letter!</i></div>
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1. The show ring is prepared with one sofa per contestant. Dogs
enter with their handlers and stand by their assigned sofa. Handlers sit down
and wait for the judge’s command “Lap your dog”. [This part is working fine—no
problems.]</div>
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2. The Cuddle Dog is to wait quietly for the handler’s signal.
Eagerness is desirable, but jumping before the command, pawing the sofa, and
loud whining are penalized. When the handler signals by voice or hand, the ACD
should immediately jump up. [If the ACD needs handler help to get on the sofa,
this is permitted, but the handler can’t just haul the ACD up there—the dog has
to be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trying</i>. Most of you judges understand
this.]</div>
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On the lap, the Cuddle Dog is judged as follows: </div>
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3. The dog’s speed
in assuming the “boneless” posture is crucial. The Cuddle Dog may be on its
belly or its back—relaxation is the primary criterion. Circling and pawing to
improve the lap are penalized. <br />
[Judges, this is a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">performance</i>
competition. One of you recently disqualified a St. Bernard on grounds “he was
just too damn big” and another disqualified a greyhound (“all bones and
joints”). This is not a conformation class! Any dog can enter!] </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in;">
4. The
Cuddle Dog is judged by its degree of immobility, although gentle nudging of
the handler to elicit stroking is permitted. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
5. Thermal transfer is
evaluated by thermometer inserted at the handler’s thigh. Thermally neutral
dogs are disqualified. Warmth is essential to Cuddle Dog performance. [Judges,
wait four minutes before the thermometer test.]</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
6. Flatulence
(by the ACD) is cause for immediate disqualification. [Handlers often try to
hide this defect. Watch closely for grimacing, blowing, or breathing to the
side.]</div>
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<br /></div>
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7. The Cuddle Dog’s coat should be tactically pleasing. [Judges
are allowed leeway in this necessarily subjective evaluation, but do not abuse
this. An older Golden Retriever, otherwise very well qualified, was rejected
for “shedding like Aunt Maggie’s raccoon jacket.” The ACD board will consider
whether to declare excessive shedding as a defect, but it is not one now <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so don’t use it!</i>] </div>
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8. Steadiness in the face of distractions is tested by waving
ordinary dog kibble 12” from the dog’s nose. The Cuddle Dog should respond by
no more than one briefly opened eye. [Judges, You <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">may not</i> use dried liver bits, venison jerky, or decaying chicken
bones for this test. There is only so much you can expect of any dog, even a
Champion ACD.]</div>
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I’m sure we can avoid future brouhahas by consistent
judging. Owners of ACD’s are by nature sedentary, peaceful people. As long as
they think their dogs are being evaluated fairly, we should see no more
acrimonious charges that “only King Charles Spaniels and miniature poodles have
a chance,” and so on.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thank you for your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">careful</i>
attention.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fannie Sitwell, President, Board of ACD Society</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8qZEHMMUbT6QdoDMT8E2Bv9tt9yM6QtQAVacRKLFgIufgXUvCpYDVn7Wkfruebq6x3-wWyqzv8VqnMX8t1FvVfph3XKC56jeX5czms1e3oZ0RggX_vpbfC31yTUpaPKcKezkI6Jjutk/s1600/LapDogCompr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8qZEHMMUbT6QdoDMT8E2Bv9tt9yM6QtQAVacRKLFgIufgXUvCpYDVn7Wkfruebq6x3-wWyqzv8VqnMX8t1FvVfph3XKC56jeX5czms1e3oZ0RggX_vpbfC31yTUpaPKcKezkI6Jjutk/s400/LapDogCompr.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Champion Littlewood’s Scourge O’Squirrels ‘Murphy’ showing
excellent form.</div>Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-49986566067667674582012-04-25T16:50:00.001-07:002012-04-25T16:50:33.853-07:00Ashland, Oregon Mystery Author SeriesHere's a size-large THANK YOU to Maureen Flanagan, Ed Battistella, Michael Niemann, and Carl Hilton for a blow-out weekend in Ashland, Oregon.<br />
<br />
Ashland is a smallish town in a remote corner of a small state. Yet it hosts a fabulous, famous <a href="http://www.osfashland.org/" target="_blank">Shakespeare series</a> and--it turns out--a terrific <a href="http://www.booksandoldlace.com/" target="_blank">mystery author series</a>. And my very own self was invited as one of this year's Ashland Mystery Readers Group. The kick-off event for the weekend was a reading Friday April 13 at Bookwagon at 6:00 PM.<br />
<br />
So off we went, the spousal unit and myself, in the trusty Honda, with suitcases, a projector, and a screen rattling away in the back, in plenty of time to drive the 300 or so miles to Ashland. We made it 15 miles down I-5 and then...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjfqs46ypm3NgmsAoBpCyrrYVbXXcELLXT-Z3gn4gipBwTHeniY8U1i0Zy9Lbyp3Ygy08AAVXgbQ-iuJjD6RPfuV6CgJAe8QF2m667oJtqBClkSstdooWxE0mXhwq6E6ts1_VmnZ9ofY/s1600/IMG_1917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjfqs46ypm3NgmsAoBpCyrrYVbXXcELLXT-Z3gn4gipBwTHeniY8U1i0Zy9Lbyp3Ygy08AAVXgbQ-iuJjD6RPfuV6CgJAe8QF2m667oJtqBClkSstdooWxE0mXhwq6E6ts1_VmnZ9ofY/s320/IMG_1917.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's run fine for 14 years. Why die now??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But the local Honda dealership saved us with a rental. I told the Ashland folks we left in a '98 Honda CRV and arrived in a 2011 Honda CRV. And best of all, We Were Not Late. Didn't even have to break any speed laws.<br />
<br />
Here I am being introduced at Bookwagon by Michael Niemann.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sArFaSPI0POtZPfW3MBZForfK9kRA2SLXvSGv_-qdpxCoicI6QxclGXXjJz_STogToRZ9LjDJstyb3nerxwdzgtio6mposgrgh4G6zlJyYf4hecbP3oL3vtQAKFlhftxa-eaCmjqsnM/s1600/IMG_1928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sArFaSPI0POtZPfW3MBZForfK9kRA2SLXvSGv_-qdpxCoicI6QxclGXXjJz_STogToRZ9LjDJstyb3nerxwdzgtio6mposgrgh4G6zlJyYf4hecbP3oL3vtQAKFlhftxa-eaCmjqsnM/s320/IMG_1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fine bookstore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My new/used projector worked perfectly and my how-I-came-to-write-zoo-mysteries slide show went over well. We sold all the books and had some great conversations with the people who braved a downpour to show up.<br />
<br />
The next day kicked off with my first television experience (not counting watching my son at age 6 on Rambling Rod's set). Maureen, an old hand at this, shepherded me through. I walked into the community access TV lab, and Maureen called to the staff, "Talent on the set!" They all applauded <i>at me.</i> I almost fell over. This was an all-volunteer crew that soldiered through the technical difficulties of brand-new cameras while <a href="http://michael-niemann.com/" target="_blank">Michael Niemann,</a> a mystery author himself, and I chatted about southern Africa. Then Michael used his radio experience to conduct an excellent interview (his part, at least). What a great introduction to TV!<br />
<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrwkiIg4WZnasAzqXxWmgaCQIzWf2PRoVrKAdQgayx1oakkGQoOA3W6cd-JxLU0kF7Z6UWgZE1UvCb0NFMflZQL0BCqVVUQSYe0Pj8oK2-SdW191OQnp1gKlCMEt8Ucvxuirn2o9y_gU/s1600/IMG_1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrwkiIg4WZnasAzqXxWmgaCQIzWf2PRoVrKAdQgayx1oakkGQoOA3W6cd-JxLU0kF7Z6UWgZE1UvCb0NFMflZQL0BCqVVUQSYe0Pj8oK2-SdW191OQnp1gKlCMEt8Ucvxuirn2o9y_gU/s320/IMG_1938.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scary new cameras</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy38QOIDgwhhLgutfnoWWvvT-sCs-6V1DxSUuuW5NgEqxNPgrn6uVAuszPaAU2KLWzY5MhP1rIXyCJ9ZE0_WHtXgWRNsTjHOeQ4un8nsA_0FTLrtwvllwlT6ubW6aL1H5nLkht0ofhxc8/s1600/IMG_1942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy38QOIDgwhhLgutfnoWWvvT-sCs-6V1DxSUuuW5NgEqxNPgrn6uVAuszPaAU2KLWzY5MhP1rIXyCJ9ZE0_WHtXgWRNsTjHOeQ4un8nsA_0FTLrtwvllwlT6ubW6aL1H5nLkht0ofhxc8/s320/IMG_1942.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepping the set</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Afterward, spouse and I met with old friends who live in the area, wandered the charming streets of downtown Ashland, and watched a fine production of Romeo and Juliet. Doesn't get much better than that! We spent Sunday night at the wonderful <a href="http://www.historicwolfcreekinn.com/" target="_blank">Wolf Creek Inn</a> near Grants Pass (a historic inn with genuine bullet holes and great food) and cruised on in to pick up the now-fixed Honda. What a great weekend!<br />
<br />
You knew I'd find wildlife somewhere along the way:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoUn_mTFgWkSdNf2FTFx4fdF3ApE-MRkDLwR32T-vM4U1PVUSL08xC6SFoza58mmvMAVpUwmfcNjOZXLH9vQMn6XDT8iSl_w1Llso3o-upuJIV7ObfC8nBnHOtLUfapMyqU8LREgyWu4/s1600/WildTurkeyTomComp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoUn_mTFgWkSdNf2FTFx4fdF3ApE-MRkDLwR32T-vM4U1PVUSL08xC6SFoza58mmvMAVpUwmfcNjOZXLH9vQMn6XDT8iSl_w1Llso3o-upuJIV7ObfC8nBnHOtLUfapMyqU8LREgyWu4/s320/WildTurkeyTomComp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Romeo seeks Juliet: object--long walks, conversation, wild sex </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-79792015348489466742012-04-24T11:15:00.000-07:002012-04-24T12:03:12.386-07:00Left Coast CrimeWell lookit thet! I'm on video <a href="http://kingsriverlife.com/04/23/more-mystery-author-videos-from-left-coast-crime/" target="_blank">HERE.</a><br />
<br />
This is from Left Coast Crime mystery conference, held in Sacramento this March. Lorie Ham of Kings River Life stalked the halls, interviewing mystery authors. Thank you, Lorie!<br />
<br />
Always weird to see myself on film/video. Do I sound British? What's with all the head movement? Is it <i>OK</i>???? [spasm of self-consciousnesses] Did you think I was young and blond and gorgeous? Now you know the truth. If only I had a camel to distract you...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6_vJ6Pea2gGT9yZ2Xobclo_ZYVqLi0jA8NV-HcBryTFUGHhlNrUAWgit5yv6yz-2ItbTS1sxiEay6OghKN2BExZs56ye3crjwdcLo5wNz62qc_4GZ7X948kH-Ictt9WOm56hx6Fz8k4/s1600/CamelFlemen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6_vJ6Pea2gGT9yZ2Xobclo_ZYVqLi0jA8NV-HcBryTFUGHhlNrUAWgit5yv6yz-2ItbTS1sxiEay6OghKN2BExZs56ye3crjwdcLo5wNz62qc_4GZ7X948kH-Ictt9WOm56hx6Fz8k4/s320/CamelFlemen.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relax! We have other things on our mind.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-7798956869856145152012-03-28T14:06:00.001-07:002012-03-28T14:07:12.211-07:00Sacramento LCC, here I come!I've packed up my book marks and animal earrings and auction items and I'm ready for Left Coast Crime. Here's a few pictures from last week's trip to Oakland Zoo in lieu of a blog.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsttvi66GEM-K1CIwM_VzQ7UpetZSJ-JGXLo-3NtlwXP_IiOEa0rHPq81CYb_suY-coSlRPrdfRIazCptcmbnM8dHFyWzBL75UQ491cE99J98VeVl4O8hUbSRWG5ypq9vptWKfp3fyNA/s1600/AldabraTortMudhole2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsttvi66GEM-K1CIwM_VzQ7UpetZSJ-JGXLo-3NtlwXP_IiOEa0rHPq81CYb_suY-coSlRPrdfRIazCptcmbnM8dHFyWzBL75UQ491cE99J98VeVl4O8hUbSRWG5ypq9vptWKfp3fyNA/s320/AldabraTortMudhole2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy Aldabra tortoise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrCccy8symoGCnrxjXtogOV8CxEELgpg9beWl1fol_PmAjMiGvSLX_0Uw0NXZ0CcXT-joiCW4ZalZgA-NqNpFD0KMI1Q9R4Snbs_-1lnuFOcOS5ypR6wR7YyzqrYzrY825mFJMlxAm6w/s1600/EgyptianGoose_Giraffe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrCccy8symoGCnrxjXtogOV8CxEELgpg9beWl1fol_PmAjMiGvSLX_0Uw0NXZ0CcXT-joiCW4ZalZgA-NqNpFD0KMI1Q9R4Snbs_-1lnuFOcOS5ypR6wR7YyzqrYzrY825mFJMlxAm6w/s320/EgyptianGoose_Giraffe.JPG" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African geese were nesting in the giraffe browse. Fearless!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A giraffe sparred with this eland until the eland tired of it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excellent elephant presentation by this docent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The relatives loved the rides.</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGes8EmUU6F4mQg4HtkRUnwLq-WmiS8I6lORKConCbfRuxHbBp6i3g73QUT64AhZP9edtyMAMxPPzjPEBWRzfiwtEMOD2htux8Fiwfl6fDYLfxyRoiiDzJwXmxCG9LJ5-V9E9HNfGFig/s1600/Emu_Tracks+%282%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGes8EmUU6F4mQg4HtkRUnwLq-WmiS8I6lORKConCbfRuxHbBp6i3g73QUT64AhZP9edtyMAMxPPzjPEBWRzfiwtEMOD2htux8Fiwfl6fDYLfxyRoiiDzJwXmxCG9LJ5-V9E9HNfGFig/s320/Emu_Tracks+%282%29.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were a little taken aback by this inhospitable emu on the train ride.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-28197594666913767152012-03-20T10:52:00.001-07:002012-03-20T10:52:12.096-07:00Night Kill for 99 CentsJust found out today that you can download the e-book version of <i>Night Kill</i>, the first Iris Oakley zoo-dunnit, for a mere 99 cents until the end of the month. Click <a href="http://www.poisonedpenpress.com/discover-mystery/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and go for it.<br />
<br />
What's <i>Night Kill </i>all about? Here you go:<br />
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The Finley Zoo lions were captive-born; they had never killed. But they
knew exactly what to do when drunken zookeeper Rick Douglas fell into their
exhibit in the middle of the night. Iris Oakley, Rick’s widow, is devastated
that he broke his promise to quit drinking and then died stupid. But questions
about his death won't let her move on from grief and anger. Iris realizes she
must find out what really happened that night. Friends are as troublesome as
suspects--when she can tell them apart--and her career falls off the rails. She
loses her coveted position as a feline keeper and her boss wants her gone for
good. Iris hangs tough, determined to figure out who fed Rick to the lions and
why. Her insider's understanding of wild animals finally points to the truth.
Then Iris has to survive to prove it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGM682vdm8rx3F0TzJcqOpwgMf2UgUwXAk_zA54fKz5fBd9ntZn1CPqbJ2rotibjcPxUnsEL9M7YW9gLd4_QO5mqB-p9lnGOv552VyZ1mxg4B-rcNF6JlY12wdL8_c3T8Bs0avfDYRmg/s1600/AfricanPenguin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGM682vdm8rx3F0TzJcqOpwgMf2UgUwXAk_zA54fKz5fBd9ntZn1CPqbJ2rotibjcPxUnsEL9M7YW9gLd4_QO5mqB-p9lnGOv552VyZ1mxg4B-rcNF6JlY12wdL8_c3T8Bs0avfDYRmg/s320/AfricanPenguin.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She forgot to mention <i>Night Kill</i> has penguins in it.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-8887122407423616202012-03-16T20:52:00.000-07:002012-03-16T21:08:49.460-07:00Now it's even easierThis just in: Bowling for Rhinos got itself a "donate now" button through Crowdrise. Easy-peasy!<br />
<br />
Click<a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/AAZKBowlingForRhinoss2012/fundraiser/aazkinc/1/return/success/success" target="_blank"> HERE</a> to deliver one in the eye to those ruthless poachers you keep reading about. The money goes to various aspects of rhino conservation, but a big part of it is invested in rhino patrols. Yes, kiddies, it takes an army to keep rhinos alive. Lewa has about one guard per rhino. Other sanctuaries also have armed rhino patrol units. A dangerous job. Hats off to those guys out there in the bush. <br />
<br />
In case you missed it, here's the nifty Bowling for Rhinos video. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeEETlgT2xI&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">CLICK HERE for cute rhinos</a> Then go back to that Crowdrise link and help these guys out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLg5qCFUyNWFff6csFTUIBs_rAYIB2m8jCmYvA7O1X_RP2wGGZtDMHEPBl5TqZZRpB74jMwJvNj2XSvHvKD6-A1PtM0Demd4mTnnMGEEwPg6qyPezCn5F3BNr0EJzmTel7-_ExzbQ9bk/s1600/WalkGuards2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLg5qCFUyNWFff6csFTUIBs_rAYIB2m8jCmYvA7O1X_RP2wGGZtDMHEPBl5TqZZRpB74jMwJvNj2XSvHvKD6-A1PtM0Demd4mTnnMGEEwPg6qyPezCn5F3BNr0EJzmTel7-_ExzbQ9bk/s320/WalkGuards2.JPG" width="320" />.</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armed guards at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDI0UNL03oyk3AnKQmDBIkbrODfehO-OhADh9sX0W2WFeGA9mSgiSNBFdTBeSuPbyNRkodEACXddICFHChJJkSKF8bl6FFm54b5pxga4XALgHkk5BBJbjx5NaSs0QDwiZiPI-T5Wc48-E/s1600/RhinoWhiteYoung2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDI0UNL03oyk3AnKQmDBIkbrODfehO-OhADh9sX0W2WFeGA9mSgiSNBFdTBeSuPbyNRkodEACXddICFHChJJkSKF8bl6FFm54b5pxga4XALgHkk5BBJbjx5NaSs0QDwiZiPI-T5Wc48-E/s320/RhinoWhiteYoung2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby white rhino</td></tr>
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<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-56286811639154544612012-03-08T13:44:00.000-08:002012-03-08T13:44:49.938-08:00Step up for RhinosIt's time again for Bowling for Rhinos and the American Association of Zoo Keepers has come out with a video that is--trust me--adorable. Yes, adorable rhinos. Take a look and haul out your credit card. Step up and help a bunch of low-paid, dedicated zoo keepers do what needs to be done. They've gone the extra mile (and then some) and need your help. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeEETlgT2xI&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa9S2zQWkVe50n4HVedqX2okE5PahHovmIso8USLyagBJh3oGMCi6mOtCU2npawYrmNa2NCWNjEMa0MbJDUQG2_f23OX_v5qQSr-hxSWZHnjPFH-vwRKJFxzVMgUpPSwgIg-6Hr65p24/s1600/RhinoAndCalf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa9S2zQWkVe50n4HVedqX2okE5PahHovmIso8USLyagBJh3oGMCi6mOtCU2npawYrmNa2NCWNjEMa0MbJDUQG2_f23OX_v5qQSr-hxSWZHnjPFH-vwRKJFxzVMgUpPSwgIg-6Hr65p24/s400/RhinoAndCalf.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All we need is to be left alone. In today's world, that requires an awful lot of help.</td></tr>
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<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750786256795289772.post-68564451890083471782012-02-29T00:30:00.000-08:002012-03-01T13:07:06.800-08:00Let's get our smudgy fingers all over every last thing!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Warning! Intemperate rant ahead--level <b><span style="color: red;">Red</span></b></span><br />
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I love <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a>, the whole idea of the thing. I love that it's so successful. It warms my heart that folks will just up and invest a little money in a worthy project, usually with no expectation of any personal benefit.<br />
<br />
But one project that was funded for 2011 (192 backers, almost $15,000) strikes me as a really bad idea.<br />
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These energetic, well-meaning folks have bought themselves an undisturbed island "teeming with wildlife" and they are going to put up a "sustainable" artists' residency. Minimal impact, respectful, protected forever--all good. Well, I've got a better idea for uninhabited islands that have never suffered development.<br />
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You guessed it. Leave that island the %$#* ALONE!<br />
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Go find yourself another island, one that's already trashed. Plant native trees and grasses, get rid of unneeded asphalt, remove buildings that serve no purpose. Restore it and make it work for you and for wildlife.<br />
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But the island that is doing fine without you? Leave it alone--you are way too late to play at pioneer. And if you just can't stop, for pity's sake, quit congratulating yourself for only messing it up a little. Really? And don't give me that crap about how "humans are a part of nature, too." Not since we invented permanent agriculture and not at 7 billion of us.<br />
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Look, folks. We all know we've screwed up the planet in a big way. We do it in wholesale swoops, such as clear-cuts and mountaintop removal and carbon dioxide. We do it bit by bit with creeping agriculture and suburbs and roads. The challenge for us is to stop changing natural landscapes to benefit ourselves at the expense of all the other species that use that land. (I'm leaving the oceans out of this for simplicity.) This is the only way WE are going survive--if we leave enough of the planet working the way it did during our whole evolution. You think we can survive without oxygen and clean water and fertile soil?<br />
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This self-discipline would be something new to us--individual self-restraint for long-term survival of <i>Homo sapiens </i>and our fellow creatures. That is our challenge. How can we make ourselves draw a line around what we've already damaged, then look inside that line and see how to benefit ourselves <i>there</i>? We need to develop <i>only that which is already damaged </i>and include the possibility of restoring some of it and putting it back outside the line.<br />
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Quit kidding yourself that if we take a piece of land and wreck only 90% or even 50% or 25%, we are being responsible and ought to be congratulated.<br />
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Sometimes my species makes me want to weep.<br />
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Where do you stand on this? Have you got it in you to support that line or does the very idea make you furious? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAqjLNhc1hmIxU1DJQ4g6pSqymLbAqxHFsVKJpht78sDZU5T9cXUTUeMIug3tCJcyUa-LFHznVzvjP6FEmr3VYSxBE0dD-S31K3AiRaFHa1XeDHngls_g0VdHKQdyIxdZryss4LkcPC0/s1600/Clearcut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAqjLNhc1hmIxU1DJQ4g6pSqymLbAqxHFsVKJpht78sDZU5T9cXUTUeMIug3tCJcyUa-LFHznVzvjP6FEmr3VYSxBE0dD-S31K3AiRaFHa1XeDHngls_g0VdHKQdyIxdZryss4LkcPC0/s400/Clearcut.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legal logging in Oregon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf8i7Hm1J-yq2h0gUYqUpbUjwuNW7dw5qH-ODxX8XNrTUPCRPS2RMim0XWA1LaoEumzQ-lJz3o9uZLz3LcWNdFksh5xcIKb4Mv5ow1x2vYFh1peJ89EnwpU-pxa81tfxaZODljzgOSNY/s1600/KenyaFromAir.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf8i7Hm1J-yq2h0gUYqUpbUjwuNW7dw5qH-ODxX8XNrTUPCRPS2RMim0XWA1LaoEumzQ-lJz3o9uZLz3LcWNdFksh5xcIKb4Mv5ow1x2vYFh1peJ89EnwpU-pxa81tfxaZODljzgOSNY/s400/KenyaFromAir.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenya from the air: roads, agriculture. Forests? Not really.</td></tr>
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<br />Ann Littlewoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646388677233865578noreply@blogger.com1