For Those Sleepless Nights

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Rare 2-tone Lobster

Rare 1 in 50 million 2-toned lobster caught off the coast of Newport
Lobsterman Jim Mataronas IV woke up Monday morning hoping for a lucky day on the water, but all the luck materialized in a single lobster. Jim described the day's catch off Newport, R.I., as average, save for one lobster so unique the chances of his catching it were one in 50 million.

"I pulled it out and thought someone was playing a joke on us. It looked like someone took a ruler right down it," the Little Compton resident said. "It looks half-cooked." Mataronas, the son of veteran lobster trapper Jim Mataronas III of the family-owned Sakonnet Lobster Co., said the closest thing he had seen to something this rare was the popular blue lobster, a less-rare occurance but still nothing to take lightly. The chances of catching a blue lobster are still one in two million.

The lobster caught is a specimen with half its body being of normal, mottled brown color. The other half is a bright red, a result of a genetic condition. Ed Baker of the Office of Marine Programs at the University of Rhode Island decribed the process: "Selection for pimentation starts at the first cell division of the embryo. Genes from one pigment went to one cell while the others went to the other. All subsequent divisions carry the same information." The mutuation results in the unique appearance. The two sides of the lobster developed independently with the red side having a lack of the blue pigment crustacyanin. The color of a lobster's shell is a mix of yellow, red, and blue, a combination that results in the usual brownish-green color of most lobsters. The lack of blue and yellow resulted in the unusual surprise.

Normally, the family would keep the rarer lobsters on display to the delight of walk-in customers. However, in this special circumstance, Jim Mataronas III said, "We'll give it to a good home." He mentioned Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut and Boston's New England Aquarium.

Teasing A Monkey

Expert helps Waterloo girl with new ear

June 3, 2007
By EMILY CHRISTENSEN, Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO, IOWA--- This summer Madison Shock is hosting her first sunglasses party.
To attend, everyone must bring the 5-year-old girl a pair of sunglasses. It may not seem like much to most little girls, but the brightly colored glasses are important to Shock.
This will be the first summer she can actually wear them.
Shock was born with microtia, a congenital malformation of the external and middle ear. Her right ear is fine, though her hearing is limited, but on the left side Shock was born with what her parents call a "little ear." The middle ear, which controls hearing, is underdeveloped, which means Shock is deaf on the left side. Madison was also born with first and second branchial arch syndrome, which causes the cheek and jaw bones on one side of the face to be smaller.
"We had no idea about any of this when she was born," said Shock's mother, Candace.
Doctors said the only way Madison could have an ear was a painful series of surgeries that required doctors to remove a piece of her rib bone to shape a new one. Then, she would be burned on her legs and that skin would be used on the new ear.
Candace and Brian Shock were not taken with that idea at all. A little research cemented their resolution against the surgeries.
"We figured if she wanted to do it when she was older then it would be her decision," Candace said.
They were resigned to let Madison continue with life as she was. And she didn’t seem to mind. Sure, kids asked questions, but Madison was quick to tell them that God just made her special. Usually, that was the end of the conversation.
Madison was only a toddler when Candace first saw a segment on the Oprah Winfrey show about a former CIA disguise specialist who now designs custom prosthetics. Candace put the thought out of her mind until a few months later when she saw another program about the same specialist on The Learning Channel (TLC). At last there was a small glimmer of hope.
At the time, Madison was too young to work with Robert Barron, who retired from the CIA in 1993.
And even though Madison was "proud of her little ear," Candace and Brian both understood that there would likely come a time when other kids weren't so kind about the difference. Candace went on a personal mission to find Barron, who now owns Custom Prosthetic Designs in Ashburn, Va.
"I did a Yahoo! search and came up with 15 Robert Barrons in that area. I called every one until I finally found him," Candace said.
Barron wouldn't see Madison until she was 5 years old, so they waited.
This March they began the process of getting Madison fitted for her new ear. They went back again earlier this month so Barron could fit the silicone prosthetic and hand paint it to match Madison's skin.
Janice Little, Madison's grandmother, said the entire experience was emotional for everyone.
"(Madison) looked at me and would ask why I was crying," Little said. "I had to explain it wasn't an unhappy cry, but a very happy one. It was unbelievable."
The ear is not permanently affixed to Madison's head. It can be attached with secure adhesive that will withstand swimming or even rough play. And when she isn't wearing it, the ear is kept secure in a small plastic container.
In a few years the Shocks will have to return to Barron's office so Madison can get a new prosthetic. Estimating for regular wear and tear, Candace said the ear would only last three to five years.
The process is expensive. The Shocks estimate they spent about $10,000 on just the medical side of the process and another $5,000 for each additional replacement. Barron accepts cash only, not insurance. People can submit the cost to their insurance carriers for reimbursement.
The Shocks say it is worth every penny.
"I think it will help her tremendously with self-esteem and feeling good about herself," said Charlotte Shock, Madison's grandmother. "And he was so kind and caring and patient. After he was done and placed the ear on her head, he was as excited as the rest of us."
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/06/03/news/metro/8cac31114f7c3d9a862572ef0010f9e3.txt

“FREE” to a good home.

I need to get rid of my dog.

It's house broken and it's great with kids.

I am giving it away because my wife says the dog “stares” at her and gives her the “Heebie Jeebies.”

If you're interested, or know someone who is, let me know.

Scroll down to see a picture of the dog.

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Now that you've smiled at least once, it's yourturn to share the fun!

Send this to someone you want to bring a smile to (maybe even a chuckle)

...in other words send it to everyone.

New breed of cat retails for $22,000

It's no great shock that cat lovers can get a little excessive when it comes to their feline friends. But one company, banking on the fact there are more than a few prospective pet owners willing to part with some serious ka-ching for a kitten, is selling a designer breed of cat that costs $22,000.The Ashera, bred by Los Angeles-based Lifestyle Pets, "is a new ultra-exotic breed of domestic cat that already has wealthy animal devotees paying to get on the waiting list," the company press release claims.The pricey pet is said to have been produced by cross-breeding an African Serval and an Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic feline. While Lifestyle Pets admits this type hybrid breeding has been done before, "the Ashera is unique in that genetic monitoring is used to standardize breeding and ensure that the defining features and size of the [animal] remain exceptionally consistent." And like most other super-luxury items, the company says it will sell only 100 Asheras per year worldwide, with only 50 being sold to U.S. customers

A little geography lesson for all

Here's a list of actual places in Texas:

Need to be cheered up?
Happy, Texas 79042
Pep, Texas 79353
Smiley, Texas 78159
Paradise, Texas 76073
Rainbow, Texas 76077
Sweet Home, Texas 77987
Comfort, Texas 78013
Friendship, Texas 76530

Do you love the Sun?
Sun City, Texas 78628
Sunrise, Texas 76661
Sunset, Texas 76270
Sundown, Texas 79372
Sunray, Texas 79086
Sunny Side, Texas 77423

Want something to eat?
Bacon, Texas 76301
Noodle, Texas 79536
Oatmeal, Texas 78605
Turkey, Texas 79261
Trout, Texas 75789
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Salty, Texas 76567
Rice, Texas 75155
And top it off with:
Sweetwater, Texas 79556

Why travel to other cities?

Texas has them too!
Detroit, Texas 75436
Colorado City, Texas 79512
Denver City, Texas 79323
Nevada, Texas 75173
Memphis, Texas 79245
Miami, Texas 79059
Boston, Texas 75570
Santa Fe, Texas 77517
Tennessee Colony, Texas 75861
Reno, Texas 75462

Feel like traveling outside the country?

Don't bother buying a plane ticket!
Athens, Texas 75751
Moscow, Texas
Canadian, Texas 79014
China, Texas 77613
Egypt, Texas 77436
Italy, TX 76651
Turkey, Texas 79261
London, Texas 76854
New London, Texas 75682
Paris, Texas 75460

No need to travel to Washington D.C.
Whitehouse, Texas 75791

We even have a city named after our planet!
Earth, Texas 79031

And a city named after our State!
Texas City, Texas 77590

Exhausted?
Energy, Texas 76452

Cold?
Blanket, Texas 76432
Winters, Texas

Like to read about History?
Santa Anna, Texas
Goliad, Texas
Alamo, Texas
Gun Barrel City, Texas

Need Office Supplies?
Staples, Texas 78670

Men are from Mars, women are from
Venus, Texas 76084

You guessed it... it's on the state line...
Texline, Texas 79087

For the kids...
Kermit, Texas 79745
Elmo, Texas 75118
Nemo, Texas 76070
Tarzan, Texas 79783
Winnie, Texas 77665
Sylvester, Texas 79560

Other city names in Texas, to make you smile...
Frognot, Texas 75424
Bigfoot, Texas 78005
Hogeye, Texas 75423
Cactus, Texas 79013
Notrees, Texas 79759
Best, Texas 76932
Veribest, Texas 76886
Kickapoo, Texas 75763
Dime Box, Texas
Telephone, Texas 75488
Telegraph, Texas 76883
Whiteface, Texas 79379
Twitty, Texas 79079


P.S. Whoops, left out
Muleshoe
Cut n shoot,
Hoop And Holler,
Ding Dong, and don't forget......
Farewell, Texas

And, of course, there is a place in Texas that is......
KNOTT, TEXAS

Been Sitting For A While

Baby Animals

The smallest crab

Costa Rican tree frog

Super baby sugar glider

Pet hummingbird

Did We Just Have the Spelling Bee........