Skootzkitty's Litter Box of Stuff

hahahahahaha! Only in Europe!

Sorry I have been remiss - we have set the wedding date and I only have 3 1/2 months! So between that and work - yikes!!! :-/ Least I got my dress ordered so one major thing out of the way. Now it's just deciding - vodka or tequila? Red, white or blush? What does go with appetizers anyways?! And is it bad form since I am having the handfasting and everything at the house - to use paper plates or should I go with chinet? *lol* Yeah you can tell I am real girly huh? :-P

the elusive skootzkitty

Meredith F. Small
LiveScience's Human Nature Columnist
LiveScience.com 1 hour, 53 minutes ago

Humans are fundamentally social animals. Our social nature means that we interact with each other in positive, friendly ways, and it also means we know how to manipulate others in a very negative way.

So what?

I mean really, who cares? Oh for God's sake. Don't you have anything better to do than read this column?

According to Dr. Rankin, if you didn't get the sarcastic tone of the previous sentences you must have some damage to your parahippocampal gyrus which is located in the right brain. People with dementia, or head injuries in that area, often lose the ability to pick up on sarcasm, and so they don't respond in a socially appropriate ways.

Presumably, this is a pathology, which in turn suggests that sarcasm is part of human nature and probably an evolutionarily good thing.

How might something so, well, sarcastic as sarcasm, be part of the human social toolbox?

Evolutionary biologists claim that sociality is what has made humans such a successful species. We are masters at what anthropologists and others call "social intelligence." We recognize and keep track of hundreds of relationships, and we easily distinguish between enemies and friends.

More important, we run our lives by social calculation. A favor is mentally recorded and paid back, sometimes many years later. Likewise, insults are marked down on the mental score card in indelible ink. And we are constantly bickering and making up, even with people we love.

Sarcasm, then, is a verbal hammer that connects people in both a negative and positive way. We know that sense of humor is important to relationships; if someone doesn't get your jokes, they aren't likely to be your friend (or at least that's my bottom line about friendship). Sarcasm is simply humor's dark side, and it would be just as disconcerting if a friend didn't get your snide remarks.

It's also easy to imagine how sarcasm might be selected over time as evolutionarily crucial. Imagine two ancient humans running across the savannah with a hungry lion in pursuit. One guy says to the other, "Are we having fun yet?" and the other just looks blank and stops to figure out what in the world his pal meant by that remark. End of friendship, end of one guy's contribution to the future of the human gene pool.

Fast forward a few million years and the network of human relationships is wider and more complex, and just as important to survival. The corporate chairman throws out a sarcastic remark and those who "get" it laugh, smile, and gain favor. In the same way, if the chair never makes a remark, sarcastic people are making them behind his or her back, forming a clique by their mutually negative, but funny, comments. Either way, sarcasm plays a role in making and breaking alliances and friendship.

Thanks goodness, because life without out sarcasm would be a dull and way too nice place to be, if you ask me.

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AH HA! See?! Yippie Skippy! My sole purpose for being on Earth is now validated! : )

Happy Friday!

YUM! One of the MANY reason to be proud to be a Scot!!! :-D

Edmunds, the 309-pound reigning World Highland Games champion, was coming for the first time to attend this weekend's Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games when planners noticed his answer.

"He said that's what he wanted, so we're going to help him out," said Teddye Holloway, a festival organizer.

The three-day festival, in its 22nd year, celebrates all aspects of Scottish heritage with food, activities, dancing and games. This year it hosts the World Highland Games, which includes hammer throwing, shot-putting and caber tossing (long logs similar to telephone poles).

On Saturday, women ages 24 to 35 have a chance to win a chaperoned date with Edmunds. They have until noon to sign up at the T-shirt booth by the front entrance.

I heard you were really excited to come to Texas. Why?

Steak houses and beautiful Texas women. I've never been to Texas and wanted to meet Texas women. I've always liked foreign women.

Why would a woman want to go on a date with you?

Oh, I'm quite different. With the games, I get to see a lot of the world. I'm a quite colorful character.

Do you know how to cook?

Of course. You don't get to be my size without knowing how to cook.

Do you want a family?

I think two kids would be a good start to see how hellish things go, but a small army would be nice.

What's the greatest gift Scotland gave the world?

Well let's see, we gave you TV, telephones, steam power -- only the source of the Industrial Revolution, games now found in the Olympics, penicillin and Gregor Edmunds.

Is that so? Well, what do you wish people knew about Scotland that most don't?

It's an interesting and beautiful place with little stories and wonderful tales to tell.

How did you get involved in Highland games?

The story begins with my father when he got into it. I wanted to be a skateboarder. But on my 10th birthday I asked for a skateboard, and he gave me a shot put. I left it in the garage gathering dust. Then in my 20s, I realized I was getting older and finally appreciated the games.

Texas Scottish Festival

The festival begins tonight at 8 p.m. at UT-Arlington's Maverick Stadium with the calling of the clans and a fireworks finale. Admission ranges from $4 for children to $10 or $15 for adults. For a complete schedule of events, go to www.texasscottishfestival.com.

Reasons to love the Scots

Golf

While the sport's exact origins are debatable, many cite Scotland as its homeland. References to golf can be found in Scottish history as far back as the 1400s.

Inventions

The monkey wrench, stretch leotards, Liquid Paper, the light bulb, Morse code and Dr Pepper are all attributed to people of Scottish descent.

Space travel

John Glenn and Neil Armstrong are of Scottish lineage, as is Alan Bean, of the Apollo 12 lunar landing, who took swatches of his clan's tartan and left a piece on the moon.

Texas State Capitol

Yes, our state Capitol. In the 1880s, when Texas was in desperate need to build a new capitol after the old one burned down, an Illinois contractor offered to pay for construction in exchange for 3 million acres. But he soon sold his interest to a group of Illinois businessmen of Scottish descent, who worked to finance the Capitol. The men built the legendary XIT Ranch in the Panhandle.

Sources: Texas Scottish Heritage Society; www.rampantscotland.com

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4996046&p
age=1

Wow, you know I was losing sleep over this! I am so glad it is fixed and even warranted a 2 page story!! [snort] Wow......maybe working for ABCNews.com would be a viable option for my useless degree. Seems they pay well to write useless stuff ; )

Did I mention men in kilts? Oh YAH!! Well I'll be in mine but I haven't hairy legs : ) and it isn't as much if the wind blows ; ) I LOVE being Clan Gunn and Colquhoun!! Come party with us!!!!!  

The Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games will be hosting the
"International Highland Games Federation" World Highland Games!

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to see the best Scottish Athletes in the World compete in Arlington.
Visit the Athletics page for more information.

Be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions page (F.A.Q.)
for up-to-date detailed information about the Festival.

You will find the answers to most of your questions there!

A Message From Our Festival Organizer, Ray McDonald

Welcome to the Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games web site. Here you will find information about our annual festival. We are proud that our event is one of the largest Scottish gatherings in the United States and known as the preeminent Scottish Entertainment Festival in North America. I know you will enjoy our featured musical groups as well as all the other great Scottish entertainers. Explore this website for information about: admissions, entertainment, activities, and competitions.

I bid you all CEUD MILE FAILTE, a 100,000 welcomes.

Ray McDonald
Executive Director

© 2008. The Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080604/sc_afp/switzer
landscienceanimal

Guess flies with low intelligence have less stress?! I mean, they are a FLY - fear of the swatter, a bird or being a frog /lizard tongue target is about it. Ok or a REALLY sticky pile. Not thinking there are many venus flytraps in Switzerland. But it does make you wonder - how much was this grant to measure fly intelligence? It's always been my dream job to work for the US Government measuring the viscosity of catsup [no seriously, it really exists!! Cha-CHING!]. But this may be my new dream job of choice - after all, who is going to say you measured WRONG? The FLY?! 'help me, I am a genius!'

UTRECHT, Netherlands - Utrecht police say a 21-year-old Dutch man is recovering after a "mooning" that went horribly wrong.

It says that at one point the 21-year-old "pushed his behind against the window of a restaurant" that broke and resulted in "deep wounds to his derriere."

The statement released Tuesday says police detained the three men after the incident Sunday morning. But the cafe owner decided not to press charges after the men agreed to pay for the broken window.

The injured man was treated for his injuries at a nearby hospital.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/30/japan.c
loset.ap/index.html

WHO KNEW?! She couldn't fit in my closet, too many clothes *lol*

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080529/od_nm/space_toi
let_dc;_ylt=AlrjgVcnmdvK6ozT_P5b5DKs0NUE

Hey, it's Friday, so enjoy. Did you miss me? No? I didn't think so but thought I'd ask : )

http://www.wxii12.com/news/16367149/detail.html

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Seriously - you would think one would do this with REAL beer. Not watered down run of the mill mass market BLEEP!!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/05/15/cat.personalit
y.test.ap/index.html

This is great! Being of a feline persuasion this is overdue! Cats are a breed apart [no pun intended] and with their complex personalities [more so than dogs - and don't say it, i have a dog as well] it bodes well to match by personality rather than what they are looks wise. All cats are cute as kittens - but sometimes what they grow into isn't as cutesy. My two are complete opposites: Adso is a thrill killer and not a 'feely' cat unless he thinks you deserve his love and divine attention [usually when he wants bonkies]. But then he lived the first months of his life fending for himself in the parking garage at work before I spent  those same months taming him and bringing him home. He tolerates Reno [the dog] but there is no love lost. But he watches out over Adair when they go outside - so Big bro when it comes to her. Adair is a total love machine and mischevious. I get in bed she will come running in and cuddle on my shoulder or neck, and drool [ew]. But she will even cuddle with Reno, within reason. She idolizes Adso and knows she is not allowed out unless he goes too. She will try to snag you going down the stairs thru the banister and has NO problems playing 'trip the two-legs' down the stairs at 4am before you have coffee.

So your cats - how are they personality wise?

BERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - The Swiss government has agreed to ease restrictions on the importation of potatoes following fears that Euro 2008 football fans could face a shortage of French fries next month.

A spokesman for the country's department of agriculture told national radio on Wednesday that the government would allow an additional 5,000 tonnes of potatoes to be brought in.

The decision follows a request by Swiss potato industry association Swisspatat who warned that supplies were already running low in the buildup to the June tournament.

The association has estimated that 3,000 additional tonnes will be needed to make chips for foreign supporters, with the remaining 2,000 used for other forms of potato.

Switzerland has already been fretting over dwindling supplies of its beloved 'cervelat' sausage following a European Union ban on the Brazilian cows' intestines traditionally used to encase the meat.

Economics minister Doris Leuthard, who is also responsible for agriculture, told the national parliament in March there were enough cervelats in reserve to last at least through Euro 2008.

The tournament runs from June 7 to 29 and will be co-hosted by Switzerland and neighbouring Austria.

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Whew! Glad they got that settled! Wouldn't be football without chips and sausage! So happy they have cervelats in reserve! But this puzzles me: '"with the remaining 2,000 used for other forms of potato'" So like what other forms of potato? Does potato have other forms other than a tuber? Like maybe star form? Or perhaps little cute animal form? Ah..I love it when things are lost in translation. 'I'd like potato please' 'What form?' 'Ummmm Liger please!'