Connie H.

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• Commented on Goat rentals for clearing brush
  Goat droppings are small and don't smell (at least not as much as the goats do) and they biodegrade into fertilizer with the first hard rain. Also, they actually love to eat poison ivy, so what's not to like?...
• Commented on Another Hardcore Moment from Nature
  There's an interesting theory that keas originally used to predate on moas -- who, while large, were kind of placid and slow-moving. Much like sheep, actually. I think it is incumbent upon New Zealand sheep farmers to genetically engineer armor-plating...
• Commented on Al Franken draws map of the US
  I'd pay good money to see Norm Coleman try to do it, just for the humiliation that he so richly deserves....
• Commented on More on court ruling against Ashcroft and "preventative detention" under Bush administration
  It may take a while, but the legal chickens will come home to roost for the Bushites....
• Commented on Botfly maggot removed from head -- the video
  One can only admire her sangfroid. I wish her friend had been wearing gloves for better sterility (though, geez, would it be any more "dirty" than the botfly itself?) but beyond that, I'm in awe....
• Commented on Did Google Street View spot rapist/kidnapper Garrido?
  Reading about the location where Garrido lived -- the lack of police interest was a feature, because it's unincorporated land, meaning a lack of dedicated police/municipal oversight. I doubt I could leave a tent up in my backyard for a...
• Commented on Photos of unusual animals
  May I point out that many of these critters (and most of the pictures featured in that post) have been featured at www.zooillogix.com or www.uglyoverload.com both with a lot of identifying information and fun commentary!...
• Commented on Stabbing pen, the competition
  Nobody tell the TSA! We'll end up with ALL our pens confiscated and only allowed to use crayons aboard airplanes. As it is, it's lucky we don't have to go barefoot there....
• Commented on Freaks survive because they are strange
  I've seen it speculated that the reason that N.A. opossums use the fainting "defense" is that it's so unlike anything else regular prey does that it often makes predators suspicious and likely to leave them alone. (Incidentally, possums actually FAINT...
• Commented on Swine Influenza: Another Reasonable, Reasoned Discussion Thread
  As for what to call it, I vote for 'Captain Trips'....
• Commented on How to Capture a Giant Squid
  One downcheck for the giant squid -- it's inedible, as are many deepwater cephalopods, because it has ammonia in its flesh....
• Commented on BookArmy: a last.fm for books
  FWIW, I do remember the Alexandria project, and it was pretty damn good. LibraryThing has a good recommendation service, which I heartily recommend to all....
• Commented on It's Scutigera Coleoptrata Season!
  Do Not Taunt Happy Fun Centipede....
• Commented on Amazon goes crazy, banishes books with queer content to "adult" purgatory -- UPDATED
  Note that it was a three day weekend throughout most of the US, and the Twitsunami that gathered was through Easter day and into Easter night -- not the best time to get the Marketing and Promotions people mobilized and...
• Commented on Steam powered iPod generator
  This qualifies on my "actually powered by STEAM" neatness list for stuff alleged to be Steampunkish....
• Commented on Congressman who's giving payday loan companies legal 391% APR loans says he's powerless to resist their lobbying
  #10 >The solution to this problem isn't to outlaw the loans, it's to teach people basic mathematics. The willfully stupid deserve all they get, however, there are the other careful people that are one financial disaster, say a kid who...
• Commented on Artists who design intentionally difficult buildings were victims of Madoff
  I've often thought that architects should be sentenced to live in any building they've designed for a minimum of six months, as it would get them to pay more attention to such mundane matters as usability and comfort. I'd really...
• Commented on Utterly Nuts, but Sane Enough to Execute in Texas
  This is directed to those who are advocating for the execution of the guilty-by-reason-of-insanity, and/or saying that some/all of these criminals are faking it: Do you have any close relatives who are schizophrenic? I'm not asking this to imply you...
• Commented on Jurors' Use of Google + Twitter Blamed for Mistrials
  The last time I was called for jury duty in Middlesex County, MA, all cellphones and other electronic devices, like cameras and PDAs were held safely by the bailiffs, and that was just for jury instruction and selection! I can't...
• Commented on Steampunk cake
  I complained about the sewing machine, but I have little trouble appreciating the cake. Tho' it would be more impressive if the gear were moveable, or there was a small motor that would make part of it move, or real...
• Commented on Charles Platt on life in prison
  I think it's good to be reminded of the exact crimes that Mr. Tran was convicted of, but I'm also severely aware of how flawed 'Texas Justice' has been proved to be in altogether too many cases, including capital punishment...
• Commented on The Return of the Nutcracker Princess
  Note to Boston area peeps: I just found out that The Slutcracker has been extended another weekend! So if, like me, you missed it the first time around, you've got a second shot....
• Commented on Kenyan cowboy shirts -- Stetson-cut shirts made in Kenya from second-hand clothes
  They'd probably do just as well on E-Bay -- I know that Indian dressmakers offer custom-made clothes there!...
• Commented on Albino raccoon
  Note that a Floridian raccoon is not going to have much call for white camouflage.......
• Commented on Pop-up mini-shelter for homeless people
  I've often wondered why charitable institutions around here don't routinely hand out survival blankets to the homeless population who don't come to shelters. They're damn cheap*, foldable to tinyness and so portable, and could well save lives on the coldest...
• Commented on John Lennon Died 28 Years Ago Today; a Word to Boing Boing from Yoko.
  I was still in college, visiting with friends that evening, and on the way home, saw a bunch of people standing in front of a bunch of candles and flowers on Boston Common -- a little impromptu shrine that had...
• Commented on Sneaky fake lens lets you take photos at right angle to direction you point the camera
  With the old double lens reflex cameras*, the viewfinder was in the top of the (boxy) camera, and you looked down to focus and snap the picture -- so it was easy to turn the lens to the right or...
• Commented on Unusual house addition in Boulder, Colorado
  Building codes are not only for the banks' benefit -- there are also safety consideration, such as firefighting (wiring up to code, exits working, smoke alarms) and general public safety (i.e. stuff not falling off onto the sidewalk). That doesn't...
• Commented on Home inspection Nightmares XV
  DIY-specials can be so amusing -- I remember a friend's house with a light fixture in the living room that could only be switched on/off by turning the lightbulb. I engaged a home inspector that my buyer-broker recommended, and went...
• Commented on Performing walrus
  She looks engaged and alert (see how she looks at the trainer when she's waiting for her chance at the sax) which speak well as to her happiness. It's really hard to spank a walrus if it misbehaves, so you...