From ERIC SHACKLE in Sydney, Australia. <ericshackle*bigpond.com>
This blog is now closed. For future stories, please click on "Nimble Nonagenarians"
Tuesday 6 September 2011
Monday 5 September 2011
Max: World's Oldest Dog
From ERIC SHACKLE in Sydney, Australia. <ericshackle*bigpond.com>
Max, a "mixed terrier" living in New Iberia, Louisiana, is probably the oldest dog alive today. He celebrated his 28th birthday on August 9. If he survives 18 more months, he'll be the oldest pooch in recorded history.
An Australian cattle dog, Bluey, worked among sheep and cattle for 20 years, and survived until November 14, 1939, when he was put down. He had lived for 29 years, five months and seven days, on a diet of kangaroos and emus. He was the world'soldest dog, a record that has never been beaten.
"Though Max has 'slowed up' up a bit in recent years and his coarse, light brown coat is graying, he still manages to play with his owner, Janelle deRouen's visiting grandchildren in the backyard and trots through the house in search of a place to nap", Jessica Goff reported in the The New Iberian newspaper.
“He is really protective of us and the grandkids, said Janelle. 'Being an old man, he is set pretty in his ways. He is just like some elderly people. He goes to bed early and wakes up with the chickens."
Jessica Goff continued, "Derouen acquired Max as a 6-week-old puppy in 1983 from a local sugar cane farmer who had a litter of six, she said. Ever since, the dog has been a part of her family, which includes her husband, Billy, and her five children and now grandchildren.
"Other than having a tooth pulled, Max has never had any major health problems, Janelle Derouen said.
"In recent years he began suffering from cataracts, but his eyesight is still relatively keen. She said she doesn’t know the secret to his longevity, other than she keeps him up to date with his annual shots and keeps him away from table scraps.
“'These days he is just happy to wake up every day,' she said. 'He just sits and lounges till he falls off to sleep.'
"Though unofficial, Max has even been recognized as the world’s oldest dog by British newspapers The Daily Mail and The Telegraph which featured Max’s 26th birthday party two years ago in their publications.
“'It’s discouraging that we haven’t heard back [from Guinness World Records] so that it’s official,' she said. 'But we know, and everyone who knows Max already knows that he is the world’s oldest dog,' she said Thursday as the timeworn terrier dozed off by her feet.
“'It’s discouraging that we haven’t heard back so that it’s official. But we know, and everyone who knows Max already knows that he is the world’s oldest dog.'"
Here are photos of Max taken two years ago:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1205517/Max-terrier-worlds-oldest-dog-celebrates-26th-birthday.html
Max, a "mixed terrier" living in New Iberia, Louisiana, is probably the oldest dog alive today. He celebrated his 28th birthday on August 9. If he survives 18 more months, he'll be the oldest pooch in recorded history.
An Australian cattle dog, Bluey, worked among sheep and cattle for 20 years, and survived until November 14, 1939, when he was put down. He had lived for 29 years, five months and seven days, on a diet of kangaroos and emus. He was the world'soldest dog, a record that has never been beaten.
"Though Max has 'slowed up' up a bit in recent years and his coarse, light brown coat is graying, he still manages to play with his owner, Janelle deRouen's visiting grandchildren in the backyard and trots through the house in search of a place to nap", Jessica Goff reported in the The New Iberian newspaper.
“He is really protective of us and the grandkids, said Janelle. 'Being an old man, he is set pretty in his ways. He is just like some elderly people. He goes to bed early and wakes up with the chickens."
Jessica Goff continued, "Derouen acquired Max as a 6-week-old puppy in 1983 from a local sugar cane farmer who had a litter of six, she said. Ever since, the dog has been a part of her family, which includes her husband, Billy, and her five children and now grandchildren.
"Other than having a tooth pulled, Max has never had any major health problems, Janelle Derouen said.
"In recent years he began suffering from cataracts, but his eyesight is still relatively keen. She said she doesn’t know the secret to his longevity, other than she keeps him up to date with his annual shots and keeps him away from table scraps.
“'These days he is just happy to wake up every day,' she said. 'He just sits and lounges till he falls off to sleep.'
"Though unofficial, Max has even been recognized as the world’s oldest dog by British newspapers The Daily Mail and The Telegraph which featured Max’s 26th birthday party two years ago in their publications.
“'It’s discouraging that we haven’t heard back [from Guinness World Records] so that it’s official,' she said. 'But we know, and everyone who knows Max already knows that he is the world’s oldest dog,' she said Thursday as the timeworn terrier dozed off by her feet.
“'It’s discouraging that we haven’t heard back so that it’s official. But we know, and everyone who knows Max already knows that he is the world’s oldest dog.'"
Here are photos of Max taken two years ago:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1205517/Max-terrier-worlds-oldest-dog-celebrates-26th-birthday.html
Friday 2 September 2011
World's Two Oldest Columnists Call It a Day
From ERIC SHACKLE in Sydney, Australia.,ericshackle*bigpond.com>
The world's two oldest columnists have both just thrown away their quills, or stopped tapping their computer keyboards.
In the US, Margaret Caldwell (104) has quit writing for the Desert Valley Times, and in Ireland, James Kelly (100) has written his last column for the Irish News.
"Everyone misses Margaret's column, but she felt she was repeating herself,and didn't have anything new to offer," says David Bly, editor of the Desert Valley Times, in Mesquite, Nevada.
"Her health is poor, but she's still alert and full of laughs.
"She leaves on a high note: her column has been awarded first place in non-staff columns by the Nevada Press Association. This is the second time she was won that award."
Earlier this year, the Irish News published this tribute to its veteran columnist:
Centurion columnist retires
Mr Kelly joined The Irish News in 1928 and on Saturday he celebrated his birthday and the end of his time at the paper at a party with friends and family.He has written about Northern Ireland's major issues for the past 82 years, covering everything from the opening of Stormont in 1932 to the introduction of Home Rule, 40 years later.
After his long and distinguished career with The Irish News, the west Belfast man said he knew it was time to step down from his column:
Here's a story I wrote about Margaret Caldwell two years ago, when she was a feisty 102. It was published by the South Korean newszine OhmyNewsInternational:
The world's two oldest columnists have both just thrown away their quills, or stopped tapping their computer keyboards.
In the US, Margaret Caldwell (104) has quit writing for the Desert Valley Times, and in Ireland, James Kelly (100) has written his last column for the Irish News.
"Everyone misses Margaret's column, but she felt she was repeating herself,and didn't have anything new to offer," says David Bly, editor of the Desert Valley Times, in Mesquite, Nevada.
"Her health is poor, but she's still alert and full of laughs.
"She leaves on a high note: her column has been awarded first place in non-staff columns by the Nevada Press Association. This is the second time she was won that award."
Earlier this year, the Irish News published this tribute to its veteran columnist:
Centurion columnist retires
The oldest newspaper columnist in the world, James Kelly, has written his final column, at the grand age of 100.
After his long and distinguished career with The Irish News, the west Belfast man said he knew it was time to step down from his column:
Here's a story I wrote about Margaret Caldwell two years ago, when she was a feisty 102. It was published by the South Korean newszine OhmyNewsInternational:
"I think the slogan 'What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas' is totally wrong," she told OhmyNews. "It denotes the wrong kind of reputation for Las Vegas. What happens in Las Vegas should be in the public domain as far as I am concerned." Margaret writes a weekly column for the Desert Valley Times in Mesquite, Nevada, owned by Gannett Co., Inc. which publishes 85 daily newspapers, including the national newspaper USA TODAY (circulation 2,284,219), and nearly 900 non-daily publications David Bly, editor and general manager of the Desert Valley Times, says "I interviewed Margaret as a centenarian, and was so taken with her wit and sharpness I asked her to write a weekly column, which she has been doing faithfully ever since under the title, 'Memoirs of a Crone,' which was her choice of titles. "She simply writes about her life, and our readers are very fond of her... She still has a way with words." OhmyNews interviewed Margaret by email. Here is the Q and A: When and where was your first writing published?One of those people is Barb King, who praised Margaret's and daughter Patrisha's performances in a New Year's Eve stage show a few weeks ago. "In this play she [Margaret] was Miss Patience, and what a wonderful job she did re-creating a sweet, prim and proper school marm who had once been engaged to the sheriff.," Barb wrote. "Margaret continues to amaze everyone who meets her, with her wonderful humor and fabulous abilities with story-telling." Margaret's columns cover a wide variety of subjects, ranging from "My First Kiss" to her latest column, "Hard times again - when will we ever learn?." She wrote "My First Kiss" last year, when she was only 101. Here's a copy: When I was young, about nine years old, there was a preacher who came to our country schoolhouse to preach.You can see five photos of Margaret at different stages of life posted on MySpace. And here's an edited copy of this remarkable woman's autobiography: I was born on Feb. 1, 1907, in the backwoods of Minnesota on a homestead, 25 miles from Backus, which now has a population of 2,500 people, the year before Henry Ford came out with his first Model T Ford. | |||||||||||
Margaret Caldwell in 2009 Sunday 21 August 2011
Let Dr. Fish nibble your toenails!
From ERIC SHACKLE in Sydney, Australia.<ericshackle*bigpond.com>
How would you like to dangle your legs in a warm spa, and let shoals of small fish nibble your skin and toenails?
These finny dermatologists, Garra Rufa, are called doctor fish or nibble fish. They are particularly helpful to people with psoriasis and dermatitis.
People in Turkey, China and Japan have indulged themselves in this way for many years, and now the practice is spreading to other countries, notably the UK, but also the US, South Africa and Singapore.
While most spa operators promote their pools as health resorts, one in Eilat, Israel,
emphasises the fun aspect. Its website says:
Among the many treatment experiences the city of Eilat offers, ranging from massages to a variety of holistic treatments, there is another unique species of therapy. Doctor Fish brings the newest trend in a series of amenities and cleaning fish gospel of Eilat.
At the Spiral Complex , between the Leonardo Plaza Hotel promenade to the Hilton Promenade, for only 50 dollars, you can get fifteen minutes, in which tiny fish will kiss (kissing fish) your feet.
This is an amusing experience of trying the trend traveling the world for several years.
The Small pool, which is on the second floor at the Spiral center, full with fish, brought in specifically to bite you. Instead of them resting in your plate, you are the first and main courses in their plate. These are not cruel Pyrenees or other predators, but small fish, with no teeth, a breed called Garra Rufa a sort of miniature carp, which has become popular in dermatology and pedicures in particular.
The fish, filling Doctor Fish's small pool, were brought from Japan to the city of Eilat by Amir Rosens, although originally the origin of the fish is in Turkey. The Garra rufa fish live in warm water, where there is no existence of plankton or enough algae to feed the fish, and therefore, in an ecologically adaptive process the fish began to eat dry skin.
The fish have become a global trend, especially for patients who suffer from psoriasis. This is due to the fish nutrition, which consume only the dead or Hard area "of the skin, leaving behind healthy skin. Of course this is not a cure but a temporary treatment that relieves the symptoms of the disease.
Treatment at Dr. Fish is not only painless, but also tickles a lot. The pool's water is very clean, thanks to its everyday recurrent refill, and thanks to meticulous cleanliness and hygiene. The place offers the possibility to buy treatments ticket tab, which for five treatments you will receive an additional gift treatment (250 ₪ for 6 treatments). Also, while soaking your feet in the pool, you can order drinks and lay back to enjoy.
The pool at Dr. Fish is suitable for use by several people simultaneously, and to sum everything up it seems that Spa fishes have been eagerly waiting for a taste of the splendor of your feet.
Dr. Fish is open every weekday from 9:00 to 23:00.
Wikipedia says "In a museum near the River Kwai, recording the privations of prison camps, a sketch drawn by a prisoner showed him up to his waist in water, but with small fish attending to his leg ulcers. There is widespread use of such fish in India, particularly in rural areas."
You can see the fish in action in this video:
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magic-fish-spa
And take part in a competition in Ireland:
http://insideireland.ie/2011/08/24/competition-win-a-fish-pedicure-with-aqua-foot-spa-2-31789/
How would you like to dangle your legs in a warm spa, and let shoals of small fish nibble your skin and toenails?
These finny dermatologists, Garra Rufa, are called doctor fish or nibble fish. They are particularly helpful to people with psoriasis and dermatitis.
People in Turkey, China and Japan have indulged themselves in this way for many years, and now the practice is spreading to other countries, notably the UK, but also the US, South Africa and Singapore.
While most spa operators promote their pools as health resorts, one in Eilat, Israel,
emphasises the fun aspect. Its website says:
Among the many treatment experiences the city of Eilat offers, ranging from massages to a variety of holistic treatments, there is another unique species of therapy. Doctor Fish brings the newest trend in a series of amenities and cleaning fish gospel of Eilat.
At the Spiral Complex , between the Leonardo Plaza Hotel promenade to the Hilton Promenade, for only 50 dollars, you can get fifteen minutes, in which tiny fish will kiss (kissing fish) your feet.
This is an amusing experience of trying the trend traveling the world for several years.
The Small pool, which is on the second floor at the Spiral center, full with fish, brought in specifically to bite you. Instead of them resting in your plate, you are the first and main courses in their plate. These are not cruel Pyrenees or other predators, but small fish, with no teeth, a breed called Garra Rufa a sort of miniature carp, which has become popular in dermatology and pedicures in particular.
The fish, filling Doctor Fish's small pool, were brought from Japan to the city of Eilat by Amir Rosens, although originally the origin of the fish is in Turkey. The Garra rufa fish live in warm water, where there is no existence of plankton or enough algae to feed the fish, and therefore, in an ecologically adaptive process the fish began to eat dry skin.
The fish have become a global trend, especially for patients who suffer from psoriasis. This is due to the fish nutrition, which consume only the dead or Hard area "of the skin, leaving behind healthy skin. Of course this is not a cure but a temporary treatment that relieves the symptoms of the disease.
Treatment at Dr. Fish is not only painless, but also tickles a lot. The pool's water is very clean, thanks to its everyday recurrent refill, and thanks to meticulous cleanliness and hygiene. The place offers the possibility to buy treatments ticket tab, which for five treatments you will receive an additional gift treatment (250 ₪ for 6 treatments). Also, while soaking your feet in the pool, you can order drinks and lay back to enjoy.
The pool at Dr. Fish is suitable for use by several people simultaneously, and to sum everything up it seems that Spa fishes have been eagerly waiting for a taste of the splendor of your feet.
Dr. Fish is open every weekday from 9:00 to 23:00.
Wikipedia says "In a museum near the River Kwai, recording the privations of prison camps, a sketch drawn by a prisoner showed him up to his waist in water, but with small fish attending to his leg ulcers. There is widespread use of such fish in India, particularly in rural areas."
You can see the fish in action in this video:
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magic-fish-spa
And take part in a competition in Ireland:
http://insideireland.ie/2011/08/24/competition-win-a-fish-pedicure-with-aqua-foot-spa-2-31789/
Sunday 24 July 2011
A good story goes on, and on, and on forever
From ERIC SHACKLE in Sydney, Australia <ericshackle*bigpond.com>
Many years ago, I wrote a nostalgic story about my life as a teenage cub/cadet reporter on The Press, a daily newspaper in Christchurch, Newe Zealand.
I sent it to Don Cooper, editor of a daily newspaper in the small town of Hereford, in Texas. With a nice touch of whimsy, the paper is named The Hereford Brand.
My story duly appeared in The Brand, and since then has been published in several other newspapers around the world.
Last week, I was dismayed to learn that The Press building of fond memory is to be demolished, following a series of severe earthquakes which have devastated Christchurch since February 2011 and are still causing havoc.
Two days ago I was surprised to receive the following email::
Hi Eric I am the weekend web editor of The Press website (www.stuff.co.nz/the-press) and noticed your comment with the link to the story you wrote in 2001 I was just wondering if you would be ok with me using that for a separate story to put on the website?
Please let me know.
Many thanks
Regards
Kim
Kim Triegaardt
Writer
021-128 3165
Naturally, I readily agreed. ..
So now, at the age of 92, I've staggered on to the front page of The Press, something I could never have achieved as a teenage cadet/cub reporter.
As a matter of fact, the front page of The Press, like that of most broadsheets, was filled with advertisements for picture shows, births, deaths and marriages, and goods for sale.
You can read my original story for The Hereford Brand at :
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2011/04/copyboys_are_an.php#more
and yesterday's story by Kim at :
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5332452/Demolition-sparks-fond-memories
Many years ago, I wrote a nostalgic story about my life as a teenage cub/cadet reporter on The Press, a daily newspaper in Christchurch, Newe Zealand.
I sent it to Don Cooper, editor of a daily newspaper in the small town of Hereford, in Texas. With a nice touch of whimsy, the paper is named The Hereford Brand.
My story duly appeared in The Brand, and since then has been published in several other newspapers around the world.
Last week, I was dismayed to learn that The Press building of fond memory is to be demolished, following a series of severe earthquakes which have devastated Christchurch since February 2011 and are still causing havoc.
Two days ago I was surprised to receive the following email::
Hi Eric I am the weekend web editor of The Press website (www.stuff.co.nz/the-press) and noticed your comment with the link to the story you wrote in 2001 I was just wondering if you would be ok with me using that for a separate story to put on the website?
Please let me know.
Many thanks
Regards
Kim
Kim Triegaardt
Writer
021-128 3165
Naturally, I readily agreed. ..
So now, at the age of 92, I've staggered on to the front page of The Press, something I could never have achieved as a teenage cadet/cub reporter.
As a matter of fact, the front page of The Press, like that of most broadsheets, was filled with advertisements for picture shows, births, deaths and marriages, and goods for sale.
You can read my original story for The Hereford Brand at :
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2011/04/copyboys_are_an.php#more
and yesterday's story by Kim at :
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5332452/Demolition-sparks-fond-memories
Thursday 14 July 2011
Treasure Hunters Set to Sail
From ERIC SHACKLE in Sydney, Australia. <ericshackle*bigpond.com>
Now that gold is worth more than $1800 an ounce -- the most it has ever been -- Australian adventurer Don McIntyre could not have chosen a better time to set out on his Blue Treasure expedition.
He is about to sail from Tarawa in a 15.2 metre 40-tonne steel ice-strengthened motor sailor dive support vessel named ICE. Two crew members have already been selected, and McIntyre is looking for others to join them -- and to share the costs.
Tarawa, an island in the central Pacific, was the scene of a fierce battle in WWII, in which thousands of US and Japanese forces lost their lives.
In his latest blog post, McIntyre reports: "After crossing the equator Sunday weather was fantastic. We made a call to Macca [ABC radio host Ian MacNamara] on Australia All Over. We listen to Radio Australia every Sunday which was fun as he has many listeners in Australia and around the \Pacific.
"Then we passed another cruising yacht... going the other way..They left England 20 years ago and are still cruising..They were suprised to see us, as they heard us talking to Macca a few hours before on their radio.
"We cruised past great islands and were settling into another moonlit night with light winds when..silience!.. the engine just stopped dead like someone switched it off. It was 1930hrs.".
You can follow the ICE and contact its crew by visiting its website:
http://www.bluetreasure.me/blog/
Don will be donating 20% of any share of the treasure that he finds toa British charity, The Sheffield Institute Foundation for Research into Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's & Other Neurological Disorders.SMA,(SMA is a children's form of MND).
Now that gold is worth more than $1800 an ounce -- the most it has ever been -- Australian adventurer Don McIntyre could not have chosen a better time to set out on his Blue Treasure expedition.
He is about to sail from Tarawa in a 15.2 metre 40-tonne steel ice-strengthened motor sailor dive support vessel named ICE. Two crew members have already been selected, and McIntyre is looking for others to join them -- and to share the costs.
Tarawa, an island in the central Pacific, was the scene of a fierce battle in WWII, in which thousands of US and Japanese forces lost their lives.
In his latest blog post, McIntyre reports: "After crossing the equator Sunday weather was fantastic. We made a call to Macca [ABC radio host Ian MacNamara] on Australia All Over. We listen to Radio Australia every Sunday which was fun as he has many listeners in Australia and around the \Pacific.
"Then we passed another cruising yacht... going the other way..They left England 20 years ago and are still cruising..They were suprised to see us, as they heard us talking to Macca a few hours before on their radio.
"We cruised past great islands and were settling into another moonlit night with light winds when..silience!.. the engine just stopped dead like someone switched it off. It was 1930hrs.".
You can follow the ICE and contact its crew by visiting its website:
http://www.bluetreasure.me/blog/
Don will be donating 20% of any share of the treasure that he finds toa British charity, The Sheffield Institute Foundation for Research into Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's & Other Neurological Disorders.SMA,(SMA is a children's form of MND).
Monday 27 June 2011
Skunks make great pets!
From ERIC SHACKLE in Sydney, Australia. <ericshackle*bigpond.com>
Skunks (de-odorised, of course), may not be your idea of a pet, but hundreds of skunklovers around the world think they're cute and lovable.
These clever critters are popular pets in the US, Canada, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Citizens of North Ridgeville, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, are eagerly preparing to hold the 10th annual Skunkfest there on Saturday, September 10.
Judges will select a King Skunk, a Queen Skunk, and Prince and Princess Skunks.
The official website says it will be "a friendly gathering for skunk lovers and skunk owners from everywhere to share some fun and discussionsabout skunks."
Most skunks are black with a white stripe, but others are white, gray, brown, beige or pale lavender.
A skunk's stink comes from a gland under its tail. It can squirt a vile-smelling but harmless oily liquid as far as 10 feet (three metres).
"Skunk spray causes no real damage to its victims, but it sure makes them uncomfortable," says an anonymous writer in National Geographic.
"It can linger for many days and defy attempts to remove it. As a defensive technique, the spray is very effective.
"Predators typically give skunks a wide berth unless little other food is available."
Links
Feeeding orphaned baby skunk http://squee.icanhascheezburger.com/2011/06/21/cute-baby-animals-feeding-orphaned-baby-skunk/
Pepe le Pew cartoon;
http://au.search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p=video+pepe+le+pew
Skunks (de-odorised, of course), may not be your idea of a pet, but hundreds of skunklovers around the world think they're cute and lovable.
These clever critters are popular pets in the US, Canada, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Citizens of North Ridgeville, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, are eagerly preparing to hold the 10th annual Skunkfest there on Saturday, September 10.
Judges will select a King Skunk, a Queen Skunk, and Prince and Princess Skunks.
The official website says it will be "a friendly gathering for skunk lovers and skunk owners from everywhere to share some fun and discussionsabout skunks."
Most skunks are black with a white stripe, but others are white, gray, brown, beige or pale lavender.
A skunk's stink comes from a gland under its tail. It can squirt a vile-smelling but harmless oily liquid as far as 10 feet (three metres).
"Skunk spray causes no real damage to its victims, but it sure makes them uncomfortable," says an anonymous writer in National Geographic.
"It can linger for many days and defy attempts to remove it. As a defensive technique, the spray is very effective.
"Predators typically give skunks a wide berth unless little other food is available."
Links
About Skunkfest 2011:
http://www.skunkhaven.net/images/CurrentSkunkfestFlyer.pdf
National Geographic:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/skunk/
Videos:
Nature
http://www.videosurf.com/video/nature-is-that-skunk-video-full-episode-58656783http://www.skunkhaven.net/images/CurrentSkunkfestFlyer.pdf
National Geographic:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/skunk/
Videos:
Nature
Feeeding orphaned baby skunk
Pepe le Pew cartoon;
http://au.search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p=video+pepe+le+pew
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