Chinese New Year will be here in another week. So in honor of this holiday here is an oldie but goodie. Being half-Chinese and having grown up in a family run Chinese restaurant, I feel I can get away with showing this:Chinese Celebration Video 

For those of you who would like your very own wildlife computer screen cleaner, please click on the right:         Computer Screen Cleaner

This is an actual response to the Dam letter in the post below.    Dear Mr. Price, Your certified letter dated 12/17/02 has been handed to me to respond to.  I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane , Trout Run, Pennsylvania .   A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood “debris” dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.  While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials “debris.”   I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose.   I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. 

My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?     If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued.   (Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.) I have several concerns.  My first concern is, aren’t the beavers entitled to legal representation?  The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation — so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer.  The Department’s dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that t his is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect.   In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.   If you want the stream “restored” to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers — but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.   In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream.  They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond.  If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers’ Dams).   So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2006? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area.  It is the bears!   Bears are actually defecating in our woods.  I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step!   The bears are not careful where they dump!  Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office. THANK YOU,  RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS

 This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania . This guy’s response is hilarious, but read the State’s letter below before you get to the response letter, which is posted above.     Dear Mr. DeVries: It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property.  You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:     Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.    A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department’s files shows that no permits have been issued.  Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Penn sylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.  The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations.  We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel.  All restoration work shall be completed   no later than January 31, 2006 .  Please notify this office when the restoration has been comp leted so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff.  Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action..   We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter.  Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.  Sincerely, David L. Price District Representative and Water Management Division.    

  During the holidays, we get together with our parents who besides being a different generation from us often live a very different lifestyle altogether. While we’re always happy to visit family we haven’t seen all year, especially when we realize they are getting up there, our differences can sometimes make the long holiday weekends tedious. There are only so many movies and football games you can watch. Only so many eating frenzies followed by naps you can endure. Just so much staring into space and struggling to maintain a conversation about things you have no interest in possible. So imagine my relief at finding a free online game that all generations can gather around and play together. A game that improves your vocabulary, helps others, and is addictive in a positive way. Check out www.freerice.org.

On their webpage, FreeRice has listed two goals:

1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

They need to add a third goal: Help the generations connect again. 

Why not try something new? Feed the world, stimulate your mind, and interact with your family this Christmas season. Play FreeRice together!

What Marie Antoinette really said was “Let them eat fruitcake.”And some people wonder why they get beheaded!   Spicetalker    

“People don’t die from old age, but from neglect.” Jack Lalanne, the godfather of fitness, said this over 50 years ago. Couldn’t of said it better myself. More wisdom from Jack taken from his popular TV show during the 1950’s:

Top Ten Ways To Improve Your Life:

1. Appropriate Exercise
2. Proper Nutrition
3. Positive Thinking
4. Good Habits
5. Attend to Personal Grooming
6. Smile More!
7. Maintain Good Posture
8. Help Others
9. Practice Stress Relief/Relaxation
10. Have Faith

Not as much has changed in 50 years as I thought. This advice sounds amazingly similar to most of what’s being espoused by Oprah, Dr. Gupta, new age gurus, modern day soccer moms, and The Secret. I guess sometimes things have to be said a million different ways over a long period of time before we get it: We have to take care of ourselves and we need to care for others too, if we want a happy, fulfiling life.

What comes around goes around.

And Live Long and Prosper.

After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand
and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and eyes ahead with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you ask too much.

So that you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure.

And you really are strong and you really do have worth.

And you learn with every good-bye you learn.