Reply to: "pondmaninal" You asked.. "Have you tried feeding them from the side of the pond?" and How long have I had the fish?... From my first post - "I throw the feed pellets down to the pond from a window far above"... Which means I am not disturbing them in any way except for the food pellets hitting the water. I can watch them for long periods of time and they just stay at the bottom. and "I cleaned the pond out about 2 months ago. I filled it and got 5 goldfish."... SO, the fish are 2 months old. As for the parrot feather, they are also a few months old, and yes they had roots, about 1-2 inches in length all along the stem. The roots were not bushy and full. I suspect, they need to be potted to establish. That is my answer... The fish are alive so I guess they are eating something. Thanks, L

The potato is a fairly big deal, because some varieties of potatoes are bred with genes added to make them toxic to potato beetles. Makes it possible to grow them in huge plots and is very productive. Lots of conflict over whether it is harmful to people or not. Kind of unknown for sure since it is a relatively new technique. I don't like the idea for a completely different reason than human health. Using genes for roundup resistence and BT toxicity to insects will speed up the rate at which weeds and pests will evolve resistence to those herbicides and pesticides. BT which is a toxin that comes from a bacteria, has been used for years and years as a relatively benign toxin (benign only because it breaks down rapidly, it is very toxic when applied and isn't picky, so kills any insects feeding on the plants, including pretty butterfly larvae). But dramatically increasing the use of BT will hasten insects development of resistence to it and thereby hasten its loss of effectiveness so farmers may have to turn to more and more toxic alternatives. The multinationals who manufacture the genetically engineered potatoes don't mind because then they can concoct another substitute to sell farmers. I'm not casting aspersions on them, this is how they make a living, it is up to the buying public and citizens to hold them accountable to damage this may do to the environment. I'm not totally against pesticides and herbicides, but using them broadly is not advised, that's why Integrated Pest Management was devised. Genetically modified foods are not required to be labled as such, so hard to know what kind of potatoes you are getting. It's very hard to fight off potato beetles totally organically. Also, genetically modifed crops can be grown in a variety of ways, some farmers may mix them in with non-genetically modified crops to mimic a more IPM style of farming. A farmer who has a home garden where s/he grows potatoes for the family can grow other varieties that may taste better, and they can utilize hand picking of pests and other methods of pest control that work time and cost effectively on a small scale. Same with folks who grow these crops on their own for their own use, like many of us here. As mentioned, a huge arguement for growing your own.

What anguish I read these comments with. My beloved Maine Coon Cat at age ten gradually stopped eating after his requisite vaccinations. He gradually lost a third of his weight. I took him to the vet. Blood work was done. Palpations were done. He stopped eating, or, as far as I could tell, drinking. I was distraught, and, finally, on a weekend took him to the Pet hospital, where he is now. After reading many of these comments, I am very afraid. He is ten years old and we have had him since he was three weeks old. He is laid-back, thoughtful, and has command of much vocabulary. How can we get along without our beloved cat? He is to have an ultrasound tomorrow, and I shudder at what the news might be. . .

his appetite is coming back, but it's still a bit tricky--poor old guy has always had a tender tummy, so he tends to upchuck if he eats a different food, and he's not been inclined to eat his old food. So if I tempt him with new food he's like yum! and then Hork!. Yesterday he cleaned his bowl and wanted more and this a.m. I let him have just a few bites of his old food (he will also upchuck if he eats too much/fast) so he had a better chance of holding down the last ab pill. With a 3 day weekend I can feed him little bites when ever he wants them. 3 other pigs in the household who would scarf up all his dry food if given the opportunity. So--cautiously--another victory! I almost lost him 5 years ago when his thyroid went nuts, dropped to 7.5 lbs in just a couple of weeks, puking, diarrhea. He'd always been super laid back, and was suddenly going into hissy fits at the least provocation, and started peeing in anything that looked like it ought to hold pee--box tops, laundry baskets, etc. And he was allergic to the thyroid pills. We started him on them and within a week had dug his head bloody. Fort'ly there is a radioactive thyroid cat treatment center just south of me and it worked a miracle. We went from a cat who freaked out in the vets and had to be anaesthitized just to draw blood to one who had to have his nose pinched to stop him from purring long enough to hear his heartbeat. I look at him and know that I've had 5 wonderful years that I didn't think I would have, and maybe now can look at least a few more. Thanks everyone for all your support and suggestions.