High gas prices...

have finally hit the Vatican, resulting in drastic action.

The Perils of Penguinity

Ya know, living with TR and nearly 100 of his closest relatives has given me a whole new perspective on penguin life. It's not all that easy...

The paparazzi follow you everywhere.

There are all those endless (and largely futile) hours spent in flight school.

Loosing a contact lens is sheer hell.

People give you funny looks when you do interpretive dance.

And there are those periodic bouts with the great existential questions.

Continued. . .

The principles applaud the papal chef for the exceptional weenies.

After-dinner entertainment.: "Hey, watch this! I can do an eclipse!"

A good time was had by all.

Despotic Entertaining Tip #42

During the summer months, a simple relaxed picnic can be just the thing to ease diplomatic tensions. Here, President Bush prepares to chow down at the Pontifical Weenie-Roast.

It's not just us, ya know!

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Tim Clark of South Africa pulls his penguin head cover off a club during the first round of the Stanford St. Jude Championship golf tournament in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, June 5, 2008. Clark finished the day at 2-over par 72.

Look Out Cougs!

In one of the stranger coincidences in my life recently, the dean of arts & sciences at my beloved and mighty place of employ - i.e., my "boss" in a way - has just been named provost at, of all places, Washington State Univ., alma mater of our Good and Right-Trusty Squirrel! Let's just say better you than us. One friend and colleague, possessed of strongish feelings toward our dean, threw a big party at the news. She herself was born and spent early years in beauteous Pullman (check out the National Lentil Festival) and threw an eastern WA themed party, complete with cheeses shipped in from the WSU dairy! (impressive, no?)Be assured we will keep Sq.'s alma mater in our thoughts and prayers here. Happily, the new provost comes after Squirrel and will depart before the Little Rodent hits campus, so no personal harm will be effected. Go Cougs!

Resistance is futile!

On our little jaunt through Indiana, it struck me that the place might make a good target for conquest. This for several reasons:

TR rather liked the place.

They do take good care of their cows. Here they are enjoying a sleek, industrial style merry-go-round at one of their bovine amusement parks.

Certainly, it doesn't seem there'll be much resistance on the horizon.
But they do have the oddest looking dogs I've ever seen...