Dixie currently feels:

Amused

 

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Those adverts you get above your e-mail inbox truly are good for something. :)

 

Okay, I hate the "MORTGAGE RATES ARE CHANGING", and the Childline ones are starting to piss me off - but JunkMonkeys was awesome, and I've just found something that's even better!

 

Looky,

I HAS GINGER BEARD:

 

 

"DO NOT WANT."

 

 

But yes! :)

 

This is a screenshot taken from the wonderful flash game called "The Gingerizer!"

In which, you can upload photos, and give them large ginger beards. You can even make them talk!

 

It's a site advertising Old Jamaica Ginger Beer.

Here's the link: http://www.ginger-beards.co.uk/

 

 

Ah, the wonderful delights of adverts and flash games. :)

 

I HAVE EVEN FOUND PERFECT SMILEY FOR THIS MOMENT:  

This one goes out to Justin, because he was telling me how much he enjoys the knowledge that I share on my blog...and he likes to see his name in lights.

 

Okay, so the other night I was watching "Sex and the City" on TBS and a commercial comes on for orange juice. A thought pops into my head...are oranges called that because of the color, or is the color named so because of the fruit? So I turn to my mom and ask her that very question. She said: "you mean like a chicken or the egg thing?" Yep, that's exactly what I want to know. Mom didn't have the answer, so I looked it up. Shocking, I know.

 

Here's your next installment: I did some research in the Oxford English Dictionary. Which is the definitive dictionary  and is chock full of all sorts of useful information. I also googled it and came up with an etymology, which is really close, from Wikipedia. But we'll go with the most authoritative source. The OED gives this definition--

 

1. a. Any of various kinds of citrus fruit with a usually reddish-yellow rind when mature and an acid many-celled juicy pulp; spec. (a) (more fully Seville orange, bitter orange) the fruit of Citrus aurantium, whose pulp is bitter and which is now used chiefly for making marmalade; (b) (more fully sweet orange, China orange) the fruit of C. sinensis and its varieties, which has a pleasantly acid pulp and is used for eating and making juice.

 

It then goes on to tell of the earliest documented uses of the name, the earliest being 1400 AD.

Then, if you scroll to a later entry you see this definition--

 

4. A bright reddish-yellow colour like that of the skin of a ripe orange; any one of a number of shades occupying the region between red and yellow in the spectrum. Also: a pigment or dye of this colour.

 

-AND-

 

a. Of the colour of an orange (see A. 4).

 

And the earliest documented usage of this definition...wait for it...here it comes....1532! Which is a full 132 years after they named the fruit. So, the answer is the chicken! Or is it the egg?

 

Okay, so I didn't solve that one, but now we know that the color orange is derived from the color of the skin of the fruit. I would have thought it were the other way around. Glad I checked.  Well, Justin, did you learn something? 

A reminder for all animal lovers out there:

 

 

ASPCA Day

Ways to Go Orange

WHAT IS ASPCA DAY?

Every year on April 10, the anniversary date of the founding of the ASPCA in 1866, the ASPCA will be celebrating ASPCA Day and encouraging animal lovers of all ages nationwide to GO ORANGE FOR ANIMALS!  Going Orange on ASPCA Day is a tribute to the work of the ASPCA and a celebration of compassion and kindness for all living things everywhere.  (Orange is the official ASPCA color and what better to celebrate than our love of animals?) 

 

In our hometown of New York City, many iconic Big Apple buildings light up orange on April 10.  Other big cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin and Philadelphia, will be “going orange,” too.   Join the ASPCA Grassroots Team and help us GO ORANGE in your home town!

 

The ASPCA is the first and oldest humane organization in the Western Hemisphere and we need the continued support of animal lovers like you to help us spread our message of kindness and compassion across the country. We’ve created this ASPCA Day Grassroots Kit to get you started. Please join us in celebrating the work that we do and the animals that we serve by going orange for animals on April 10.

GO ORANGE!  GLOW ORANGE!  SHOW ORANGE FOR ANIMALS!

SO HOW DO YOU “GO ORANGE?”

It’s fun to go orange—and the more creative you get, the more fun it is!  Orange is a vibrant, energetic color that most people find inspiring. So use it joyfully to show the world you care about animals on April 10! We’ve provided the following ideas and suggestions on how you can go orange in your community, classroom, business, library, website, etc.! Whether you organize a pet parade in your neighborhood, get your town hall to light up in orange, decorate your office door with an orange bow, or have your school, club or office workers wear orange on April 10—we thank you for being a vision in orange and helping the ASPCA spread the word about animal welfare.

 

LIGHTEN UP
OK, so you don’t have a tower like the one on the Empire State Building on top of your house, but you can still let the world know that animal lovers live in your home.  Purchase orange string or rope lights, available online and at hardware and specialty lighting and novelty stores, and wrap your house, terrace, trees, lamppost, porch steps, mailbox…even the family swing set. Start small by replacing your porch light or driveway light with an orange bulb, and see where that takes you.

 

SIGN LANGUAGE
Let our posters do the talking. You can download our specially designed ASPCA Day posters and use them to inspire others to show their orange colors for animals on April 10.

 

HOW ‘GLOW’ CAN YOU GO?
Get that orange GLOW by wearing and handing out orange glow sticks and glow jewelry. How about a glow light party or parade in your town?  (These colorful accessories can be found online or purchased at party supply stores.)

PLEDGE YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO PROTECTING ANIMALS
Can you commit to doing all that is possible to help the animals in your community live happy, healthy lives—on ASPCA Day and every day? Sign the ASPCA pledge and show the world you support the ASPCA and the pets we protect.

TIE ONE (OR TWO!) ON
Be a wrap star when you decorate with orange bows. They’ll look great wherever you put them—on trees, over your office door, hanging from your dashboard, on your pooch…and so on and so on.

HOW ICON-IC!
Each year the ASPCA decorates special animal-themed sculptures in New York City with orange bows and lights—the famous Wall Street Charging Bull sculpture glows with orange ribbons and streamers on April 10, and we put ASPCA Day posters on lampposts near the sculpture!  We have also decorated the sculpture of Balto, the hero Alaskan sled dog sculpture in Central Park.  So get out the orange for an animal sculpture or another meaningful icon in your neighborhood that has high visibility—but do get permission first!

PLAY DRESS-UP
Open your closet and get out those bright orange pants, shirts, ties, shoelaces and socks that you don’t wear because you don’t think they match anything. Fear not—you’ll be majorly en vogue on April 10, we promise. If you suffer from a dearth of citrus-colored clothing, simply visit the online ASPCA Store.  You’ll find a variety of orange accessories for both humans and your canine sidekick!  

ON THE MOVE
Plan a dog walk or hike in your town where dogs and their humans go orange! For the organizationally challenged, walking through town with your friends (both furry and human) is just as good, but do be sure you’re all wearing something orange and carrying our poster, or your own sign, telling people why you are walkin’ and glowin’!

TAKE A BIG GULP
Mix up some batches of orangeade or orange Kool-Aid and have a sale to benefit your local humane organization or animal shelter. There’s a reason this is the quintessential kid’s fundraising activity—it’s inexpensive, and it works!

SWEET TREATS
Organize an orange bake sale for animals at your local shelter or rescue group.  Make orange cupcakes, orange cookies, orange-frosted cakes or cat and dog cookies wearing orange frosted collars. (P.S. Remember, a little food coloring goes a long way!)  Set up a table at your school, church, local library, club or office and let people know their purchase of special orange deliciousness will benefit animals for ASPCA Day!  You can also convince your local bakery to create special orange baked goods and ask if they might donate some of the proceeds to animal welfare efforts.

Bake orange cookies or cupcakes for your friends, coworkers, classmates, etc and give them away.  Tell them your baked goodies are a symbol of kindness to animals for ASPCA Day. 

ESPECIALLY FOR TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS
Organize a Wear Orange For Animals Day on April 10, and give out orange animal cookies or cupcakes.  Use this day as an opportunity to educate your students or library visitors about how and why the humane movement began in the United States, and why it is important to be kind to those who cannot speak for themselves.   To learn more about our history and how you can share this important information with your charges, visit www.aspca.org/history.

Have your students read Black Beauty and other humane children’s books. You can also work with your students or local theater group to present a play or speech about kindness to animals, or a brief history of the ASPCA. For more ideas, our ASPCA Humane Education department has prepared lesson plans and a list of ASPCA-approved books about animals and animal welfare, which you can find at ASPCAEducation.org.

LET IT SHINE
Ask your town hall and local officials to help you go orange for animals in your neighborhood to help raise awareness about kindness and compassion. Remind your representatives that kindness to animals means kinder citizens—who are more compassionate to each other.

SEEK SHELTER
Coordinate an ASPCA Day event with your local animal shelter or animal welfare group, and be sure to alert your local media. Wrap your shelter in an orange glow and hold an awareness event or fundraiser on or near April 10. To find a shelter or rescue group near you, visit our shelter database.

CONSTRUCTION WORK
Know of a cool building in your town or city that would look great lit up orange? Find out who the management company is and ask them to join in with New York City’s tower buildings and the many buildings that will be lighting up orange on April 10. As an added incentive, let them know that their building could receive great coverage if they light up for animals; good idea to alert the media first.

MIND YOUR (LOCAL) BUSINESS
Have your local pet store or tack shop go orange and feature special promotions or discounts on April 10, with some proceeds going toward local animal welfare efforts. Encourage your local bookstore to go orange by promoting and displaying humane literature for kids and adults. Visit ASPCAEducation.org for a list of top animal-themed titles. Local students and teachers could help create the display, too!

GROW ORANGE
Got a green thumb? Plant an orange garden for animals. Ask your local garden center what orange flowering plants work best in your area, and do some creative landscaping. Trim your shrubs into animal shapes, and decorate them in orange bows or lights. 

No garden? Try window boxes or flower pots, but do let people (and the media) know that your orange garden is all for and all about animals. (Be careful though, as some plants can be toxic to animals and wildlife. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center to find out which ones.)

GIVE A HOMELESS ANIMAL A SECOND CHANCE
Sponsor an advertisement in your community paper for an animal from your local shelter who needs a home. You can even ask to feature a photo of the animal wearing an orange bow—either real or graphically created. Make sure the ad says that you sponsored that animal for ASPCA Day, and encourage others to do the same.

YOU OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES!
Show the ASPCA and America how creative you can be on April 10 by sharing YOUR photos of your celebration with us. Upload them on Flickr and include "aspcaday" in the tags.

SHARE THE ORANGE SPIRIT ON LINE! 
Here’s an easy and fun way to jumpstart your ASPCA day celebration—send an ecard to friends and family! 

 

(Note: All above information is re-posted from the ASPCA Web site: http://www.aspca.org)

Looking north to the Tehachapi mtns.


The orange you see in the distance is the field pictured above.


Blooming Joshua branch w/trees in background.


These were on the side of the road!  Their plants only the size of half my thumb.


Look!  It's so little it's the size of my thumbnail!  Sooo cute!


I don't know what they are, but they were about a mile from the field in the first pic above.  They're the blue field in the previous entry.

ARMY

 

River City Construction, L.L.C., East Peoria, Ill., was awarded on Feb. 15, 2008, a $74,210,000 firm-fixed-price contract for changes to the U.S. Transportation Command and its Joint Intelligence Operations Center. Work will be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 9, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This web solicitation was announced on Nov. 1, 2007, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity W912QR-08-C-0007.

 

Arviso Construction Co. Inc., Fort Wingate, N.M., was awarded on Feb. 19, 2008, a $66,475,280 firm-fixed-price contract for replacement of Wingate High School and Dormitory. Work will be performed in Fort Wingate, N.M., and is expected to be completed by May 2, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 10 bids solicited on Sep. 18, 2007, and three bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, N.M., is the contracting activity W912PP-08-C-0002.

 

Oshkosh Truck Corp. Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on Feb. 19, 2008, a $48,906,410 firm-fixed-price award ceiling price modification for family of heavy Tactical Vehicle systems. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Oct. 23, 2006, and one bid was received. The Tank Automotive and Armaments Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity W56HZV-07-C-0248.

 

Combat Support Associates, Orange, Calif., was awarded on Feb. 16, 2008, a $30,926,621 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for contract modifications for expansion of postal operations support. Work will be performed in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and is expected to be completed by Sep. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This web solicitation was posted on Oct. 30, 1998, and four bids were received. The U.S. Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity DASA02-99-C-1234.

 

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla., was awarded on Feb. 15, 2008, a $20,552,074 firm-fixed-price contract for small caliber ammunition. Work will be performed in St. Petersburg, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 23, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This web solicitation was posted on Jan. 18, 2005, and two bids were received. The U.S. Army Field Support Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity W52P1J-05-G-0002.

 

Alliant Techsystems, Inc., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded on Feb. 15, 2008, a $6,972,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 30mm ammunition. Work will be performed in Radford, Va., and is expected to be completed by Sep. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were two bids solicited on Jan. 16, 2008, and two bids were received. The U.S. Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity W52P1J-07-C-0035.

 

Woodward Governor Co., Rockford, Ill., was awarded on Feb. 15, 2008, a delivery order amount of $6,427,580 as part of a $28,879,222 firm-fixed-price contract for fuel control equipment for the Black Hawk helicopter. Work will be performed in Rockford, Ill., and is expected to be completed by Apr. 30, 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were two bids solicited on Jan. 8, 2007, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity W58RGZ-07-D-0174.

 

Purcell Construction, Watertown, N.Y., was awarded on Feb. 15, 2008, a delivery order amount of $66,100,000 as part of a $150,532,382 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of three 624-person barracks. Work will be performed in Fort Lee, Va., and is expected to be completed by Sep 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were three bids solicited on Dec. 7, 2007, and three bids were received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity W91236-08-D-0014.

 

NAVY

 

Global Security and Engineering Solutions, a Division of L-3 Services, Inc., Chantilly, Va., is being awarded a ceiling value $326,318,075 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity requirements contract to design, fabricate, install, and test the Tactical Video Capture System (TVCS) for various Marine Corps bases worldwide. The Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command (MAGTFTC) staff and personnel will use the TVCS for Real-Time Visualization (RTV) and Situational Awareness (SA) while Marine Units are conducting Military Operation in TVCS to conduct After Action Reviews (AAR) of the just completed training exercise. The contractor will perform system design, development, integration, installation, logistics, engineering, and training of the TVCS. Work will be performed at government sites worldwide, and the work is expected to be completed Feb. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This effort was competitively procured as a full and open competition procurement, with one offer to the solicitation received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-07-D-8000).

 

BAE Systems, Land and Armaments Group, Ground Systems, Santa Clara, Calif., is being awarded a $33,938,132 cost-plus-incentive fee contract to provide engineering support  services. This contract contains options which, if exercised, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $109,497,949. Work will be performed in Santa Clara, Calif., (24 percent); Brea, Calif., (23 percent); Plymouth, Minn., (18 percent); Aberdeen, S.D., (14 percent); Minneapolis, Minn., (10 percent); Nashua, N.H., (9 percent); Austin, Texas, (2 percent), and work is expected to be completed Jul. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00030-08-C-0025).

 

Allied Pacific Builders, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, and David's Custom Roofing & Painting, Inc.*, Pearl City, Hawaii, are being awarded a not to exceed $20,000,000 (base period and four option years) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for roof repairs and maintenance for Navy, Marine Corps, and miscellaneous Federal and other facilities at various locations in Oahu, Hawaii. Work will be performed in Oahu, Hawaii, and work is expected to be completed Feb. 2009 (Feb 2013 with options).  Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with 11 proposals solicited and eight offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-08-D-4014 and N62478-08-D-4015).

 

AIR FORCE

 

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics of Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a contract modification for $182,615,911. This action provides for sustainment of the F-22 Weapon System during Calendar Year's 2008 and 2009.   At this time $258,763,747 has been obligated. ASC/YFK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8611-08-C-2897).

 

The United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney, of East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded an undefinitized contract modification for $101,168,373. This contract will provide CY08 sustainment for the F-22 Raptor F119 Engine. At this time $129,834,373 has been obligated. ASC/YFK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8611-08-C-2896).

 

TAC Industries of Springfield Ohio is being awarded a contract for $34,450,420.50. This action provides for quantity of 68,750 each for top cargo tiedown nets; 137,600 each side cargo tie-down nets. At this time all funds have been obligated. 642nd CBSSS/GBZO-PKAC, Robins Air Force Base Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8533-05-D-0001-0010).

 

General Atomics of San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a cost plus incentive fee contract for $6,094,533. This effort is for the change to enhance the Maintenance Level Technical Orders, which are a part of the system development and demonstration of the MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Air Vehicles. At this time no funds have been obligated. 658th AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-02-G-4035, Order 002316).

 

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

 

Seagoing Uniforms, Marshville, N.C.,* is being awarded a maximum $7,536,579.00 firm fixed price, total set aside, indefinite quantity contract for Navy utility uniform items. Other locations of performance are N. C., S. C., and Ga. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Web solicited with two responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract is exercising option year three (except for Item 0005 – Utility Trousers). Date of performance completion is Mar.31, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SP0100-04-D-0457).