Month: September 2011
Kitsu’s Afternoon “News”: Image is Everything
Originally reported in the Daily Mail in an article posted 21 September 2011.
In proof of the fact that image is everything, the quality of a dog or cat’s adoption photograph can be the difference between adoption and euthanasia. Professional photographer Teresa Berg of Dallas Texas can’t stand the thought that “for want of a good picture, a dog goes homeless”, and donated her services as a photographer to her local adoption center. The before and after photographs speak for themselves, but so do the numbers. Adoptions went up 100% after her first batch of new photographs went up.
So, whether you’re looking for a new home for your beloved pet or trying to sell a car, never forget the value of a good photograph in making people want what you’re offering.
Kitsu’s Afternoon “News”: Genetically Engineered AIDS Fighting Phosphorescent Felines
Originally reported by Discovery News in their 12 September 2011 Blog post.
Jellyfish genes have been used to “tag” Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) resistant cats bred in a laboratory. FIV is the feline equivalent of aids and these cats can be used to study FIV resistance and gain insights into fighting HIV and AIDS. The original FIV resistant gene was derived from Rhesus Macaques and inserted into this line of cats along with the Jellyfish gene for luminesense, so that cats carrying the gene would also glow when exposed to black light.
So far the gene has bred true and showed no negative effects on the effected felines. With luck the studies of these cats will result in studies that move AIDS and HIV prevention forward.
And no. You can’t have a glowing cat for a pet. They don’t sell them.
Kitsu’s Afternoon “News”: Royal Canadian Mint releases commemorative Cryptid Coin
Originally reported by the Royal Canadian Mint, and picked up by Cryptomundo in a Blog Post.
Little known canadian cryptid the “Mishepishu” (translates as “Great Water Lynx”). Unlike America, which has been treating it’s cyptozooloigical legends like curiosities, Canada has embraced them at least as as part of their culture. This coin line also features a bigfoot and Memphré version and is clearly geared towards children with the colorful art and fun informative literature included.
Sure, not all cryptids are worth the time of day and the effort, but there are aspects of them which should never be thrown aside. Why shouldn’t we at least honor the history of these stories? Why do they need to be dismissed consistently and why can we not enjoy the fun that they stand for? And for those cryptids that have hope, why shouldn’t we be investigating them?
