The Fishing Cat: A Truly Unique Feline

Here is a wonderful post from Josh Gross about an amazing and unique feline!

The Jaguar

A photo of a fishing cat taken by Srikanth Mannepuri. Image © Fishing Cat Conservancy.

This post is an introduction to the ecology and conservation of a truly unique species: the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus). It is the second entry in a three-part series about fishing cats and a non-profit organization called the Fishing Cat Conservancy, whom I shall write about next week.

Size

The fishing cat is a medium-sized cat: recorded weights for the species range from 5.1-6.8 kg for females, and 8.5-16 kg for males.¹ That translates to 11.2-15 lb for females and 18.7-35.3 lb for males, which is slightly smaller than a bobcat (Lynx rufus).

Range and Habitat

The fishing cat has a wide but patchy range. It occurs in fragmented habitats in parts of:

A fishing cat watching the water, presumably waiting for prey. Photo taken by Srikanth Mannepuri…

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This is me

Allow me to introduce another one of my English 11 class!

Luca Milletti Engl 011

Hi! My name is Luca Milletti and I am a freshman at Lehigh University, exploring the depths of literature via blog posts in my English class. I am originally from San Francisco, California. Although I am an engineer, I have always had a hidden love for reading and writing because my high school pushed writing and reading skills on its students so much; on the other hand, I have been out of touch with literature for so long and I am looking to rekindle that love for genres I used to enjoy reading so much. Out of all of the literature I have read, I enjoy reading horror, fiction and realistic fiction the most, and my favorite series of books have been the Harry Potter series and, when I was younger, the Percy Jackson series. I am looking forward to posting more on this site and I am hoping to…

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Semi-Self-Published English Student

Here is an introductory post from one of my students in my English 11 class at Lehigh University.

genreBella

My name is Isabella King. A student at Lehigh University and I am excited to share a small excerpt (about the first two paragraphs) of a book I wrote senior year of high school.

Many more edits are in the works although there are a few printed copies out there.

Chapter One
2099-10-01 18:36:03
Today is the first of October, and it might be
the last day that I am me. I’m told what I’m doing is
right, and both my naivety and guilt keep me from
disagreeing. But, even if my conscience decided to
change its mind today it’d be too late. By the time, I
rest my head on a pillow tonight-well, will there be
pillows? Doesn’t matter. I’m filled with so many
questions I feel like my brain is going to override and
fry up, in the next hour, though, I guess my brain will
feel less…

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Superheroes

Here is another wonderful post from Jennie on children as superheroes!

A Teacher's Reflections

Superheroes showed up at school today.

Captain America and Wonder Woman.  And a Ninja.  But the children told me a Ninja isn’t really a Superhero.  Aren’t they smart!

Superheroes are far more than heroes with super powers.  They give children an “I Can” attitude, a stronger sense of self.  They make children feel good and see the good.  After all, it’s goodness that we strive for, along with knowledge.  John Phillips said it well in the 1700’s:

“Goodness without knowledge is weak and feeble, yet knowledge without goodness is dangerous, and both united form the noblest character and lay the surest foundation of usefulness to mankind.”

Superheroes give children and teachers an opportunity to impart goodness and knowledge, an “I can do it” attitude, and the will to keep trying.  It’s the power of ‘yet’.  Thank you, Superheroes!

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Roosevelt Franklin’s Guilty Pleasures: Revisited–from Maledicus: Investigative Paranormal Society, Book 1 by Charles F. French

Roosevelt Franklin, the protagonist in my horror novel Maledicus: Investigative Paranormal Society Book I, is a man who does not allow himself many indulgences. Despite being able to afford almost any whim he might desire, he does not grant himself many. He does, however, have two guilty pleasures that he loves to enjoy: fine cigars and good whisk(e)y. The spelling depends on if the alcohol is American, with an “e” or Irish or Scotch without the “e”.

Even though he has a heart condition and is 68 years old, he refuses to give up smoking one cigar and drinking a couple of fingers of whisky each day. He knows that he is on the downslide of life, but he does not intend to give up these enjoyments.

Roosevelt prefers strong cigars. He is a lover of strong flavors, from coffee to whisky and cigars. His favorite is a CAO Brazilia Churchill length. This cigar is intended for experienced smokers, with a deep, rich flavor and powerful smoke. Roosevelt chooses the Churchill length because he likes to make the experience last, usually at night and paired with a good whiskey.

Roosevelt enjoys good American bourbon and Irish and Scotch single malt whiskys. His favorite bourbon is Maker’s Mark, a standard of excellence. It is rich with a strong flavor, but it is also very smooth. His preferred Irish whisky is John Powers, a very smooth drink. His favorite single malt Scotch whisky is the 18 year old Macallan, as Roosevelt calls it—the finest whisky in the world. It is smooth, rich, and strong, with no bite. It is a perfect dram of whisky.

At the moment, Roosevelt is drinking a rare single malt Scotch whisky–the 15 year old Macallan, which is very smooth and has extremely deep and complex flavors.

Roosevelt certainly understands that not everyone will agree with his opinions on these cigars and alcohol, and he respects others’ views, but he holds firm on his sentiments.

(images from personal photographs)

 

Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.

Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.

An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.

Please follow the following links to find my novel:

ebook

Print book

Thank you!

The book trailer:

Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I

My radio interview:

interview

 

Available on Amazon

What Is The Opening Paragraph of One of Your Books? A Book Promotion Party!

I thought it would be interesting to do a book promotion party by giving not only the name of your book and what it is about but also the opening paragraph.

I offer the following from Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society Book 1 by Charles F. French:

“Lucius Antony Caius exalted in his good fortune. He was in complete control of his destiny, of his place in the world. Not for him was the belief in the three sisters of fate–they would not measure and cut his string of life. Caius, also known as Maledicus, as he was called because of his odd lisping voice coupled with the grating sound of sandpaper grinding on coarse wood and with his personality, believed he controlled the world. And his evil persona caused others to fear him. He didn’t look like the image of a strong Roman–he was short and fat, with little hair, but he was as dangerous as the most powerful general.”

So, if you would like to join the party and promote your book, please offer a quotation!

Have fun, promote your book, and please share this post.

Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.

Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.

An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.

Please follow the following links to find my novel:

ebook

Print book

Thank you!

The book trailer:

Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I

My radio interview:

interview

 

Available on Amazon

More Than Reading Aloud – SSR

Here is another wonderful post by the excellent teacher, Jennie!

A Teacher's Reflections

Penguin Books, The Read-Aloud Handbook, 2013

It is a given that I read aloud to children multiple times a day.  I know, and you know, that it makes a difference.  In this blog post, I will address more than reading aloud – combining what really happens and why, with facts and stories from The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, and real events in my classroom.

Reading is the heart of education.  The knowledge of almost every subject in school flows from reading.  One must be able to read the word problem in math to understand it.  If you cannot read the science or social studies chapter, how do you answer the question at the end of the chapter?

I’ve given you the ‘bad news’ before:
Every kindergartener wants to read.  By fourth grade, 54% read something for pleasure every day.  By eighth grade, 30% read for pleasure daily.  By twelfth…

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Quotations on Racism

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“No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior. All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them”

                                                                       Elie Wiesel

 

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“The contributions of African Americans, Native Americans, and immigrants throughout our nation’s history are undeniable, but the tendency to overlook their gallant efforts is pervasive and persistent.”

                                                                      Tammy Duckworth

 

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“Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. Even before there were large numbers of Negroes on our shore, the scar of racial hatred had already disfigured colonial society. From the sixteenth century forward, blood flowed in battles over racial supremacy. We are perhaps the only nation which tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its indigenous population. Moreover, we elevated that tragic experience into a noble crusade. Indeed, even today we have not permitted ourselves to reject or feel remorse for this shameful episode. Our literature, our films, our drama, our folklore all exalt it. Our children are still taught to respect the violence which reduced a red-skinned people of an earlier culture into a few fragmented groups herded into impoverished reservations.”

                                                         Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

 

The Hoff Beck Walk

Here is another wonderful post on walking from John Bainbridge!

Walking the Old Ways

I was pleased to see that the Eden Rivers Trust has created a formal walk – the Hoff Beck Walk – along the lovely little river of that name close to Appleby in Westmorland. The new trail follows the Hoff Beck from Colby to the picturesque Rutter Falls, passing through peaceful and uncrowded countryside.

Rutter Falls (C) John Bainbridge 2019

I’ve walked the Hoff Beck many times over the years, starting from Appleby. It really is a grand stretch of river and you rarely see any other walkers. While I’ve walked the length of the new trail, I usually complete a circuit via the village of Ormside, returning along the River Eden.

The Eden Rivers Trust has placed informative noticeboards at several points along the walk, giving details of local history and riparian wildlife – the Hoff Beck is particularly good if you want to watch herons. I saw a…

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Quotations on Freedom

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“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

                                                                        Benjamin Franklin

 

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“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves”

                                                                       Abraham Lincoln

 

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“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

                                                                       Nelson Mandela