Day before yesterday a blog reader sent me the full study on curcumin and myeloma cells’ multidrug resistance…yaaay! Then this morning another blog reader did the same, joking that it had actually not yet been translated but was still in the original Chinese (haha…well, yes, I admit, it is not at all an easy text to read…), but I haven’t had the time yet to transla…er, I mean, read it through carefully enough to write a draft. Perhaps tomorrow…
Today I have time only for a quick post before Stefano takes my computer apart (these things always makes me jittery, even though he is a computer genius and always creates backups of backups…of backups). There is something wrong with one of my hard disk drives…no biggie, he can fix it easily. It will just take all afternoon.
So I thought this would be a good day to tell you that I just found out I’m an “ailurophile.” How about that? Hmmm, might you be an ailurophile, too?
Yesterday I saw that Richard Lederer, of “Anguished English” fame, has written two new books, one for dog lovers, one for cat lovers. It is here http://www.verbivore.com/adven.htm that I first clapped my eyes on the word “ailurophile,” 
which, I now know, means “cat lover” (in ancient Greek, ailouros = “cat”). Hey, try saying “ailurophile” ten times fast! Tee-hee.
The above link has some interesting statistics on cats and dogs in the United States…how many people have dogs and cats, e.g., how much they spend on pet food and so on. I am not that surprised…
Like the two ailurophiles in Richard Lederer’s Introduction, I buy only the best food for my cats. But I don’t buy cat food in a regular supermarket. Nope. I go to a specialty pet store…where by now I am friends with the two ailurophile/cynophile owners.
And yes, I still occasionally waste money on cat toys, even though I am well aware that my kitties are probably going to show complete indifference…and I will be the one chasing after the new toy. When we are away, I coo to my magical, mystical cats over the phone sometimes. And I take more photos of them than of anybody/thing else. The list goes on.
As I have written before, cats also have a positive effect on our health and longevity: Studies show that owning a cat alleviates loneliness, anxiety, and depression; reduces stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease; and adds six months to the average person’s life. Well, even though I have cats for reasons other than my health, it is lovely to know that they are adding months to my life…! Now, if only they could cure cancer…
A very good treat for a special cat is raw ‘lights’,i.e.
animal’s lungs. Must be uncooked.
The next time you visit the butcher
ask for a small portion of lights for the cat.
They are so rich in oxygen ,the cat really has
attention for nothing else and soon scoffs the lot,
followed by a good wash and grooming.After a feed
of lights you have a very contented cat with a
beautiful coat.
A word of caution – only one cat at a time!
Two cats or more and they will fight for it,
so keep out or you’ll cop it.All that fresh blood
it’s what they eat in the wild and still will if
they can catch a mouse or a bird.
Old Bill
Cats may not cure cancer, but I’ll bet they help one cope and actually live longer. Having someone/something else to be concerned about gives one a reason for living, and focuses one’s mind outside of the body.
I love cats and dogs both, equally. I love cats because they are mysterious and like to sleep with you, I love dogs because the best part of their day is when you come home! They are so manifestly happy at seeing you that it can’t help but boost your spirit.
Cats, on the other hand, seem to pick up on your mood better. A dog is ready for play or for a walk no matter how you feel. A cat will sense something is wrong and will often cuddle.