Winners!! How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity by Patricia Carlin

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for

How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity:

THE THREE LUCKY WINNERS ARE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HUGE CONCATULATIONS!!!!!!

PLEASE EMAIL MY MOM YOUR

COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS

BY MONDAY, MAY 5TH TO;

cgittleman at mi dot rr dot com

It's Tummy Tuesday At The Tabby Cat Club!!!

This was the PURRFECT time for me to show off my ample belleh floof..........don't cha just wanna bury your nose in it?

 C'mon Ladies!!!

If you want to see even MORE delectable tummies, head on over to the Tabby Cat Club!!!!!

Want a better understanding of your Cat? Ohio State’s Buffington to talk ‘Cat Mastery,’ new book for iPad, with Redditors April 28

Ohio State feline behavior expert Tony Buffington will kick off the release of his new Multi-Touch book for iPad, "Cat Mastery,"with an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session on the popular entertainment, social networking and news site, Reddit, at 1:30 p.m. on April 28.

Buffington, a D.V.M. and professor of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, has spent the past 30 years studying cats and how their environment effects their health. He is founder of the Indoor Cat Initiative website, which features strategies for keeping indoor-housed cats happy and healthy. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications, 30 book chapters, and three books, and has received numerous national and international awards for his efforts on behalf of understanding cats

“I am thrilled to be able to utilize this technology, making years of research available to help cats and their owners live happy, healthy lives together,” said Buffington. “Enriching your cat’s environment can help prevent many health and behavior problems. I’m looking forward to the AMA and to helping people better understand their feline friends.”

Cat Mastery provides a refreshing look at the Internet’s favorite companion animal, and contains dynamic multimedia activities that include how-to videos, moveable animations, and “Tony’s Tips,” audio clips of Buffington explaining cat behaviors. 

“I chose to create a digital book rather than a standard print book because I was able to make the information contained inside come alive,” Buffington said. “The book is completely interactive and engaging.”

Feline aficionados can also take advantage of a free companion course on iTunes U, developed by Buffington in partnership with Ohio State’s Office of Distance Education and eLearning. The iTunes U course, available via the free iTunes U app, is open to anyone who wants to further apply the information presented in the book to his or her unique situation. 

“I’m excited to help people learn about and understand their cats better,” Buffington said. Twenty participants in the feline-focused AMA will be randomly selected to receive a complementary download of "Cat Mastery," which is available at itunes.com/catmastery.

About The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University is a dynamic community of diverse resources, where opportunity thrives and where individuals transform themselves and the world. Founded in 1870, Ohio State is a world-class public research university and the leading comprehensive teaching and research institution in the state of Ohio. With more than 63,000 students (including 57,000 in Columbus), the Wexner Medical Center, 14 colleges, 80 centers and 175 majors, the university offers its students tremendous breadth and depth of opportunity in the liberal arts, the sciences and the professions.

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: While we normally do not feature ebooks, I am a former long-time Ohio resident (35 years), who is happy to share this important and interesting information with my readers! I was not compensated for sharing this info.

It's #Administrative Professionals' WEEK and I'M HIRING! Friday Flashback

FROM  CODY: This post first appeared last April. Sadly, things haven't changed, hence the reason I am posting this today! Love, Cody

Learn about Administrative Professionals' Week here

Jackson Galaxy, star of Animal Planet’s ‘My Cat From Hell’ supports Best Friends Animal Society ‘Save Them All’ campaign

Cat behaviorist by day and rock n’ roller by night, author, and star of “My Cat From Hell” on Animal Planet, Jackson Galaxy is the latest celebrity to show his support for  national animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society’s efforts to end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation’s shelters.

Galaxy joins Danny Trejo, Carrie Ann Inaba,  Denise Richards, Nils Lofgren, and other celebrities who are featured in Best Friends’ photo campaign featuring celebrities posed with their personal rescued dogs and/or cats in support of the Save Them All®  call to action.

The new season of “My Cat from Hell” premieres at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 26 on Animal Planet.

  In addition to starring in ‘My Cat From Hell’, Galaxy is the show’s executive producer, author of “Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean” and the upcoming book, “Catification.” Galaxy also has deep roots in animal welfare. He worked in an animal shelter for almost 10 years and specializes in environmental and behavioral enrichment in a rescue setting. He recently launched a ‘Team Cat Mojo’ campaign to attract those who want to build a community focused on making life better for all animals.

Galaxy said: “With more than 9,000 dogs and cats killed in our nation's shelters each day, we find ourselves at a crossroads, a place where our choices can change things in a profound way. I’m extremely proud to stand side-by-side with Best Friends to help raise awareness about the importance of adopting shelter animals and spaying and neutering to control population. Each time this positive choice is made, not only is a life is saved, but we move one step closer to Saving Them All."

According to national statistics, each day more than 9,000 dogs and cats die in the nation’s shelters. Best Friends has brought increased awareness to how people can get involved in the solution by adopting, and spaying/neutering their pets, donating, volunteering and sharing this message with their friends.

About Best Friends Animal Society^®

Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters.  An authority and leader in the no-kill movement since its founding in 1984, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, as well as life-saving programs in partnership with rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from 17 million per year to about 4 million. Best Friends has the knowledge, technical expertise and on-the-ground network to end the killing and Save Them All^®.

To like Best Friends Animal Society on Facebook go to: http://www.facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety

Follow Best Friends on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bestfriends 

TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS PET PARASITES-From Entirely Pets-Infographic

Clean up your act for Earth Day!

The above sunset photo was taken by me approximately a month or so ago. I used NO ENHANCEMENTS to the photo to alter the color whatsoever. I only added the quote.

Magickal Graphics

Cats! You Must Read How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity by Patricia Carlin-World-Wide Give-Away!

Well, well, well, it's Cody, and here I sit, my tail between my legs, feeling like NOTHING, a BIG silver-gray tabby pile of NOTHING. No, it's not the Monday Blues, nope, not at all. It's my MOM. My lazy, good-for-nothing, poor excuse of an Assistant, MOM.  Why is my fur standing on end because of HER? I'll tell ya why, and trust me, it's pitiful.

I was pawing around on my Mom's desk this weekend and found this:

My loser Mom stole this photo from the publisher's website

Let me ask you this kitties, WHERE WAS THIS BOOK FOUR YEARS AGO when Mom I started this blog? WHERE WAS IT? For the past four years I have had to endure the unbearable pain of witnessing my Mom work on post after useless post, much of it drivel. I have watched her haphazardly insert unacceptable photos of ME, do you hear me? ME on our MY blog.  I have watched her struggling to take videos, with the sun blaring in her face (any idiot knows the sun should be BEHIND you), or shooting videos in a room darker than the Black Hole, and she WONDERS WHY no one has a CLUE who I am? If Mom had had this MUST READ book, I might have been, be still my kitty heart, FAMOUS by now!

"Oh I blog because I love cats" she says, or, "I'm not in this for the money" she says...c'mon, cut the "Holier than Thou" routine lady! If someone knocked on our door offering us movies and endorsement deals like Grumpy Cat  (by the way, I was GRUMPY way before that 2 year old cat ever came onto the scene, but I live with a LOSER who never dreamed of capitalizing on that!!!), she would be all over it, like me on one of my catnip toys!! CUT THE CATNIP WOMAN!! YOU ARE "being forced to admit that despite owning both a cat and a computer during this legendary Golden Age of Cat Videos-you ARE the only cretin in the world who is failing to cash in!!!"

See this photo? It's at least 2 years old!
BEFORE THE GRUMPY CAT ERA!!

Yeah she posts on Twitter, does a few obligatory things on Facebook, Pinterest, and a few other sites,  (just a few of a myriad of invaluable tips that this book offers,) but the WOMAN HAS NO CLUE.

Now, adding insult to injury, while pussy footing around the Internet I ran into reviews of  How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity written by The Conscious Cat and Sparkle. I hung my head in shame and began frantically kneading the closest blanket. The fact that THEY read this book and reviewed it is like giving ICE to an Eskimo!!  THEY ARE ALL FAMOUS!  THEY ARE ALL ALREADY DOING MANY OF THE THINGS THAT THE BOOK SUGGESTS THAT WE DO!! In fact, Sparkle wrote about how upset she was that all of her trade secrets were revealed in this book! Imagine that! Me? My darn Mom can barely scratch two nickles together to buy kibble AFTER GOING ON FIVE YEARS of having MOI as her MUSE!

I HAD TO READ THIS BOOK AND FAST! Maybe SOME semblance of pride could be restored and I had to do it  before Katie and Waffles from  Glogirly , and that text-crazed cat known as "Mittens" from Texts from Mittens,   (created by Angie Bailey of Catladyland and Whiskerslist fame), get their paws on it!!!

These people  understand that, as How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity clearly states:

 "NO FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY WILL GIVE YOU A GREATER RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAN YOUR CAT"

We all know that NONE OF THEM NEED THIS BOOK! WHY? I'LL TELL YA WHY!  

THEY ARE ALREADY UTILIZING ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS IN THIS BOOK!

I AM THE ONLY SORRY-BUTT LOSER WHO ISN'T!

From the Publisher: With How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity, readers can unlock the secrets of grooming your kitty for success, creating a terrific viral video, managing your cat’s burgeoning stardom, and much more. Packed with practical tips and helpful diagrams, this indispensable resource shows how ordinary housecats can follow in the venerable pawprints of the Internet’s brightest stars.

While many of the tips are written in a "tongue-in-cheek" manner, there are MANY tips/suggestions in this PURRFECTLY POWER-PACKED PAPER-BACK BOOK that can be put into practice NOW! DO YOU HEAR THAT MOM! I SAID "NOW!!!"

Now kitties, I don't want to reveal ALL of the tips in this book, heck, if NO ONE made it EASY for ME to make any BUCKS I'm certainly NOT going to do that for you, hehehe! 

 Trust me, you and your HUMANS NEED THIS BOOK if you have any hopes of hitting the big time and having some extra loot for more noms and toys!

To learn How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity, you will have to do a couple of things on your own:

1) BUY THE BOOK

Available as an ebook

E-Book ISBN: 

9781594746840

ISBN: 

9781594746796

Book Price $12.95

2) ENTER TO WIN A COPY!!!!! YEP!! THIS LOSER CAT WAS OFFERED A WORLD-WIDE GIVE-AWAY BY THE PUBLISHER!! 3 LUCKY (OR LOSER) CATS LIKE MYSELF WILL WIN A COPY OF THIS MUST READ (OVER AND OVER AGAIN), GUIDE BOOK!! IT'S A PAYCHECK AT YOUR PAWS!!! AND....THEY ARE GOING TO EACH WIN A POSTER TOO!!! 

You do realize the Publisher must have felt sorry for me and my Mom when Mom asked if we could do a give-away and they agreed, right? Well, we'll take anything thrown our way, and you should too! 

ENTER ON THE RAFFLECOPTER BELOW!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

In Full Disclosure: (of course there was no money given to us for this review because if you remember, my LOSER MOM DOESN'T DO THIS FOR THE MONEY!!!!), we were given a copy of the book to review and the publisher will send a book and a poster,  to each of our 3 winners.

Have a Hoppin' Easter My Friends!!!!!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Are your cats fighting?

 ENROLL IN A

BEHAVIOR CLINICAL TRIAL

FOR IMPROVEMENT OF AGGRESSION

BETWEEN HOUSEMATE CATS

Feline housemates don’t always

get along. Aggression may include fighting but often occurs

as passive blocking and staring. Feline victims may hide, flee

or scream. One of the top reasons that owners relinquish their cat(s) is cats not getting along with other cats in the household! 

Photo is the property of Caren Gittleman 2014

 THERE IS NEW HOPE FOR PEACE AND HARMONY!

. Your cats may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial on the

management and resolution of aggression between familiar

housemate cats with a new pheromone formulation. Oakland

Veterinary Referral Services will be accepting volunteers for

this clinical trial between until July of 2014.

Enrollment Qualifications Include:

• Cats have been fighting for at least two weeks

• Minor or major aggressive encounters occur four times

 during the last two weeks

• Households of 2 to 5 indoor cats

• Cats must all be > 6 months old

• Male cats must be neutered

• All cats should be healthy

• Cats that have caused serious injuries are not eligible

• Cats given medication, supplements or pheromones for

 behavior are not eligible

Dr.DePorter's cat, "Bacon"

Enrollment Meetings

• Households that meet pre-qualification screen will be

 invited to attend one enrollment meeting at either

 Oakland Veterinary Referral Services or at a meeting

 location in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor or Chicago.

• During this meeting Dr. DePorter will explain feline

 aggression and inter-cat communication.

• Participants will also learn what to do and what not to

 do when their cats are being aggressive.

• Study materials and test pheromones will be distributed

Upcoming enrollment meetings include:

Tuesdays: April 22nd, May 13th, June 3rd, June 17th and July 8th at OVRS

Thursday, May 15th in Ann Arbor

Thursday, June 12th in Lansing

Additional dates to be announced

• The cats do NOT attend meetings

The meeting  will be led by veterinary behaviorist

 Dr. Theresa DePorter.

DePorter and a kitty named "Cheddar Cheese"

Study Participants

• Record daily diary of aggressive events for 7 weeks

• Submit surveys of behavior assessments once weekly

 for 7 weeks

• Complete a brief phone interview every 2 weeks during

 trial period

Would you like the cats in your household to get

along better? To begin the prequalification process, email

TheresaDVM@aol.com for additional information.
You can also find her on Facebook by clicking here

Upon completion of the study, participants receive an

American Express Gift Card for $50 and a voucher for the

new pheromone product.

Dr. Theresa DePorter - Veterinary Behaviorist DVM, MRCVS, DECAWBM, DACVB

1400 South Telegraph Road | Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

Ph: (866) 334-6877 Fax: (248) 334-3693 www.ovrs.com

Winner of the 3D Printed Steel Cat Necklace from Sea Pony Studio!

Today is a lucky day for one SPECIAL person!! Their name was chosen by rafflecopter to be the lucky winner of the:

3D Printed Steel Cat Necklace

 from Sea Pony Studio!

THE LUCKY WINNER IS:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

TO HILARY!!

For those that may not know, Hilary has a blog called:

FEELING BEACHIE

CLICK HERE TO VISIT!

Hilary, please email

your complete mailing address to:

cgittleman at mi dot rr dot com

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

A Cat Adoption Story Update! #BtC4A

From Cat Chat With Caren and Cody: Back in July of 2012 I had written about a kitty that I had bought for a family at an adoption event. I wanted to share part of that post today, with a NEW photo! So here you go, here are portions of that post from July 2012:

Get the badge & spread the word!http://btc4animals.com/blog-the-change #BtC4A"

One of the goals I had aspired to in the past year was, instead of just blogging about pet adoption events,  I had decided that it was important for me to be an active participant. I didn't want to just "Blog the Change" I wanted to help "Be the Change."

As many of you know, June was "Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat-Month" and I had decided to attend a local adoption event that previously I had only blogged about, but  had never experienced.

It was a gloriously sunny day, and as I motored along picturesque tree and lake-lined roads, I thought about the many kitties I was yet to meet.

 I strolled over to the large vacant storefront where cats from the Oakland Pet Adoption Center and Elizabeth Lake Animal Rescue were housed.

My heart fell to my toes. There were cages upon cages of cats. Every color, every age, every size, every breed.  Each with a story. Each filled with hope. Each wanting to give love.


I made my way around the room, cooing, ooo-ing, ahhhh-ing, petting pink noses, touching velvety soft paws. Then I stopped. For some unknown reason I turned my head and saw HIM. Our eyes locked. His handsomeness could not be denied. SOMETHING HAD DRAWN ME TO THIS CAT.

Precious "Tigre"

I approached his cage and instantly was smitten. He flirted, he posed, he had a regal sense of calm and the look of a tiny bobcat in his beige-mocha tinged face. His name was Tigre. (Nope, not a typo, that was his name!)

I held him, kissed him. I had fallen in love. My heart broke with the realization that I couldn't adopt him. I am only permitted to  have two pets in the condo where I live, and, the vet had advised, that with the special dynamic that exists between Cody and Dakota,  bringing a third pet into the mix could completely destroy the magic that currently exists between them.

Tigre and I

Tigre and I "Cat Chatting"

Simply Smitten

"I want to take you home with me"

I cried. This cat  had claimed my heart and I could see that I had claimed his. He had literally been dumped in the street, WITH his collar. When his owner was called, he denied that the cat was HIS.

I couldn't bear to leave.

A woman and her adult daughter approached the cage just as I was readying myself to try and walk away.

I had begun a conversation with them and they told me about current and past cats that they had and how they were considering adopting another to be a kitty companion to a cat already living with the adult daughter.

I  looked at them and said,  "Please adopt this cat" I explained that I could feel that he was special. They played with him, held him and were immediately drawn into his feline spell.

Tigre, about to leave his cage forever

 The stories I heard had dispelled any fears that I may have had of their being appropriate adoptive "parents."

The adult daughter said:

"I can't afford him today. I have to wait until I am paid"

Afraid that the luxury of waiting did not exist, I said,  "If you adopt him, I will BUY him for you."

As they should have, they looked at me as if I was completely crazy. Who was this strange woman saying she would BUY the cat for them?

The adult daughter said:

"YOU will BUY him for me?"

ME: "Yes"

The adult daughter said: "Ok"

My heart flew, my feet danced as we made our way to the table to fill out the paperwork.  I paid the adoption fee feeling as if this was one of the most wonderful days of my life. I hoped I had saved a life. I couldn't save them all, but I felt as if I at least had  saved one.

"Tigre" Gets an "I'm Adopted!" Sign

The boy who stole my heart,
"be a good boy in your new home"

"I wish you love, safety and security
for all of your nine lives"

Tigre in his new home in 2012
soon after he was adopted

UPDATE AS OF APRIL 13TH, 2014:  I was sooooo excited to be tagged on Facebook with his LATEST PHOTO!!! He is now known as "Smokey" and look at how happy and content he is!!!

Would I do it again?
YES. It warmed my heart  and satisfied my soul to have given this most incredible gift. It is always the right thing to "pay it forward" and I would gladly do it again.

Get the badge & spread the word!http://btc4animals.com/blog-the-change #BtC4A"

Passover Starts Tonight At Sunset

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Since we have many new followers, we decided to re-print portions of a blog post we did on April 6, 2011!


Hi everyone it's Cody! You know what I like about Passover?  You aren't allowed to eat any bread, now Mom can see what it's like to be on a grain-free diet!! Considering she is the Queen of Carbs, the next 8 days should be "fun" indeed!!

For those who don't know what the holiday Passover is, you can read about it here.

Card from care2.com

Happy Passover to our Jewish Furiends!

Love, Cody & Caren

I'm "Making the Switch to Nutrish!!" #nutrishforcats

Hi every furry! It's Cody!

Lately I have had  a lot on my mind, and today I would like to share it with you!

Every so often I get nasty red, hot spots on my head and they itch! For the past few years my Mom and I were under the mistaken assumption that I had food allergies. What that meant was I was on the MOST BORING diet ever! It never changed, I would often wish that a magic kitty would bring me delectable food in an array of flavors, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. I would read about all of my kitty furiends eating a bountiful buffet of deliciousness, while I sat...with nothing.

  Then something meowvelous happened!!! My luck had changed! "Dr.Smiley" told Mom that he thought that my allergies were caused by something in my environment, (yeah probably my woofie brother) and WERE NOT FOOD ALLERGIES!!! It was a miracle!! I was FREE AT LAST!!!!!

Mom jumped into action and began weaning me off of my boring food, and on to another brand. No hot spots!! YES!! I could eat anything!! That made me start thinking even more:

  I often watched my woofie brother, Dakota, eating dog food made by Rachael Ray Nutrish.  (Dakota has been eating Nutrish since it first arrived on the scene in 2008, LONG before he ever had a blog!) For the past year, I had to endure the agony of watching him do his Sheltie prance around the house, proud that he was (and still IS), one of a number of "Ambassadogs" for Nutrish. In that time, I often wondered, I wondered, so often in fact, that I would MEOW OUT.....

It really upset me. I knew that working with a team of pet nutrition experts, Rachael Ray created Nutrish Super Premium Food and Treats for dogs.  BUT WHAT ABOUT CATS????

I KNEW that her food was made with simple, wholesome ingredients like real meat. I even knew, cause I am SMART LIKE THAT, that Nutrish foods were inspired by tasty recipes from Rachael's kitchen. I knew that Nutrish contains no by-products, fillers or junk ingredients, Plus, Rachael's proceeds help animals in need!

 Rachael's Rescue was created for all of the forgotten pets-the ones that might not have someone who loves them as much as your humans love YOU! Did you know that proceeds from sales of Nutrish have gone toward food, medical supplies and treatments for animals in need? Rachael Ray wants to help ALL of the animals! Many more shelters need help.  Did you know that Rachael's Rescue has donated more than $6 million to pets in need? That's NO SMALL KIBBLE!!!

BE STILL MY HEART!!!!

Good things DO come

to KITTIES WHO WAIT!!!

I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE

I can barely contain my excitement!! If I were any more excited I would be spinning and barking like some woofie who will remain unmentioned! I am more refined than that, but let me tell you, MY MOM AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER!!!

RACHAEL RAY NUTRISH FOR CATS 

IS AVAILABLE WHERE YOU SHOP

FOR YOUR FAMILY'S GROCERIES!!!

click HERE to find out where to buy!!!

Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats comes in a variety of forms, just like it does for WOOFIES!

It comes in:

Natural Dry Cat Food

Real chicken or salmon is always the number one ingredient in EVERY BAG of Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats. There's no ground corn, wheat or soy. And there's NEVER any by-products, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives. Just wholesome whole grains and veggies plus the vitamins, minerals and taurine your cat needs to be healthy and happy!

Natural Wet Cat Food

These recipes are inspired from Rachael's kitchen! They are made with simple, natural ingredients like real chicken or fish! There's no grains or ANYTHING artificial either! Just essential vitamins and minerals for a tasty food your kitty will love!!!

Well, I bet you figured it out, I am now one of a fine clowder of "Bad A-s Cats" ooops! Mom just yelled at me for that, I must correct that or Mission Control at Nutrish will take away one of my nine lives!!!! I am now one of a fine clowder of AMBASSACATS for Nutrish for Cats!!! I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER!!  For six loooong years I have waited for Nutrish for Cats and

FINALLY, IT IS HERE!!!! 

DON'T YOU WANT TO

"SWITCH TO NUTRISH?" 

OF COURSE YOU DO!!!

I HAVE SOME GREAT

 "MEWS" FOR YA!!!

To celebrate this "meow-mentous" occasion, and to make your "Switch to Nutrish" extra easy for ya,  Rachael Ray Nutrish is letting me paw over a SPECIAL COUPON!!!!

CLICK HERE TO GET IT!!!

BUT WAIT!!!

THERE'S MORE!!!

BE SURE TO PICK UP

A SUNDAY PAPER

THIS SUNDAY APRIL 13TH

FOR ANOTHER SPECIAL COUPON!!

HECK!! GO AND BUY OUT 

THE ENTIRE PILE OF "MEWSPAPERS!"

I'LL NEVER TELL!!!!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Rachael Ray Nutrish. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  As always, thank you for reading and supporting our sponsors.