The Girls - Building of the Coop

So, we started building the chicken coop in the back part of the back yard. I had already designed the coop for the 12 chickens we were suppose to have... then had to redesign for the 20-ish we have right now. (We will be giving some of them away to reduce our flock to about 18 hens.) The coop is six by eight feet. About a foot off the ground. Four feet tall on the sides.... I am still figuring out what to do with the roof.

That's Dolce on the front side of the coop... she can't wait until the chickens are outside!

We framed the floor and sides of the coop. The nesting boxes will be on the back side of the coop.

The roof adds another 2 feet to the height of the coop. We used a smoked plastic for the roof, so the girls would have a view of the sky all of the time. Putting up the roof took forever and was rather difficult, but we are very happy with it now.

The roosting area (where the girls will sleep) will be over the mesh - apparently chickens poop a lot when they sleep. The poop will fall through the mesh (thus, not in the chicken coop) and we can use it for compost later.

Dinner at Dakota

Sean arranged for us to have dinner at Dakota - the chef prepared a special dinner for us. It was very nice. The flowers - beautiful lillies - were fantastic and Angelina Jolie (who was leaving the restaurant as we were getting there) wanted my flowers at her table, but they told her 'no.'

Traveling and Training

I was traveling for work at the end of last week and training for work so far this week, haven't had time to post.... getting back in the groove of things now.

Google-Backed Solar Startup Picks Up Steam, $130 Million

Rising oil prices lift all alt-energy boats.

For proof, look no further than the fat $130 million investment scooped up by eSolar, a company whose basic solar power strategy -- using sunlight-reflecting mirrors to generate steam -- was all but abandoned in the 1980s, and has recently recently caught investors' attention again.

The money, from Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, and venture capital firms Idealab and Oak Investment Partners, will go towards the construction of eSolar's first functioning solar power plant.

"ESolar's long term is to become a viable replacement for all fossil fuel," said Robert Rogan, a Cal Tech Ph.D. and eSolar's executive vice president for corporate development. "The reason Google invested in us is that they saw the potential of this technology to beat the cost of using coal."

The company's core technology is an implementation of concentrating solar power, which uses mirrors to turn liquid into steam that drives standard electricity-generating turbines. CSP, also sometimes called solar thermal, is considered a promising replacement for fossil fuel power plants, particularly the coal plants that generate more than half of the U.S. electricity. It's been around for decades, last seeing popularity in the early 1980s, when oil hit an inflation-adjusted price of $82 per barrel. Higher oil prices make fossil fuel plants more costly, making it easier for alternative technologies to compete. (Oil is currently trading for more than $115 a barrel, its highest level ever.)

Electric car for the masses to be made in Southern California

Norway's Think Global will begin selling its inexpensive, eco-friendly vehicles in the U.S. next year.

Norwegian automaker Think Global said Monday it planned to sell low-priced electric cars to the masses and will introduce its first models in the U.S. by the end of next year.The battery-powered Think City will be able to travel up to 110 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of about 65 mph, the company said. It will be priced below $25,000.

'Brokeback' Director Plans Another Gay-Themed Film

Ang Lee, the director of the gay cowboy romance drama "Brokeback Mountain," is reportedly going to do another film with a gay theme.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lee and Focus Features CEO James Schamus are teaming to make a film on the gay-themed Woodstock memoir, "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert and a Life."

The film will be adapted from author Elliot Tiber's 2007 book. The Reporter said that the film focuses on the colorful life of a Greenwich Village, N.Y.-based interior designer and part-time Catskills hotel manager who was instrumental in arranging the location of the Woodstock festival in 1969.

Backers of California gay marriage ban ready to submit petitions

Supporters of an initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California say they have enough signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

A coalition of religious groups called Protect Marriage collected more than one million signatures in support of the proposed constitutional amendment. Supporters of the Limit on Marriage initiative plan to deliver their signed petitions to county registrars this week.

The signatures must be verified before the amendment can be approved for the election.

Although gay men and lesbians cannot legally wed in California, opponents of same-sex unions want the ban written into the state Constitution. That way, neither the Legislature nor the state Supreme Court can legalize gay marriage without approval from voters.

Vatican Point Man In Anti-Gay Crusade Dies

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, the man in charge of leading the attack on same-sex marriage and use of condoms to fight HIV/AIDS died Monday in a Rome hospital. He was 72.

A hardliner who was president of the Pontifical Council for the Family Trujillo frequently spoke out against the legalization of same-sex marriage and criticized governments in those countries that passed marriage equality legislation.

In 2006 under his direction the Pontifical Council issued a 57-page document in which it said the traditional family has never been so threatened as in today's world. It also lashed out against contraception, abortion and in-vitro fertilization.

Following the document's release the Cardinal said that if countries continue to liberalize laws on homosexuality Catholic Church leaders could be prosecuted.

"`We worry especially that, with current laws, speaking in defense of life and the rights of families is becoming in some societies sort of a crime against the state,'' Trujillo told the Roman Catholic newsmagazine Famiglia Cristiana.

"The church is at risk of being brought before some international court if the debate becomes any tenser, if the more radical requests get heard,'' the cardinal said.

Trujillo, a Colombian was considered a possible papal candidate after Pope John Paul II died in 2005. He also made headlines in 2003 when he said condoms did not prevent AIDS and may help spread it by creating a false sense of security. Trujillo said that HIV can easily pass through condoms and using them was "a form of Russian roulette'' in fighting AIDS.

The World Health Organization issued an immediate statement saying that condoms were 90 percent effective when used properly.

Military Using Convicted Felons To Replace Drummed Out Gays

Newly released data show that the Army and the Marine Corp, under pressure to increase their numbers, have sharply raised the number of recruits who have felony convictions.

The information, released Monday by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, shows that the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.

The bulk of the crimes involved were burglaries, other thefts, and drug offenses, but nine involved sex crimes and six involved manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions. Several dozen Army and Marine recruits had aggravated assault or robbery convictions, including incidents involving weapons.

The use of felons to the fill the ranks comes as 2 people every day are dropped from the military for being gay under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" the ban on gays serving openly in the armed services. In the 10 years that DADT has been in force more than 10,000 personnel have been discharged as a result of the policy, including 800 with skills deemed 'mission critical,' such as pilots, combat engineers, and linguists.

The number of gay men and lesbians turned way by military recruiters is unknown.

A study conducted last year for SLDN concluded that the U.S. military could attract as many as 41,000 new recruits if gays and lesbians in the military were able to be open about their sexual orientation.

Legislation to repeal DADT is before Congress. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act has bipartisan support but is unlikely to get out of committee during this election year, but hearings could be held.

Last week, Lawrence J. Korb,former Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan, told a joint hearing of the House Armed Services Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee Korb to "get rid of outmoded social restrictions," such as DADT.

"First, repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy," Korb told the joint hearing.

"The Army and Marine Corps cannot afford to place unnecessary obstacles in the way of qualified men and women who want to serve."

Last year former Secretary of Defense William Cohen and retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili also called for the ban to be repealed.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, who released the data Monday on felons in the military, said: "Concerns have been raised that the significant increase in the recruitment of persons with criminal records is a result of the strain put on the military by the Iraq war and may be undermining military readiness."

Vt. Commission Makes No Recommendation On Gay Marriage

A state commission on Vermont's civil union law submitted its report to the legislature on Monday but made no recommendations on revising the law to allow for same-sex marriage.

Nevertheless, LGBT groups hailed the report as a major breakthrough that will help lawmakers realize civil unions, though well intended, do not go far enough.

The Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection detailed months of hearings it held throughout the state, where same-sex couples complained they were still discriminated against because employers, hospitals and insurance companies do not see their relationships as the equivalent of marriage.

Opponents of same-sex marriage complained that the report did not contain their objections to gay unions.

It will now be up to the legislature to decide what to do with the report. Lawmakers supportive of same-sex marriage say they intend to begin crafting a marriage equality bill.

Nothing is expected to be done about it until after the election, however. That means there is no likelihood of a bill before 2009.

SoCal Grocers Give Away Reusable Shopping Bags

Some Los Angeles grocery stores will give away reusable shopping bags Monday and Tuesday in observance of Earth Day, according to the California Grocers Association. The association and the city of Los Angeles are teaming up to give away about 50,000 bags at about 40 grocery stores to encourage consumers to use reusable bags.

Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22, 2008. The soft, durable bags are made of 100 percent recycled water, soda and food containers and carry the message, "Great Taste & Zero Waste."

Participating stores include Albertsons, Pavilions, Vons, Ralphs, El Super, Food 4 Less, Henry's Farmers Market, K.V. Mart, Smart & Final and Superior Grocers markets, and each City Council district will have at least one participating store.

The two-day event kicks off at 6 a.m. today, or when the stores open. One bag will be given with each customer transaction while supplies last.

Environmentalists say most paper and especially plastic grocery bags get thrown away and take up room in landfills or in some cases harm wildlife. Opponents say reusable grocery bags are impractical.

Reusable bag use has increased since the implementation of a statewide plastic bag recycling law last July. Along with requiring grocers to provide in-store plastic bag recycling, the law also calls for grocery retailers to provide reusable shopping bags for sale, according to the association.

Some lawmakers also want to charge consumers by the bag if they refuse to use reusable bags.

Vermont Gay Marriage Report Due Monday

A state commission on whether to amend Vermont's civil union law to allow for same-sex marriage will deliver its report to the legislature on Monday.

The eleven-member commission was set up last year by the leaders of the Vermont House and Senate, both Democrats, to look into Vermont's civil unions law to see if it is providing equality for gay and lesbian couples.

After the commission submits its report it will be up to the legislature to determine what to do.

Nothing is expected to be done about it until after the election. That would mean that if the committee recommends gay marriage legislation there is no likelihood of a bill before 2009.
At hearings throughout the state commissioners were told that while the state's civil union law - the first of its kind in the nation - was a step forward same-sex couples still are not equal.
A pool released last month showed that the majority of people in the state believe gay and lesbian couples should have the right to marry.

The survey was taken of people attending town meetings across the state. It found that 54-percent said they support allowing gay couples to marry while 37-percent were opposed.

When the original civil unions bill was put to the legislature it resulted in a divisive battle. A marriage bill is likely to be equally fragmenting.

The Chickens - its like having twins!

It is Wednesday night, I am at home watching a little television before I go to bed. The home phone rings at 9:09pm. I never answer my home phone because it is usually a company calling for who knows what. I was a little upset that they were calling so late.

The voice starts... it is Paul from the Pasadena Post Office... my box of chicks just arrived! WHAT? I jump up, answer the phone. Yep, my chicks arrived.

Last Saturday morning, when the first shipment of chicks didn't arrived, I called the farm in Texas and they were going to send another shipment on Wednesday. I later emailed Missy and told her I received the chicks later that day.... all was good.

Apparently, she didn't get the message to shipping that I had received the first chicks... and they send the second box of chicks.

Yes, I now have 28 chickens!

These guys were born on Tuesday and arrived on Wednesday. 2 days old. The are balls of feathers with legs. It is amazing how big the first batch of chicks looked compared to these guys. They are adorable. All are doing well. All seemed to make the trip in good shape. The first batch of chicks were in transit for 4 days - two didn't make it. Too much dehydration on the trip.



The first batch of chicks have been moved to a bigger storage box and will be moving quickly to the new (temporary) brooder on my patio. These guys will join them in about a week - as soon as they get a little bigger!

Koi Pond

The water lillies are starting to bloom. I love the purple lillies. The red, yellow, and white ones have yet to appear.

CALIFORNIA HIGH COURT PREPARING PRO-GAY RULING ON MARRIAGE?

The Huffington Post's Ryan Davis, who with a coalition of gay leaders in late March flew to California to lobby Schwarzenegger to oppose the Family Research Council's anti-gay marriage ballot initiative, has heard some rumblings from within the California High Court. Schwarzenegger publicly opposed the measure that would ban same-sex marriage at the Log Cabin Republican convention over the weekend, and Davis believes it’s because he knows what may happen next month.

Writes Davis: "Sources wishing to remain anonymous in the California Court System indicate that the court, which has until June 2, 2008 to issue it's marriage ruling, is considering issuing it on Friday, May 23, 2008, with the decision being written by Chief Justice Ronald George. The Court is readying itself for a backlash that may follow the rumored and bold decision. There is talk that the Court will not simply strike down Proposition 22, but will move the State of California toward full marriage, if not even granting full marriage rights for gays and lesbians outright. Obviously aware of what's coming, Governor Schwarzenegger came out swinging against the PRC’s proposed amendment, 'I will always be there to fight against that,' he said to huge applause this weekend at a Log Cabin Republican Convention in San Diego. He went so far as to call the initiative a 'waste of time'" and acknowledge that the people of California are, 'much further along on that issue.' The latest Field Poll shows only 51% of Californians oppose full gay marriage, an 11 point drop since 2000. There seems little doubt that California is moving toward full gay marriage equality."

Big Quake Likely in California

California faces an almost certain risk of being rocked by a strong earthquake by 2037, scientists said Monday in the first statewide temblor forecast. New calculations reveal there is a 99.7 percent chance a magnitude 6.7 quake or larger will strike in the next 30 years. The odds of such an event are higher in Southern California than Northern California, 97 percent versus 93 percent.

"It basically guarantees it's going to happen," said Ned Field, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena and lead author of the report.

The 1994 Northridge earthquake under Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley was magnitude 6.7. It killed 72 people, injured more than 9,000 and caused $25 billion in damage in the metropolitan area.

The damage created by an earthquake depends greatly on where it hits. A 7.1 quake _ much stronger than Northridge _ hit the Mojave Desert in 1999 but caused only a few injuries and no deaths.

California is one of the world's most seismically active regions. More than 300 faults crisscross the state, which sits atop two of Earth's major tectonic plates, the Pacific and North American plates. About 10,000 quakes each year rattle Southern California alone, although most of them are too small to be felt.

Benedict Vows to Fight Clergy Sex Abuse, Distinguishing Between 'Homosexuality' and

Pope Benedict XVI stepped onto U.S. soil at Andrews Air Force Base for the time as pontiff Tuesday, arriving to a presidential handshake and wild cheering only hours after he admitted that he is ''deeply ashamed'' of the clergy sex abuse scandal that has devastated the American church.

Benedict gave hundreds of spectators a two-handed wave as he stepped off a special Alitalia airliner that brought him from Rome. Students from a local Catholic school screamed ecstatically when they saw the pope, who shook hands warmly with President Bush, first lady Laura Bush and their daughter Jenna on the tarmac.

Hundreds of onlookers, some from local Roman Catholic parishes, clapped and shouted as they watched the scene from nearby bleachers.

Benedict tackled the most painful issue facing the U.S. Catholic Church -- clergy sex abuse -- on his flight to America. The U.S. church has paid out $2 billion in abuse costs since 1950, most of that in just the last six years.

Seemingly in a nod to his American flock, the pope spoke in English as he answered questions submitted in advance by reporters.

''It is a great suffering for the church in the United States and for the church in general and for me personally that this could happen,'' Benedict said. ''It is difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betray in this way their mission ... to these children.''

''I am deeply ashamed, and we will do what is possible so this cannot happen again in the future,'' the pope said.

Benedict pledged that pedophiles would not be priests in the Catholic Church.

''I do not wish to talk at this moment about homosexuality, but about pedophilia, which is another thing,'' he said.

''We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry. It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound.''

The Chickens - one week old

It is amazing how fast the chickens are growing. They are a week old. Their wings feathers are getting longer and longer. They enjoy running and flapping their wings - just to practice. Their tail feathers are slowly coming in as well.

Sean has named the chick (above) as Zena. When you stick your hand in the brooder, she comes right up to inspect. She is very bold and friendly. Zena is a Barred Plymouth Rock.

From left to right: a Buff Catalana, a Rhode Island Red, and two Ameraucanas (Madonna and Blonde). Below is a Golden Lakenvelder, a Buff Catalana and a Rhode Island Red.

Below are a Buff Catalana and Barred Plymouth Rock.

Chickens - Which Ones I Have

Buff Orpingtons, which have rich golden buff plumage are a popular brown egg dual-purpose variety and are sometimes called "Big Buffs". Because they are loosely feathered, they appear to be much heavier than their true weights. The feathers are broad and smooth fitting on the deep body of this breed. They have a quiet disposition, make excellent mothers and are one of the most broody of all standard breeds. They have white skin, which is an appearance disadvantage when fowl meat is produced.


Rhode Island Reds are an old time, well-known American breed, which was developed in the state of Rhode Island. A distinct characteristic of this breed is their horizontal, oblong body, which is deep, broad and long, sometimes described as "brick shaped". They are an excellent dual-purpose bird that efficiently produces large brown eggs. From the time they are chicks until maturity they may have white on the wing tips, but when they are fully matured they should not have any white feathers.


Golden Lakenvelders are a little-known variety of Lakenvelders. The recessive gold (s) gene to produce Golden Lakenvelders has replaced the dominant silver (S) gene of Silver Lakenvelders. The American Standard of Perfection does not recognize them, although, they reproduce as a pure breed. They are active, good hustlers, relatively small and efficient white egg producers.


Barred Plymouth Rocks are one of America's oldest and most popular breeds. All of their plumage is black and white barred which is the result of the barred (B) gene. They are an excellent dual purpose breed, known for their efficient production of large brown eggs.



Ameraucanas, known as the "Easter Egg Breed", are a multicolored breed. They have beards, muffs and a normal tail with a tail head. They are often incorrectly called Araucanas, which have ear tuffs, are rumpless, and do not have a tail head which gives them a bunny tail appearance. Most of the chicks sold as Araucanas are really Ameraucanas, which are excellent, efficient producers of large eggs of many colors and shades including blue and green.


Buff Catalanas, which originated in Spain, have become popular in Latin American Countries but are extremely rare in the U.S. They are a dual-purpose breed, with pinkish white skin, that produces both meat and large white-shelled eggs. They are one of the largest white egg breeds. Their shanks and toes are bluish slate. They have black tails, while the remainder of the plumage is buff to reddish buff.

Schwarzenegger to fight against gay marriage ban

The Republican governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he will fight against any bans on gay marriage.

He surprised delegates at the San Diego at the convention of the Log Cabin Republicans, the nation's largest gay Republican group.

Mr Schwarzenegger has previously vetoed attempts to legalise gay marriage but said he will oppose a state wide vote for a constitutional ban on gay marriage: "I will always be there to fight against that."I think we need a constitutional amendment so that a foreign-born (person) can run for president, but not against gay marriage. That would be a total waste of time."

"This is extremely significant, and it's an enormous event to have our Republican governor come out against this ballot measure, which is opposed by Democrats as well. It makes this opposition a bipartisan issue,"Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Democrat Assemblyman Mark Leno, authored a gay marriage bill that was vetoed by the governor despite its support in the California State Legislature said that Mr Schwarzenegger was "without a doubt showing leadership, and he should be applauded for it."

"What the governor has pointed out is that even though he has not supported our marriage equality bills, one could still oppose a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage."

Scary Morning

The chicks were born on Wednesday and shipped from Texas priority mail to me in Los Angeles. Chicks are shipped with they are first born, because they feed off the yoke for up to 72 hours.

I was suppose to get the chicks on Friday morning. But American Airlines screwed up the delivery by canceling over 1,000 flights that day. So, I was suppose to get the chicks on Saturday morning.

I called the post office first thing on Saturday morning. The chicks were not there. The thought of the chicks somewhere in the mail - and sure to die if they weren't delivered on Saturday just made me sick to my stomach. I asked the guy at the post office if there would be other mail coming into the office later on in the day. He said no.

I happened to be in the front yard then the postal carrier came and I asked him about the chicks. He didn't see them, but said there was another mail truck coming in at 10:30am. I immediately called the post office again. He truck had just arrived.

The chicks were there. Sean and I were off to pick them up.

Everyone looks good. We got them in the brooder and they haven't stopped eating and drinking.

Adele had been very attentive! She licks her lips every once and a while.

Below is the Buff Orpington.

Then a Rhode Island Red.

Here is a Buff Catalana.


More to come soon.

Somewhere between Texas and California

With the flight schedules all screwed up, my chicks are somewhere between Texas and California.

The didn't arrive today. They can live for 72 right after being born without food or water, because of the yoke.

Now, the should arrive Saturday morning. Let's hope. If not, they don't be delivered on Sunday. And I won't want to open the box on Monday, if they get delivered then.

The Boys in the Bonnets

I found another cute picture of the boys in their bonnets - for Easter and Andy's birthday.

“The whole world has a headache from your hypocrisy.”

IBRAHIM AHMED MAHMOUND AL QOSI, prisoner and suspected al-Qaeda conspirator, speaking to a U.S. military court at Guantanamo Bay, criticizing the U.S. for preaching human rights to other countries

Bush Public Approval at New Low

Public approval of President Bush has dipped to a new low in the Associated Press-Ipsos poll, driven by dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy.

A survey released Thursday showed 28 percent approve of the overall job Bush is doing. That was statistically tied with his previous low in the poll of 30 percent last month and in February.

[Ya gotta love it!]

The Chicks Didn't Arrive Today

The chicks did not arrive today, so they should be here tomorrow. I have the brooder already set up, but I am sure they will outgrow it in no time.