Is this for real?

Surgeons in Russia thought they were going to remove a cancerous tumor from a 28-year-old patient – but instead they found a 5-centimeter tree growing inside his lung.

Doctors were convinced he had cancer after he came to them complaining of agonising chest pains and coughing up blood.

An X-ray showed what was believed to be a tumour, and he was rushed to the operating theatre.

Surgeon Vladimir Kamashev from Izhevsk in the Urals was quoted as saying "We were 100% sure."

"We did X-rays and found what looked exactly like a tumour. I had seen hundreds before, so we decided on surgery."

Before removing the major part of the man's lung, the surgeon investigated the tissue taken in a biopsy.

"I thought I was hallucinating," said Dr Kamashev.

"I asked my assistant to have a look: 'Come and see this - we've got a fir tree here'."

"He nodded in shock. I blinked three times as I was sure I was seeing things."

The 2in (5cm) spruce, which was said to be touching the man's capillaries and causing severe pain, was removed.

Mr Sidorkin, now recovering after the op, said in reports: "To be honest I did not feel any foreign object inside me. But I'm just so relieved it's not cancer."

Biologists are sceptical about a plant growing inside human body.

"It is absolutely impossible for a green plant to grow from this small seed inside a man's body. In order for a plant to start growing from the seed, it needs a lot of conditions - light, then water and certain temperature," said Olga Baranova, a university professor.

So, is this for real? Or a hoax? You tell me.

Is this real?

How does this photo make you feel? 

It reminds me of a time that I never existed in. Perhaps even in a different country. Somewhere in my childhood imagination.

When I found this, I had to document it, as it has such a surreal quality to me. If I hadn't taken the photo would I have believed it existed? 

This is fronting Jimmy Stewart Street in Indiana, PA. Yes, it is named for the Jimmy Stewart you are thinking of. It is his home town and they are very proud of that fact. 

Anyway, it seems the idyllic scene for a horror movie. Perhaps if it had been a sunny day I would feel different, but it has such a sinister quality to it. Or perhaps it could be the setting of a drama that has a tragic ending. In any case, it must have a great story behind it. What do you suppose it might be?

Too bad the stairway has been closed to the public.

Julia Child a spy???

The list of OSS spies was released this week and begetted some surprises. Among them was Julia Child, Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, major league catcher Moe Berg, historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and film actor Sterling Hayden. 

The release of the OSS personnel files unmasks one of the last secrets form the short-lived wartime intelligence agency, which for the most part was later folded into the CIA after President Truman disbanded it in 1945.

The CIA long resisted releasing the records. But a former CIA director, William Casey, himself an OSS veteran, cleared the way for transfer of millions of OSS documents to the National Archives when he took over the spy agency in 1981. The personnel files are the latest documents to be made public.

Progressive Community

These are two examples of different types of infrastructure one will find in Ann Arbor. We are a progressive community and are experimenting with different methods of energy.

The wind turbine powers a light on the pole. It is difficult to see, but it is there. Not to be mistaken for the traditional light on the left.

The GIANT utility pole is a mystery to me. I have no clue as to why it is there, or what it's purpose is. What I do know is it sticks out like a sore thumb when you drive by it. It is huge and highly unattractive. Does anybody have any idea what is going on here?

The only thing I can think of that it is positioned right across the street from the new GIANT football practice area. Maybe it needs so much power to build the ugly building, that it needs hefty power lines that need the support of this strange power pole. 

Frankin Foods

What do you know about the foods you consume? Do you read the labels? If you do, do you know what the ingredients are? 

More and more of the foods we consume are being modified for many reasons. Produce has been changed to have a longer shelf life. Did you know that food travels over 1500 miles to get to your plate on average? For it to make that distance, it has to have a longer shelf life. One way to do that is to change the cell structure of the food. If you have a fragile peach, change it to have a tougher skin and firmer body. But when you modify a peach what does that do to it's taste? Have you had a store bought peach verses a locally grown peach? There is no comparison. 

When folks tell me they don't like peaches or tomatoes, I ask, have you had a fresh off the vine/tree one before? If not, go to your local farmer's market and try one. The taste is like drinking freshly squeezed orange juice verses Sunny Delight. No comparison. Aside from the health benefits, you lower your cabon footprint since the food doesn't travel that long distance. 

Think chemical enhancement verses nature. Doesn't the latter sound better? Yep. It sounds better and it tastes better, plus it is better for you. Go support your local farmer's! Keep your economy and your body healthy! It's a win-win!

Should I be worried?

Okay. So I opened a can of mandarin oranges the other day and this is what the inside of the can looked like. (Sorry for the quality of the photo.) Is this something that I should be worried about? Does anyone know? 

I ate the oranges and lived to write about it, but should I reconsider doing that if I find another can that looks like this?

Blackbird has an unusual habit

This British blackbird has taken on an annoying habit that is driving the neighborhood mad! 

He has the uncanny ability to mimic sounds. Unfortunately for it's neighbors he has chosen to replicate the sound of sirens, car alarms, and mobile telephones. It is thought that he is trying to attract a mate and is using sounds that he hears in his everyday environment. This is quite unusual as blackbirds are not known for there ability to mimic sounds. 

In any case, the early morning siren noise has gotten to be a little too much to tolerate. Fortunately for him, he has moved on and is no doubt bothering another neighborhood. 

Perhaps we have not heard the last of him....

Is lettuce an animal, vegetable or mineral?

Now here is a conundrum for vegetarians. What will I eat now?

Is 251 years old a secret code?

Okay. I'm perplexed and this has been gnawing at me for a couple of days now. Can anyone help with my quest for an answer to this question?

Is listing your age on an information page as 251 a secret code for a select group?

I encountered this when I view my profile and click on a specific interest to see who else shares the commonality. For example, when I select my book 'Animals in Translation', 57 other bloggers who have listed the book pop up. When viewing the members, I noted that 7 of the 57 list their age as one that is obviously wrong. All are women and one says she is 501, and the rest say they are 251. All 6 of the 57 are 251!? I have also encountered this same age at numerous other profile listings. 

Is this a code for 'lesbian'? Or indicating the user has a great sense of humor? Or has the original lister started a trend? 

Don't you find this intriguing? I has to be a secret code of some kind. I'm convinced! Maybe not lesbian, but it's got to be something... Anyone have any ideas?

Or, maybe I've got it all wrong and this is in dog years. 35.8. Nah. That doesn't make sense.