Ranga

So, Ranga has been spending some time outside, playing around and chattering at the birds - which, rather maddeningly, in his opinion, remain well outside his range.

He likes it outside, and, on warm days, will spend hours lounging in the sunlight, soaking up the heat. Sadly, it's been a bit chilly (even in Louisiana, folks), so he only goes out for an hour or so before he's ready to come inside.

Look how big he's gotten!

In other news, Happy Chinese New Year! It's the Year of the Ram! Or goat, or sheep, or antelope, or whatever. The Chinese word is ambiguous. But the Google Doodle is awfully cute!

Links!

• Libraries, Books, Writers, & Suchlike
• The Healing Power of Libraries 
• Mac Barnett: Why a good book is a secret door 
• Images From Famous Books Hide In The Secret Compartments Of These Rings 
• Digitising the hidden treasures of the Natural History Museum, London 
• Health & Science
• This Is What Niagara Falls Looks Like When It Freezes Over 
• Research Suggests Kids Over 2 Shouldn't Nap -- But There's More To It 
• Education
• Oklahoma Bill Banning AP US History Would Make Students Study Ten Commandments, 3 Speeches By Reagan 
• Authority Issues
• No charges for Washington police who shot unarmed, innocent man 16 times in no-knock raid 
• Man pummeled by Seattle police: Video saved me "Now 23, Ocak says he would've been forced to live his life with an assault conviction except that a video of his violent 2010 arrest countered allegations that he attacked several Seattle police officers."
• Fla. Officer Fired After Video Footage Shows He Lied About Beating  
• Other
• Polar vortex to unleash record-breaking cold in eastern U.S. on Thursday, Friday Related: KY Police Department Issues Warrant For Elsa For Being "Frozen" "Police in the small, rural town of Harlan posted a Facebook message Wednesday about Elsa. They wrote: 'Suspect is a blonde female last seen wearing a long blue dress and is known to burst into song "Let it Go!" As you can see by the weather she is very dangerous.' Police soon posted another message, telling residents that all kidding aside, they should take the weather seriously and be careful."
• Elizabeth Warren schools the vaccine deniers and trolls Rand Paul 
• Jeb adds to the quotable-Bush canon Oh, dear...
• Missouri Lt Gov Kinder wants to receive daily allowance He doesn't think his $86k/yr is enough? I'll trade.
• Rush Limbaugh’s Problem: How The Internet Changed Talk Radio I don't know - I tend to think Limbaugh's problem is, well, Limbaugh. 
• And finishing off with a laugh - NC State Senator Jeff Jackson had a blast on his snow day!