Tag: links we love

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Funky pumpkin fun

If you were to ask me about the explosion of Halloween that appears to get bigger in Australia every year I’d probably say I didn’t really like it.  Its origins in a religious holiday for another culture means the pure commercialism of it here leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  I was absolutely astounded by a TV ad by a major supermarket chain advertising their Halloween haul to be had this year.

Having said that, we couldn’t resist buying this big, orange pumpkin and having a go at carving the Dissection Connection logo into.  Pure commercialism: 1, Miss Vivi: 0

I think it looks pretty good considering I’m not at all artistic and I’ve never carved a pumpkin before in my life.
30 mins of internet research on how to transfer images and how to carve a pumpkin and Voila!  What on earth did we do before Google?

This pumpkin is really quite big so we had a go at the other side, too.

We had actually intended to put Mr Vivi’s business logo onto this side, but it’s fairly complicated and we ran out of time and patience.  Not having anything more than a dissection kit, a knitting needle and a kitchen knife set didn’t really help us fulfill our creative vision today.

So now our funky pumpkin is sitting on the fencepost, glowing away happily (eerily?) and making me smile.  I think that makes the score one all, don’t you?

Miss Vivi

Oct 31.2010

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T-shirt sale!

Head on over to Miss Vivi’s place for $5.00 off white t-shirts this week.

Miss Vivi T-shirt

All you have to do is use the discount code OCTSHIRTSALE when you get to the checkout.

While you’re there check out the other great products by Miss Vivi and lots of other designers, or design your own products for personalised Christmas presents.  The more you order the cheaper everything gets.

www.zazzle.com.au/missvivi*

Miss Vivi

Oct 26,2010

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Do you do rats?

If I had a testis for every time I got a phone call or an email asking if I can supply rats we’d never be out of stock.

Raising and euthanasing whole animals has never been my thing and thinking about all the paperwork involved with licenses and permits and animal ethics approvals just about puts me into a bureaucratic coma.

Consequently the short answer is – “No, we’ don’t supply rats, sorry.” Miss Vivi is, however, very happy to recommend Southern Biological in Victoria and Pisces Enterprises in Brisbane as suppliers of rats for dissection. They both come highly recommended by lab technicians we personally know and love – and trust to know where to go for the good stuff.

Another question I get asked is “Do you know where to get toads?” and invariably my reply is “Do you know any 13 year old boys?”

A little bird tells me, though, that the demand for rats for science in Australia is so great that everyone is having trouble getting enough. So there is a lovely little niche sitting there just waiting to be filled by someone who is willing to have a go at it. Sounds like a job for a labbie to me.

UPDATE MAR 2014:  We now supply cane toads ethically euthanased via CO2 asphyxiation in accordance with the latest method endorsed by Biosecurity Queensland.  Dissection Connection no longer endorses the use of rats or mice sourced from the pet food industry as no ethical or health standards are applied to the practices of the breeders or suppliers.

Miss Vivi