Been a while ... - the real death of UKIRT? and JCMT?

... and I'm afraid the sequel(s) to "adventures in plumbing" will have to wait. And I intend to post disasters chronologically backwards here (none of which involve immediate family). Right now I feel like I've been hit with a mental baseball bat. We had a staff meeting this morning where the Chief Executive of the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) announced that the STFC will only continue funding UKIRT until September of 2013 and JCMT until September of 2014. It makes no sense to me at all to close either, and especially not to close UKIRT a year before JCMT as UKIRT has no more funding already and piggybacks on JCMT's funding (yes, 2 telescopes for the price of 1 - out director Gary Davis came up with that and it's working out great - so far. Where "so far" is longer than UKIRT is to remain open from now by the STFC's planning). You can read the press release here: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/News%20and%20Events/39092.aspx As just about always, another Etsy treasury included, woth a lot of lampwork - and I absolutely love that blue cat: (and you won't believe how many spaces I deleted out of that generated (not my script) html code - it may help that I sortof speak html though)

'Blue & Brown' by nlcbeads

No fantastic description, letting the wonderful collection speak for itself!

Upcycled Sweater Co... gailjoseph $125.00	European Charm Bead... AmySimsDesigns $15.00
Handmade Flower Pow... PrimaDonnaBead... $40.20	Horse head lampwork... ArsonStudios $20.00
Aqua Spiral Pool La... ninaeagle $15.00	Mini Spacers Denm G... rosebud101 $10.00
Mixed natural color... hilobeads $18.00	Cat Handmade Lampwo... TeriPersing $12.00
Beer Bottle Beads -... ArsonStudios $15.00	Cellini spiral neck... amusebeads $148.00
FORGET-ME-NOT - Fla... FlamingFoolsLa... $10.00	Beaded Bracelet wit... beadbijoux $85.00
Marbled Latte - Han... MysticCaravan2 $14.00	Tidepools - Lampwor... GlassGalore $12.00
Brown Dog Lampwork ... maybeads $16.00	Glass Lampwork Bead... MitosisGlass $26.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house