“So now we have the following exciting scenario: Candidate gives speech. ABC News reports speech. ABC’s Note blogs speech. Then candidate blogs his own speech, knocking down any negative interpretation by other bloggers. And we blog the whole incestuous process.”
catbird :: Apr.29.2003 :: technology :: Comments Off
[Read the expanded text of this story.]
No dog is perfect (even if he is your perfect match). Ask these questions when you are adopting to help reveal the challenges your new best friend might offer.
Most importantly, do a reality check when you hear each answer. Does it sound right? Does the person sound knowledgeable? Sometimes, shelter volunteers become attached and have a hard time giving an objective opinion about the dog’s behavior. Try to see the dog’s reactions in person, keeping in mind that a dog may behave differently at an adoption day or in a shelter environment then when he is secure in his new home.
Remember, every challenge is a learning opportunity – and a chance for you to develop a better relationship with your dog.
Steve says it best: “Ms. Simone, we will certainly miss you. And yes, you indeed, moved us all.”
In my own personal tribute the the High Priestess of Soul, I’m repeatedly listening to Sinner Man, To Love Somebody, Sugar in My Bowl, and other favorites all week. Nina Simone was not only an amazingly talanted musician, but also an amazing person.
Read about and listen to more of Nina Simone’s inspiring life and body of work.
The Journal of the American Veterinary Association published a study and report (pdf) in September 2000 that studied human dog bite-related fatalities over a 20 year period (1979 to 1998). Issues addressed in the report include the breeds involved, the impracticality of breed-specific banning, and ways to address the problem dog bites – fatal or not.
“Education of dog owners can address several issues: (1) understanding breed profiles19,20 may assist owners in selecting the appropriate dog for their lifestyle and training abilities, (2) convincing owners to seriously consider the sex and reproductive status of their dogs is important because male and sexually intact dogs are more likely to bite than are female and neutered dogs,12 and (3) teaching owners about the importance of socialization and training may decrease their likelihood of owning a dog that will eventually bite.”
IMHO, breed banning is a ridiculous solution. Education, licensing and training of breeders, and incentives for owners to get obedience training and Canine Good Citizen certification are better steps to bite prevention.
AOL has filed five separate lawsuits against more than a dozen individuals and companies that have sent about 1 billion unsolicited messages to AOL subscribers.
As much as I detest spam, I am having trouble cheering for a company that sends me unsolicited CDs in expensive and non-biodegradable tin cases every month. Which is worse, email spam or polluting the earth with waste?
catbird :: Apr.15.2003 :: technology :: 3 Comments »
Forbes has an
Just as interesting with regard to EBay‘s impact is that Forbes has a whole section of articles entitled “The EBay Economy”.
catbird :: Apr.15.2003 :: technology :: Comments Off
When fishing for tuna or swordfish in the Atlantic, sharks often fall prey to “bycatching”. This is part of the reason that almost all recorded shark species have declined by half in the past eight to 15 years.
“Some fishing processes are actually strip mining the ocean,” said Dave Schofield, the manager of the National Aquarium’s ocean health program. “They throw them away like trash. If they aren’t already dead from exposure, the ones that swim away are severely stressed and die soon after.” (the full story)
In other cruelty to animals news:
Two California poultry farmers who needed to destroy 30,000 chicken that could no longer produce eggs and that were under quarantine for the poultry virus Exotic Newcastle Disease (and therefore couldn’t become chicken soup) fed the live chickens into wood chippers.
They will not face criminal charges. The men claim that they asked a senior veterinarian with the Agriculture Department if they could employ the wood chippers and were given permission.(the full story)
“A Hong Kong mobile phone company is launching a service that lets customers know which nearby buildings have housed carriers of the deadly SARS virus.” (Yahoo News)
When this technology comes to the US: “A US mobile phone company launches a new service that lets customers tap into Match.com and know which nearby buildings house singles who are looking for a match.” Either that, or we’ll be able to locate the nearest burger, donut, or convicted sex offender.
catbird :: Apr.14.2003 :: technology :: 1 Comment »
1. Consider how much time you have.
Be honest with yourself and your future companion. A dog is a time commitment in your day-to-day life for exercise, training, and affection. It’s also a time commitment in the grander scope – a decade or more of your life. If you don’t have at least an hour a day to dedicate to training and exercise, think twice about getting a dog. Likewise if travel plays a big role in your life for either work or pleasure. (Many dogs don’t travel well due to size, temperament, or lack of pet-friendly accommodations.) Even if you adopt an adult dog, you’ll want to plan on taking a training class or two to help you and your new companion learn to effectively communicate.
2. Think about what you want in a dog.
Make a list describing your ideal pooch. Short hair or long hair? Giant or toy? Active or couch potato? Don’t be afraid to include things like “already has some training” or “already fixed” since shelters and rescues will have these dogs. Think less about breed and more about what will fit into your lifestyle. Do you want a dog who can be alone all day while you work? That can play fetch with the kids? That can go hiking and camping with you? Remember to prioritize so that you know what means the most to you.
3. Research breeds.
Get a good breed encyclopedia or use akc.org or allpets.com to start researching. If you already have a breed in mind, start there and see if the breed matches at least your top ten criteria. Browse any breed that catches your eye. Take your time and don’t give in on your most important criteria. Your heart may be set on a Jack Russell Terrier, but if you don’t have the time for intense exercise and training, you would be doing your new companion a large disservice. Do research even if you plan to adopt a mixed breed – you’ll find it’s quite handy when you are visiting shelters. You might overlap this step and the next, but don’t skip. Breed research is invaluable in making sure your new relationship is successful by giving you a realistic picture of what to expect when it comes to grooming needs, trainability, temperament and the drives that are hard-wired into a dog.
4. Explore shelters.
Unless you have a very specific reason for going to a breeder (for example, allergies), consider adoption or breed rescue. There are many, many wonderful dogs and puppies available for adoption – mixed and pure breed. Some dogs in shelters have been surrendered by families and already have some obedience training and/or house training. Another advantage is that most shelters will let you foster before adopting. Fostering will give you better insight into the dog’s true personality, outside the sometimes confusing shelter world. (Only foster if you are very interested since going in and out of homes is hard on a dog.) Shelters do a best guess on breed mixes and this is where your breed research comes into play to help you know if the mix meets your criteria. A great place to start is Petfinder.org, where you can browse several shelters at once based on region and criteria.
5. Take your time.
Don’t cave on your top criteria. If you are adopting, remember that the right dog is out there. If your number one criteria is a smaller dog that you can take visiting, don’t fall in love with an Australian Shepherd mix unless you are ready to change your lifestyle. You’ll find your perfect match, I promise. If you are using a breeder, take the time to make sure you find an excellent and responsible breeder. At all costs, avoid puppy mills and pet shops.
EPILOGUE:
You found the perfect new companion. Now:
catbird :: Apr.09.2003 :: woof :: 5 Comments »
The New York Press took votes from locals to compile a list of the Top 50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers.
“Thus Ben Affleck, who received many, many votes and may even have a part-time Manhattan mailing address, remains very much a Hollywood asshole. Yet Martha Stewart, who heads out to either Connecticut or Long Island after a hard day of being a bitch, handily makes the list.”
“The Italian restaurant Serafina Sandro unveiled a “Tobacco Special” menu on Wednesday, with such delicacies as gnocchi made with tobacco and filet mignon in a tobacco-wine sauce, garnished with dried tobacco.”
Eatery Offers Menu for Tobacco-Deprived
catbird :: Apr.03.2003 :: socio-pop :: 1 Comment »