Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Working on it

The theologizing/strategerizing post is in the works.

I don't want to rush it, but have hopes to have it up later today.

Meanwhile... here's a golden trout!


In more animal news, we love our cats, but I keep telling our boys that in many ways, dogs are better pets. Unfortunately, they mostly have been exposed to badly-trained constant-barkers and pit-bulls. I tell them of well-trained dogs' loyalty and self-sacrificing service.

So, in that way, dogs can be better pets.

Parrots too, it turns out.

I love my cats, but I've no illusions about them. A cat would have either just watched and taken notes, napped, or run away from the noise.

12 comments:

Colloquist said...

Lovely, lovely trout. Is that a metaphor for something that glitters like gold but ends up smelling fishy?
[/stretching to connect this post to anything remotely political]

~Mark said...

You want a real cat getcherself a lion, then you'll respect him! (Ok quote king, recall that one!)

A well trained dog is a gem to behold. My family has always had a dog in the house, usually some sort of mutt, but we were able to train most of them fairly well.

Have them watch an episode of "It's Me or the Dog", Victoria Stillwell's training techniques will make their jaws drop!

DJP said...

No, Rabbit, it's something that glitters and then becomes buttery and yummy when you grill it!

(c:

Connie said...

I still stand by my endorsement of cats--they are NOT people pleasers.

Dogs are pathetic people pleasers! :-)

In reality, I love 'em all, including birds!

Colloquist said...

I like those kind, buttery and yummy. Rainbows make good eatin'; haven't ever tried the golden variety!

Oh - and dogs rule. Cats drool.

threegirldad said...

From a pair of 25 year-old Far Side cartoons:

What we say to dogs
"OK, Ginger! I've had it! You stay out of the garbage! Understand, Ginger? Stay out of the garbage, or else!"

What they hear
"Blah blah GINGER blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah GINGER blah blah blah blah blah..."

What we say to cats
"Well, Fluffy, you've clawed the furniture for the last time! I'll not tolerate that behavior any longer!"

What they hear
"                                                              "

~Mark said...

Hey, whether on the end of a line or in that big box of water in the living room, fish rule as pets.

Shawn said...

I have had 3 Pitbulls, Samson, who happened to be my favorite passed away, so I currently only have two, but I must say I was a bit disappointed to see that your reference to Pitbulls seemed to have put them in a bad light. Pitbulls used to be America’s favorite family dog back in the 40’s and 50’s. Unfortunately the whole rap culture changed the way Pitbulls were seen in the eyes of Americans and lead to many brainless wanna be gangsters and white trash yokels obtaining them as mere status symbols of aggressiveness and power, in which the Pitbulls were treated poorly and abused, which lead to their bad behavior.

How a dog acts, is solely a reflection of their owner. German Shepherds and Cocker Spaniels top the list of most frequent dog bites. Poodles and Dalmatians are even above Pitbulls on the list.

My Pitbulls are well trained family dogs, who play gently with my 11 month old Son, and 87 year old Grandma alike. Not to mention Ceaser the Dog Whisperer, has Daddy the Pitbull, who is one of his best dogs. Please don’t add to the stereotype that all Pitbulls are bad by nature.

DJP said...

Yes, they're always such sweet dogs, until they kill someone.

Sorry, but I believe all the endless ream of stories I read over and over and over about (surprise!) pit bulls. I read "Dog mauls toddler," "Dogs attack, kill three-year-old," and I know what the breed will be. But you're saying they simply don't report all the stories about Black Lab's and Golden Retrievers tearing apart children and the elderly?

Bites aside - what breed is on top of the list for kills?

HSAT, it's my opinion, and you're free to give "the other side" when I diss the furry little landmines. But I'd no sooner let my boys play with one than with a razor blade, unless I was nearby and ready to protect them.

Shawn said...

I totally understand where you are coming from.

My Mom felt the same way you do 10 years ago when I got my first Pitbull (her name is Deca), even refusing to visit me at my home out of fear. However, over the years, not only did I educate my Mom about the MSM’s bias, but Deca also proved herself to be a great dog, even saving my neighbors life. Which I immediately called my local newspaper about, and they declined to run the story, but continually run stories about “Pitbull attacks” when in fact, the dog in question is not a Pitbull at all, but some mix breed, Lab, Boxer, Bull Mastiff, or Bulldog. So the answer to your question is yes, the MSM does neglect to reflect accurately attacks by certain breeds of dogs, but have demonized Pitbulls, Rottweiler’s, and Doberman’s. The animal that leads to most E.R. visits is the short haired domestic cat.

I guess I was so disappointed by your comments because I figured that you of all people would realize the MSM's bias to report things that are not necessarily the truth.

DJP said...

Well... I never saw the MSM as biased against Republicans, conservatives, Christians... and pit bulls!

But you can be the blog's resident pit bull apologist; offer the other side each time I attack the noble breed.

(c:

threegirldad said...

Dan,

I don't currently own any of the breeds generally classified as "pit bull," but I'll speak up -- with some qualifications. Interestingly, I was going to make the same point as Shawn about the MSM: they've never met a sensationalistic story that they didn't like...right?

The horrific maulings in your part of the country (and other places) have, AFAIK, involved breeds such as the Presa Canario, Cane Corso, and American Pit Bull Terrier.

It shouldn't come as any shock that the MSM can't be bothered not to perpetuate the myth that "a pit bull is a pit bull is a pit bull" -- never mind that perfectly congenial breeds such as the Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier get caught up in the guilt-by-association hysteria that the MSM seems all to happy to foment. Now, maybe there isn't any conspiracy; maybe it's just plain, old investigative laziness and sloppy reporting. Regardless, it really is inexcusable. There's no such thing as "the pit bull"; it's a collective term applied to a number of breeds, only some of which share a similar history of breed development, and most of which share a superficial (but sufficiently noticeable) physical appearance.

Now, for the qualifications: I'm not interested in being anywhere near the first three breeds that I mentioned, because I'm not the least bit confident that I could control an animal like that if it went berserk. I'll also grant that you can find dangerous specimens of the congenial breeds, but only because there are hyper-macho kooks who want a killing machine instead of a pet. And there is no doubt whatsoever that the right combination of anti-socialization and abuse can turn a specimen from that second group of breeds into a dangerous animal. Meanwhile, it's pretty difficult to imagine one of these becoming a killing machine. ;-)