Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

Rottweilers. Computers. Cameras. World Domination. Not necessarily in that order.

Rottweilers.
Computers. Cameras.
World Domination.
Not necessarily in that order.

Update roundup

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I may have failed spectacularly in completing NaBloPoMo for November ’09, but I am just a few posts away from completing Jenni’s unofficial NaBloPoMo 75% Challenge for 2009. I may not have accomplished as many things this year as some others, but at least I’ve written something readable (usually) on more days than I haven’t!

While I was failing to finish off the month of November in style, and procrastinating at starting the month of December (I opted to forego daily posting, seemingly a good decision so far), a few things happened that some of you might be looking for updates on.

First, I want to thank Di for keeping me updated on Mary Wild. For those who haven’t been visiting here long, Mary Wild is a Missouri dog handler whose criminally negligent actions in regards to her clients’ dogs’ comfort and safety caused the heat-related deaths of seven of them this past summer. I am sad to see the news that Ms. Wild’s trial has been postponed yet again, this time to June 3, 2010. The wheels of justice turn way too slowly sometimes.

The Dog Press is also posting updates, and it was most disheartening to see the rumor confirmed that Ms. Wild is still showing dogs.

The wheels of justice turn way too slowly for humans, too. A motion to dismiss reckless homicide charges will be heard on January 5, 2010 in another case that I’ve been trying to follow. Motorcyclist Anita Zaffke was killed in May when she was struck from behind while stopped at a traffic light by Lora Hunt, who was painting her fingernails as she drove. As I’ve said before: all for laws prohibiting texting while driving, but apparently due to the extreme stupidity and lack of caring of some humans, they are way too specific.

I know a motion to dismiss is just standard procedure in the legal process, but in a case like this, it’s so disgusting to even think that a death like this could be “dismissed” in any way.

In what is probably a final update to the office squirrel story, the building knocked down its nest while I was on vacation. JR yelled at the maintenance man about the murder of possible squirrel babies and such, which is somewhat out of character for him. I suppose it was inevitable that the nest was removed; it wasn’t very attractive from the standpoint of the building managers. It does not appear that there were in fact any squirrel babies, and the squirrel was spotted soon afterward building a new nest in a safer location (not to be disclosed this time) and being fed on the second floor deck. He? she? did have a full 15 minutes of fame on television and in the newspaper, something that many of us humans have not achieved so this is at least an okay, if not a really happy, ending.

Photos have been ordered for Freya’s new rally title. Very disappointed there were only a couple of action shots of our team and not looking very good either, might I add. One shot is like a “don’t do this, tight leash bad, loose leash good” poster. No reflection on the photographer, though! It’s all on me. Photos are also on the way for Axel’s latest points. As soon as I get the releases on all of the aforementioned pics, I’ll post them to our gallery. I’m all about protecting intellectual property rights and giving proper credit, and I will never be the one complaining about reasonably priced photos (emphasis on reasonable).

(NaBloPoMo | 75% Challenge: 273 of 274)

Miscellaneous catch-up

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Just catching up on a number of things that happened while I wasn’t paying attention:

Dog handler Mary Wild’s case has been continued again, this time until November 24, 2009. The wheels of justice certainly turn slowly. While I know this is true of many criminal and civil cases, not just cases involving animal cruelty, it just doesn’t seem right that it will be winter before this case involving dogs dying from heat stroke due to Ms. Wild’s neglectful actions will be heard.

Nail polish killer Lora Hunt pleaded not guilty to reckless homicide and is free on $100,000 bail. Trial is scheduled for December 7. There are links to news stories from the arraignment on October 8 on the Black Nail Brigade website.

I was looking forward to a late fall return of Southland only to find that NBC has cancelled it. WTF, NBC? Cancelling Medium (thank you, CBS, for picking it up), Life and now Southland? And you give me Mercy and Trauma? Dear Lord.

(NaBloPoMo | October ’09: 19 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 241 of 274)

Balloon Boy and other self-inflicted “emergencies”

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I was not going to bother to write about Balloon Boy because everyone else already has.

But there is something that truly bothers me about this, and all fabricated (yes, I said fabricated, as in made-up crap) and self-inflicted “emergencies.” Why should we-the-taxpayers have to bear any of the sometimes considerable costs of deploying law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency medical teams on this type of wild goose chase?

I understand that the cavalry has to be called out, and that these incidents have to be treated as actual emergencies until proven otherwise. I believe that once they are proven to be garbage, that the instigators need to pay for the services they abused. Not us.

Also. What happens if a rescuer is injured or killed in the process of “rescuing” one of these faker jagoffs? Obviously, as the spouse of someone employed in emergency services, my mind goes straight to that awful possibility. My husband, and everyone who signs on for that type of career, whether paid or volunteer, is well aware of the risks. But if a rescuer and their family has to pay the ultimate price on behalf of a faker jagoff, how can anything ever make up for that?

(NaBloPoMo | October ’09: 16 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 238 of 274)

News updates: show dog deaths, nail polish killer

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Updates on the case of Mary Wild, the dog handler whose neglectful actions caused the death by heat stroke of seven show dogs in June, have not appeared in any mainstream media sources in quite some time, but dog forums and news sources are still keeping an eye out. A reader’s letter to The Dog Press reports that the case has been continued until October 13, 2009 and a jury trial has been requested. Maximum possible sentence would be 8 years in jail plus $8,000 (1 year + $1,000 fine for each of 8 counts of animal abuse).

I’ve served on a jury twice (one criminal case and one civil case) and I came back with serious misgivings about the phrase “jury of one’s peers” and for that matter, the entire trial-by-jury process. I wonder whether a jury trial will result in the maximum sentence for Ms. Wild, or will a jury feel sorry for her, perhaps because of her youth or because to so many people, a dog is just a dog and a show dog is just an object?

There was also news last week on another case that shocked and angered me earlier this year. Lora Hunt was painting her fingernails as she drove, and struck and killed motorcyclist Anita Zaffke who was stopped at a traffic signal. On September 16, Ms. Hunt was indicted on 6 counts of reckless homicide. Arraignment is October 8.

If you’ve been here before, you know my thoughts on distracted driving. This case is the one I point at when people try to demonize technology as the root of all distracted driving evil. Ban texting while driving, by all means. But make sure that distractions like this, total low-tech distractions, can also be considered dangerous and punishable when the results are as horrible as this.

(NaBloPoMo | 75% Challenge: 222 of 274)

Driving while distracted

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There has been a lot of talk on the ‘net and in the news recently about a graphic car crash re-enactment video produced as a UK PSA against texting while driving. Odds are you’ve already seen the video, but here it is, just in case you haven’t. It is a re-enactment, and yes, it is quite graphic, and I hope the message is heard.

Many municipalities have proposed or enacted laws prohibiting and punishing texting and other cell phone use while driving. I don’t think this is a bad thing.

I would still like to take a moment to remind everyone that singling out specific technologies is still not the whole answer. The distracted driving incident that I still find most horrific was not caused by texting or any other high-tech distraction. It was caused by a thoughtless person’s decision that it was okay to paint her nails while driving.

I wrote about the death of motorcyclist Anita Zaffke when it happened, with tragic irony at the start of Motorcycle Awareness Month (May).

Please take a moment to read about the organization her son, Greg Zaffke, founded to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, and then visit the Black Nail Brigade‘s site.

(NaBloPoMo | August ’09: 26 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 214 of 274)