Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

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

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

Safe Haven

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I know this isn’t a current events blog, so I promise I’ll get back to the dogs and computers after just one more local news post. I saw this on the news tonight:

Baby Found In Garbage Can On Southwest Side

I am so glad this baby will probably be fine, but there were already some cases earlier this year where abandoned babies were not so lucky. With all 50 states and the District of Columbia now having some form of a Safe Haven Law, which allows for the anonymous safe relinquishment of infants to designated Safe Haven providers, usually including hospitals, fire stations, and police stations, it is hard for me to believe that anyone would choose to leave even an unwanted baby in a garbage can.

We have had a Safe Haven Law in Illinois since 2001 and it was made permanent in 2005. The Save Abandoned Babies Foundation is the local organization that spearheaded the drafting and passage of Illinois’ law and all of the information about our law is on their website. Still, there are people who are either unaware of the law or do not believe it is truly without consequences. I am not an A-list and maybe not even a Z-list blog, but if this post’s links can make a few more people aware of Safe Haven Laws in Illinois or elsewhere, I’m good with that.

(NaBloPoMo | August ’09: 8 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 196 of 274)

So it’s sorta social, demented and sad, but social

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So many of the words that have been written so far about John Hughes upon his death yesterday at the far-too-young age of 59 have been written by Gen-Xers who were in junior high school or high school when The Breakfast Club was released in 1985. I was nine years out of high school then, and maybe should have been too grown-up to care. But nine years isn’t nearly long enough to forget the hell that is high school. So much of the movie, and Hughes’ other teen flicks, still rang true to me both then and now.

You see us as you want to see us. In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. Correct? That’s the way we saw each other at 7:00 this morning.

I never really considered myself truly a part of any group in high school. In hindsight, it was a defense against being rejected. I spent a lot of time making sure I was accepted by everyone, but never really trying to become truly a part of any one group. I really didn’t care (or at least I didn’t think I cared) to be embraced by any group, I just wanted everyone to accept me and not give me any trouble. I probably still do that now.

So yeah, this part really spoke to me, and again, both then and now:

You see us as you want to see us. In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain… and an athlete… and a basket case… a princess… and a criminal. Does that answer your question?

It’s obviously true. If there wasn’t something of every so-called group in me, my strategy wouldn’t have worked, would it? But enough about my demented and sad, but social, past and present.

As I’ve mentioned before, I will watch just about anything filmed in either of my two hometowns, even if it sucks. Thankfully, John Hughes’ movies didn’t suck. I always loved that he set most of his films in his home and mine, Chicago and the nearby suburbs. And even more so, that he lived here, rather than in Hollywood, even during the height of his success. Chicago and the north shore suburbs were really showcased well, and we always had fun either accidentally or on purpose finding the locations in the movies.

Given the name of this blog, I have to also express my appreciation for the decent amount of on-screen time given to Rottweilers in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Christmas Vacation. Freya and Axel say a big arf-ing “thank you!”

Hughes’ death might be the 2009 celebrity death that affects me the most. Please forgive me for being extremely lame and re-quoting probably the most-quoted Hughes movie line of the last couple of days (from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), because it’s just too true:

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

RIP John Hughes, and RIP to just a little more of my wasted youth.

(NaBloPoMo | August ’09: 7 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 195 of 274)

Hiroshima

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HiroshimaRuinsLarge
Sixty-four years ago today, the world’s first atomic bomb attack devastated Hiroshima and changed… everything.

I’m not here to say whether or not it was necessary then. Or whether or not nuclear weapons are necessary in today’s world. I’m not a historian and this is not a political blog. And frankly, I’m not sure I really know the answer.

Even though some of my ancestors were originally from Hiroshima, my parents were born in the United States, and so was I. The connection is distant, so I won’t pretend it means more than it does, even on this day. But when many years ago, my brother and uncle were trying to research the family tree, it was still an odd feeling to realize that there are some things we can never find out about that part of the family since the records were totally lost.

I was 18 years old when I visited Japan. There are many things about that trip that are almost lost in my memories after more than 30 years. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum is not one of those lost things. A section of the main exhibit area holds artifacts from that day, all items belonging to young people of junior high and high school age who died in the blast or shortly thereafter. Young people, the same age or younger than I was then, who never got the chance to grow up. I don’t think I can ever forget that.

(Public domain photo from The Manhattan Project: An Interactive History – The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima)

(NaBloPoMo | August ’09: 6 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 194 of 274)

Update: more on show dog heat stroke deaths

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I am still getting a fair amount of traffic from those looking for updates on Mary Wild, the Missouri dog handler who left eight show dogs in a cargo van overnight, causing the heat-related deaths of seven of those dogs. Previous posts with links to news stories are at:

Killer heat: don’t let it get you and yours
Update: show dog heat stroke deaths

Di left a comment today reminding us that there is still time to write to Jefferson County’s prosecuting attorney to ask that a plea bargain not be allowed. Ms. Wild has been charged with eight counts of animal cruelty, and arraignment is on August 12.

Di also left a link to Kinship Circle’s post on the subject, where you will find all of the contact information and a sample letter should you need help gathering your thoughts.

From some recent articles in The Dog Press, it would appear that the Jefferson County prosecutor’s office is taking this case quite seriously, but it is a sad fact that in general, it’s rare for animal cruelty cases to get the maximum sentences available. Put in your two cents if you feel, as I do, that your opinion might make a difference. And read the articles from The Dog Press:

Dog Handler Charged
Mary Wild Kills 8 Dogs

Even if you do not think this has anything to do with you because you don’t send your dogs out with a handler, or you don’t show dogs at all, please read at least the portions of the posts and articles that talk about heat stroke. Remember it’s August and the possibility of heat stroke should be a concern to us all. It’s not only show dogs in the so-called care of an irresponsible handler that are at risk. There have been deaths or illnesses reported this summer to police dogs (and you would think K9 handlers, like show handlers, would have more concern and consideration than the average person), pets… and children. Stay cool, everyone.

(NaBloPoMo | August ’09: 5 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 193 of 274)

My muse went on vacation and didn’t tell me

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Might as well take a TV break, because my muse has apparently gone on vacation without letting me know. Until she (muses are always “she,” right?) returns, it’s pretty unlikely anything creative will get accomplished here.

If you’ve visited here before, you know that even though the television is always on as background noise, the only shows I always make an effort to watch are Mad Men, Rescue Me, and Sons of Anarchy. Less than two weeks to go before Mad Men is back, and Sons just about a month off.

Good thing, too, because I am getting somewhat frustrated with Rescue Me. On the plus side, the show did get a deserved Emmy nod for a killer guest star turn by Michael J. Fox as the most assholish, anti-Alex P. Keaton character ever, and now a guest appearance from Maura Tierney is showing promise (may I say how happy I am to see Maura Tierney looking pretty again and playing someone other than Abby on E.R.). But the show is still spending way too much time for me on the Tommy-Janet-Sheila triangle. It is getting very tiresome. I wanted to punch Janet in the face during her “you need me if you want to keep seeing your kids” speech, and I almost fell asleep during Sheila’s “you make me hot” speech.

The firehouse banter and the actual fire scenes still make it worth my time, though. I still love to talk with my “technical advisor” about what’s real and what’s not. I was only very slightly surprised to find out that at his firehouse, they bet on Hell’s Kitchen and other cooking competitions, rather than Dancing With the Stars like the 62 Truck boys were doing last week.

Speaking of television, how disappointing to see that the Emmy Awards are not planning to televise presentation of the major writer’s awards. Without the writers, we’d be forced to watch reality crap all day and all night long. We’re way too close to that sorry state already. The #emmysfail Twitter hashtag is quite apropos for this.

(NaBloPoMo | August ’09: 4 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 192 of 274)