I have completely neglected this blog for over a month. If you've been looking for a post, I apologize. I got sidetracked. A new post is in the works. Something completely different (cite the reference in a comment, win a prize!).
Tray!
21 October 2010
18 September 2010
A Great Quote
"Imagination disposes of everything; it creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in this world."
- Blaise Pascal
- Blaise Pascal
You can read more about this great man here:
http://www.thocp.net/biographies/pascal_blaise.html
or here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Pascal
or here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Pascal
12 September 2010
Pet Peeve
I am convinced that we as Americans have become obsessed with packaging. That's right, merchandise packaging. The warnings are bad enough (see the previous post). And I can pinpoint when this started.
The Tylenol scare. Way back in 1982, someone tampered with Tylenol and seven people died. Johnson & Johnson then invented tamper-proof packaging for medicines. That's probably a good thing. But how difficult does it have to be to get the seals off? Most require two hands, a knife or scapel or other tool to penetrate. At least some have figured out a nice little piece of plastic that allows you to pull the seal off easily. I wish the others would, too.
But why did we need to start making everything else impenetrable? CDs were probably first. The shrink wrapping was bloody impossible to get open, and it took them a long time to incorporate a film strip to pull and open it - which usually broke and left you stranded and searching for a pair of scissors. Some still don't have it. GET A CLUE PEOPLE!!!
The plastic blister package has taken the world by storm. It's been around a while. But now it requires a fricking chain saw to open, and once opened, leaves sharp edges that can actually cut you. Why is this level of protection required for batteries, toys, almost anything smaller than a refrigerator?
I bought a big package of toilet paper. I tore open the plastic wrap on it, reached in for a roll, and my hand hit the SECOND plastic bag the rolls were in. What the bloody hell are you protecting me from? This is toilet paper, ffs!
Today took the cake. I've noticed it before, but today I actually read something that set me off. The half gallon of milk I bought is in a waxed cardboard container. The kind we had in school in the lunchroom. You squeezed the carton, pulled the two halves apart, and poured or drank your milk. Now they seem to think this is too tough for mere mortals, so they have installed a plastic screw-off top in the side of the carton top. You unscrew it, pull out a plastic seal, and pour your milk. Then you screw on the top. How stupid is this? Besides adding costs to the packaging, and thus the product, how is this necessary? It can't possibly add to the shelf life of the milk. It never spoilt any faster when you just folded the end over. And think of the petroleum resources used to create all this unneeded plastic. So, this company has decided to really make themselves look foolish, at least to smart people like me. They have GREEN caps, and this is supposed to encourage you to go to their website, enter the product UPC, then choose which of various green charities you want them to donate their money to. And I guess that money is only donated based on people voting. I love it! Using ANTI-GREEN packaging to promote green giving. How about doing away with the caps, and donate the savings to those charities without all the hoopla?
I just don't understand. Yes, I want my new product, or food, or medicine provided to me clean, safe, and easy to use. But do NOT make me work for it. And how about saving us all a few cents and drop the extra layers of crap you use for completely unfathomable reasons. Thank you. Rant finished.
The Tylenol scare. Way back in 1982, someone tampered with Tylenol and seven people died. Johnson & Johnson then invented tamper-proof packaging for medicines. That's probably a good thing. But how difficult does it have to be to get the seals off? Most require two hands, a knife or scapel or other tool to penetrate. At least some have figured out a nice little piece of plastic that allows you to pull the seal off easily. I wish the others would, too.
But why did we need to start making everything else impenetrable? CDs were probably first. The shrink wrapping was bloody impossible to get open, and it took them a long time to incorporate a film strip to pull and open it - which usually broke and left you stranded and searching for a pair of scissors. Some still don't have it. GET A CLUE PEOPLE!!!
The plastic blister package has taken the world by storm. It's been around a while. But now it requires a fricking chain saw to open, and once opened, leaves sharp edges that can actually cut you. Why is this level of protection required for batteries, toys, almost anything smaller than a refrigerator?
I bought a big package of toilet paper. I tore open the plastic wrap on it, reached in for a roll, and my hand hit the SECOND plastic bag the rolls were in. What the bloody hell are you protecting me from? This is toilet paper, ffs!
Today took the cake. I've noticed it before, but today I actually read something that set me off. The half gallon of milk I bought is in a waxed cardboard container. The kind we had in school in the lunchroom. You squeezed the carton, pulled the two halves apart, and poured or drank your milk. Now they seem to think this is too tough for mere mortals, so they have installed a plastic screw-off top in the side of the carton top. You unscrew it, pull out a plastic seal, and pour your milk. Then you screw on the top. How stupid is this? Besides adding costs to the packaging, and thus the product, how is this necessary? It can't possibly add to the shelf life of the milk. It never spoilt any faster when you just folded the end over. And think of the petroleum resources used to create all this unneeded plastic. So, this company has decided to really make themselves look foolish, at least to smart people like me. They have GREEN caps, and this is supposed to encourage you to go to their website, enter the product UPC, then choose which of various green charities you want them to donate their money to. And I guess that money is only donated based on people voting. I love it! Using ANTI-GREEN packaging to promote green giving. How about doing away with the caps, and donate the savings to those charities without all the hoopla?
I just don't understand. Yes, I want my new product, or food, or medicine provided to me clean, safe, and easy to use. But do NOT make me work for it. And how about saving us all a few cents and drop the extra layers of crap you use for completely unfathomable reasons. Thank you. Rant finished.
04 September 2010
Gasp, gasp, help me, I'm choking!
Wandering through a mall one day, I followed a friend into a Dollar Store (or something similar). I browsed all the trinkets that can be manufactured, shipped and sold at retail for about $1, with the entire supply chain making a profit! What a business model that must be!
I found a product that I just had to have. A baseball. Not because I play baseball (I am sort of a fan of baseball). But because of the warning on the package. Here is the baseball, in its original package as it came from the store:
The package indicates that this is an "Official Size" Baseball. But please note the warning! How silly is this! For those who may not be able to see the warning well, it says:
I found a product that I just had to have. A baseball. Not because I play baseball (I am sort of a fan of baseball). But because of the warning on the package. Here is the baseball, in its original package as it came from the store:
The package indicates that this is an "Official Size" Baseball. But please note the warning! How silly is this! For those who may not be able to see the warning well, it says:
WARNING:
CHOKING HAZARD-This toy is a small ball.
Not for children under 3 yrs.
If your child under the age of three can open their mouth the requisite 3 inches to insert said baseball, please send a picture. I want to put you in touch with a carnival that needs a new sideshow act!
STUPID! 'Nuff said!
18 August 2010
Dogs, again...
I have a 90-odd pound Lab/Shepherd/Chow mix (think Lab body, Shepherd markings, Chow coat and a black spotted mouth and tongue - and LOTSA fur). I had a conversation about dogs today with a co-worker when she spotted my picture of Bullwinkle on my bulletin board (different pic below, I can't find the other one).
Bull is a calm, submissive dog. He is, in my mind, a wonderful pet. He doesn't jump on people, he loves all other animals, and in general, has no bad habits. He obeys me about 90% of the time (show me a kid that meets that standard). His favorite thing is to make you love him, and therefore receive petting and treats! He gets lots!
She shared with me that her dogs are basically out of control. Savage barking at passers-by. Destroying the house. Jumping up on people. Intolerance of other dogs. All things that mean the dogs think they are in charge. This is a bad situation. You can't enjoy your pet(s) if they run the joint. Take control. Be the calm assertive pack leader.
Here's the answer. Use dog psychology. Cesar Milan does. I did with Bull long before I ever watched the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar's way works. Owners must be calm assertive pack leaders. I am. Lord knows I am calm (mostly). Owners must own their territory. I do. Owners must be consistent. I am (though in many pet homes, there are as many ways of acting out with the dog as there are people living there - and there's only me here).
Try Cesar's way, you'll like it!
Bull is a calm, submissive dog. He is, in my mind, a wonderful pet. He doesn't jump on people, he loves all other animals, and in general, has no bad habits. He obeys me about 90% of the time (show me a kid that meets that standard). His favorite thing is to make you love him, and therefore receive petting and treats! He gets lots!
She shared with me that her dogs are basically out of control. Savage barking at passers-by. Destroying the house. Jumping up on people. Intolerance of other dogs. All things that mean the dogs think they are in charge. This is a bad situation. You can't enjoy your pet(s) if they run the joint. Take control. Be the calm assertive pack leader.
Here's the answer. Use dog psychology. Cesar Milan does. I did with Bull long before I ever watched the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar's way works. Owners must be calm assertive pack leaders. I am. Lord knows I am calm (mostly). Owners must own their territory. I do. Owners must be consistent. I am (though in many pet homes, there are as many ways of acting out with the dog as there are people living there - and there's only me here).
Try Cesar's way, you'll like it!
21 July 2010
Dogs and cleaning up
I am a dog owner. My animal is 90-odd pounds of Lab/Shepherd/Chow mix. He creates nothing but fur in his wake. Bullwinkle (the name is a post in and of itself) is the near-perfect example of a calm, submissive dog. He walks at heel, stands quietly while other dogs examine his smell, and steps away if one tries to nip, snap or otherwise become even slightly aggressive. Humans excite him somewhat, because he believes all humans were put here to pay attention to him. But this is limited to enthusiastic greetings with no jumping, pawing or licking. Just a lot of nose, eyes and ears bouncing around. And he calms down quickly.
(this is the Bullwinkle mutt)
I noticed a Letter to the Editor (scroll down to "Some Pet Owners Can't Always Pick Up") in the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper on July 11, 2010 where a dog owner claimed to be unable to clean up after his dog because of the dog's size and the owner's inability to control the dog without using two hands, plus he claimed he could not carry the necessary equipment to clean up after his 200+ pound animal.
This is crap. Nonsense like this ticks me off. I clean up after my dog every time we go for a walk. So I fired off a response. Here's my take on the situation:
Editor, Times-Dispatch
I must take umbrage at Robert R. Black's assertion that he should not have to clean up after his dog because he one, cannot control the dog satisfactorily and needs to "avert bloody warfare", and two, he is unable to carry the necessary tools to make such a cleanup possible. ("Some Pet Owners Can't Always Pick Up", RTD, July 11, 2010, Letters to the Editor)
To the first point: If Mr. Black is unable to control his dog in a manner that avoids dogfighting, then I suggest that he invest in training for himself and his animal so that he can learn that controlling a pet, whether a 2-pound teacup chihuahua or a 210-pound mastiff is in the mind of the owner and the animal, not in the muscles of said animal. If he is unable to avoid aggressive behavior in his pet no matter what another animal is doing, then he should not allow that animal to be in public. He could cross the street, or otherwise divert his pet from an approaching animal that was behaving aggressively towards him. An aggressive dog can be very dangerous, and I question whether he should be in public at all with a dog he cannot physically control that could hurt another animal - what if a small terrier or toy poodle began barking or just rushed at this massive animal to say "hello"? A dog doesn't recognize size in an opponent, it only recognizes mental intent and immediate behavior.
To the second point: Large dogs are working dogs. If Mr. Black is unable to control his dog without using two hands and presumably a much smarter mind, then perhaps he should invest in a doggie backpack, and have the dog carry the tools himself. I can't see where a couple of plastic bags (and perhaps a pair of latex gloves) could possibly weigh that much, or be all that bulky. After cleanup, the dog can carry his own waste to a suitable disposal site.
I resent that I should have to watch out for the waste left behind by Mr. Black's dogs because he thinks loving them is reason enough to not perform a pet owner's duty to clean up after the pet in public places. Also, love is a part of controlling aggression, and an aggressive animal remains in danger at all times of hurting someone or some other animal - so that's not love, that's neglect!
I think all dogs deserve the best care available. Part of that is teaching them that they are part of a pack that should optimally consist of humans at the alpha positions, and that include dogs as submissive members of the pack. If you can't control your dog with your mind rather than your arms, you're not doing it right!
(this is the Bullwinkle mutt)
This is crap. Nonsense like this ticks me off. I clean up after my dog every time we go for a walk. So I fired off a response. Here's my take on the situation:
Editor, Times-Dispatch
I must take umbrage at Robert R. Black's assertion that he should not have to clean up after his dog because he one, cannot control the dog satisfactorily and needs to "avert bloody warfare", and two, he is unable to carry the necessary tools to make such a cleanup possible. ("Some Pet Owners Can't Always Pick Up", RTD, July 11, 2010, Letters to the Editor)
To the first point: If Mr. Black is unable to control his dog in a manner that avoids dogfighting, then I suggest that he invest in training for himself and his animal so that he can learn that controlling a pet, whether a 2-pound teacup chihuahua or a 210-pound mastiff is in the mind of the owner and the animal, not in the muscles of said animal. If he is unable to avoid aggressive behavior in his pet no matter what another animal is doing, then he should not allow that animal to be in public. He could cross the street, or otherwise divert his pet from an approaching animal that was behaving aggressively towards him. An aggressive dog can be very dangerous, and I question whether he should be in public at all with a dog he cannot physically control that could hurt another animal - what if a small terrier or toy poodle began barking or just rushed at this massive animal to say "hello"? A dog doesn't recognize size in an opponent, it only recognizes mental intent and immediate behavior.
To the second point: Large dogs are working dogs. If Mr. Black is unable to control his dog without using two hands and presumably a much smarter mind, then perhaps he should invest in a doggie backpack, and have the dog carry the tools himself. I can't see where a couple of plastic bags (and perhaps a pair of latex gloves) could possibly weigh that much, or be all that bulky. After cleanup, the dog can carry his own waste to a suitable disposal site.
I resent that I should have to watch out for the waste left behind by Mr. Black's dogs because he thinks loving them is reason enough to not perform a pet owner's duty to clean up after the pet in public places. Also, love is a part of controlling aggression, and an aggressive animal remains in danger at all times of hurting someone or some other animal - so that's not love, that's neglect!
I think all dogs deserve the best care available. Part of that is teaching them that they are part of a pack that should optimally consist of humans at the alpha positions, and that include dogs as submissive members of the pack. If you can't control your dog with your mind rather than your arms, you're not doing it right!
09 July 2010
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