Laughing Wolf

Monday, March 10, 2008

Thanks to a Special Reader

Recently, I had an interesting week given a nice bit of brightness when someone sent me three Good Eats DVDs.  I’ve sent a thank you note, but in case it doesn’t make it, thanks! 

LW

Sunday, March 09, 2008

CPR and Preparedness

While I am disappointed that the English Werewolf and the Borzoi were not able to make it up this weekend as planned, it was a very good Saturday.  The worst of the weather stayed down at Indy and further south, and while that area got slammed we had mostly sunny skies and what passes for very nice weather this winter. 

I went ahead with one activity we had planned, which was attending a CPR course at the local Red Cross.  This time of year, the Red Cross in many areas offers CPR certification classes for a token fee, and being a cheap b*****d Scot I take full advantage of it.  As it turned out, yesterday was a two-fer as they did a follow-on session for child CPR after the adult CPR certification.  Making up for the absence was the presence of some of my Wolf Park friends, who stayed for the first part before having to leave. 

Add in a lunch at Nine Irish Brothers as long as I was in town from the wilds of NW Indiana, and a bit of shopping/browsing for supplies, and it was a good day.  I hope yours was good too.

LW

Monday, March 03, 2008

The Great Stoned Jenny…

WIth thunderstorms predicted for today, I’m trying something new to help her with her dislike (severe understatement) of loud booms.  So, after talking with her doctor, I hit her with a dose of melatonin (sp?) this morning.  I wrapped the capsule in some cheese, and was amazed when she actually chewed some, clearly cracking the capsule.  She ate it though. 

I would love to know how fast that stuff acts, for a few minutes later I took her out to put her on her (repaired) lead system.  She normally is very good about it, but today got very interested in her treat.  So much so, she went back, and back, and back, and eventually over onto her back (fall down, go boom!).  I did get the lead on her, and gave her the treat, but that was quick—and funny.

LW

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Updates Underway

After far too long a time, I am starting to update and re-do the blogroll.  If you want to nominate someone for a category, let me know.  If you have been dropped, and aren’t dead yet, let me know.  If you think you should be in a different category, make your case.  There is still a long ways to go, but it has started—and I am giving the pebbles a chance to vote. 

LW

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Think I’m Happier Not Knowing

There are days when I honestly believe that I am far better off not knowing what goes on at the lair when I am gone. 

I had to go run a few errands around lunch time, and per usual hooked Jenny up to her lead system before I left.  When I got back, Jenny was on the porch, and then rapidly down to the fence and gate.  Excited.  Extremely excited and talkative, to the point I was concerned she might just figure out she can go over said fence and gate.  My first thought that someone had let her off the lead was dashed when I saw it still clipped to her collar. 

Well, rather, part of it was there.  It looks like she somehow managed to snap what was supposed to be aircraft rated steel cable a couple of feet up.  No signs of gnawing or such, just a good snap that may have been building for some time judging from the coloration. 

Looks like my plans for a quiet afternoon are going to have to be put on hold for a quick trip to the hardware store for repair items…

I knew I shouldn’t have gotten her the home metalworking kit…

LW

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Spanking Leads To Risky Sex?

Huh.  I find that spanking someone usually leads to good and fun sex.  Oh, wait, this is another attempt to demonize any form of corporal punishment I think.  Feh.  Prefer my first take based on the short headline…

LW

Sending Good Thoughts South

Elisson writes that all is not well with house owner Matata.  Go on over, send your thoughts, and wish them well.  Let that which is right be. 

LW

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

A Study In Leadership

While there are all sorts of cliches about two types of people, so I will spare you that.  Instead, let’s contrast through an example. 

You are at an event, and a guest, a dignitary/important person comes in unexpectedly after things are underway.  The speaker at the front of the room doesn’t acknowledge them.

Example One:  A person near you starts chattering about the importance of the person, how rude/bad/whatever-it-is that they are not being acknowledged, and goes into a fairly typical drama-queen/king behavior.  At no point will this person get up off their ample rump and take any constructive action to try and be sure the people at the head table are aware of the visitor.

Example Two:  A person near you sees the situation, and quietly gets up and makes sure word gets to the head table and the speaker so that they are aware of the visit since they can’t necessarily see the back of the room.  They can then decide how to handle the visit. 

I just spent a few days with a group of people that were overwhelmingly of Example Two.  I was fortunate to be asked to spend time at the first executive gathering of Soldier’s Angels.  There is news to come from there, but that is for them to tell. 

What was amazing was how the majority of the people there do things, and the exemplar is Patti Patton-Bader.  This is a wife and mother who started sending letters and care packages to her son, and when she saw a need to reach other soldiers who were not getting mail and support, enlisted her friends to help.  That effort has grown well beyond that start, doing things for soldiers there and here, and for their families.  That effort has grown from that beginning to an organization of more than 180,000 volunteers. 

That there will be changes is a given, and I am sure that there will be some who won’t like some of them—there always will be.  Yet, I do believe the best is yet to come and I look forward to seeing and being a small part of the good to come. 

I can’t thank Soldier’s Angels enough for all they have done for me and my embeds.  Thanks for letting me be a part of things, and for letting me spend time with so many good people.

LW

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Potter and Politics

I thought I had posted this months ago, but…

I recently was subjected to a hash of politics in conjunction with the release of the new Harry Potter novel.  Quite a few people felt obligated to turn the event into a political rally with buttons reading “Republicans for Voldemort” and “Democrats for Dumbledore” and the like.  Showing their asses and ignorance, these cute folk took a neutral event for kids and just had to make it about them. 

Funny thing is, I guess some thought I would be upset by the Republicans for Voldemort buttons but I will give them, and you, that if you will follow through with me here. 

In the world of Harry Potter, it is the world of British Big Brother and the great nanny state.  The state is staffed by people primarily of one belief, that is a belief in the state and the rightness of same.  Conformity is the rule, and those who don’t conform are primarily regarded as evil (Voldemort et cie) or as egotistical or related mavericks (Dumbledore et cie).  Individuality and any sin against the groupthink is punished, either in a passive aggressive way (note most interactions between Potter and the Ministry of Magic) or far more harshly (Ministry trial of Potter, and that delightful representative of the Ministry who effectively took over Hogwarts).  The major media was very supportive of the Ministry and the efforts of same towards groupthink, and cheerfully went along with attacking anyone who threatened or was regarded as a potential threat to the Ministry and groupthink (attacks on Potter, Dumbledore, et al).  What does all this sound like to you? Any certain party or group of bureaucrats you know? 

Note that Dumbledore supports the rights of the individual; encourages individuals to make their own choices and live with consequences even if it means going against orders and groupthink; ignores or distorts rules and regulations in order to achieve justice and good (note how many in power will do what the rules say, even if they are wrong); and, is otherwise anti-authoritarian and pro- individual

I will give to you Republicans for Voldemort if you will accept that the Democrats (party of nanny state, the media, and groupthink) would be for Fudge (or minister of your choice) and company, the party in power.  Therefore, it should be Independents/libertarians for Dumbledore, not the party of the great nanny state. 

Then again, I doubt that almost any of those sporting the buttons in question could differentiate between socialism, communism, fascism, and nazi-ism, much less make an intelligent distinction between the current major political parties in the Republic (and would quite likely state blithely that we live in a democracy as well).  Feh.

LW

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Okay, Who Changed The Forecast

I check the weather predictions on a fairly regular basis, so I was less than thrilled to be awakened far too early this morning by the sounds of road scrapers.  Sure enough, 2-3 inches of snow.  Jenny was quite surprised when I let her out this morning.  I was just less than thrilled, but I’ve done what shoveling I’m going to do and can get around.  I just hope they get the roads a little better done by this evening…

LW

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

I Have To Agree With Val

The news truly changes nothing.  We can but hope to see freedom in Cuba’s future, but that is the future.  For the present, nothing has really changed—though I hope that they do change, and rapidly.

LW

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valen-Tines Day

Let the followers of perpetual outrage seethe and riot, for we truly know the meaning of this day.  For today is the day that Valen of blessed memory decreed that the One would clean the tines of all forks so as to not do other things to the girl, er, stay pure for that battle to come.  Until such time as the One comes, each of us is to take this day and clean the tines in Valen’s name. 

To each of you, a Happy Valentine’s Day! May it be filled with love, laughter, friendship, and as much impure and unchaste as you feel comfortable with.  *VBEG*

LW
who may have to add the B5 set to his wish list…

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Solidarity:  Let Freedom Reign

On February 4, 2006, I joined with a host of other bloggers in solidarity with Danish journalists and artists by reposting one of the cartoons of blasphemy:

I once again choose to stand up for freedom of speech and thought, and add to that cartoon this one cheerfully stolen from Michelle Malkin:

Freedom of speech is under attack as never before.  Be it through murder and mayhem and threats of same, attempts to stifle discourse by declaring anything that does not agree with a set response as hate speech, or—most insidious of them all—self-censorship for fear of the mere possibility of offending someone resulting in penalties of any sort, the end results are the same as freedom is lost. 

I swore oaths long ago to protect and defend this and other freedoms.  Today, I do so via words, audio, video, photography, and art on this and other blogs and outlets.  Today, I reiterate my stand and repost some of that which has earned a death sentence against those who create or publish.  I reaffirm my oath and my commitment. 

Freedom of speech is just one part of it, however.  One reason we in this Republic have that freedom is a concept called the marketplace of ideas.  As citizens, we have that right and the right to express our opinions.  We have the responsibility to debate ideas and concepts on merits and facts, not on pure emotionalism.  As has been noted here before, freedom of speech does not mean freedom from criticism, constructive or otherwise, contempt, or even side-splitting laughter.  It does not mean freedom from consequences.  It simply means you have the right to express yourself, not that everyone must agree with you. 

I continually get a good laugh from trolls and others who state that any alteration or deletion, much less banning, shows an unwillingness to tolerate dissent and a lack of commitment to free speech.  Bull.  Your ability to say what you want is still there, for you can (and should) start a blog of your own and see how it fares in the marketplace of ideas.  Good ideas will get lots of recurring readers, discussion, links, and dialog.  Bad ideas tend to get the ratings they deserve.  There is no requirement (yet) that any newspaper, broadcast station, blog, or other has to pay to host your ideas or random spewings—unless it is your own. 

Since few if any newspapers in the U.S. (much less broadcast outlets) see fit to stand up for and with those who are literally putting their lives and the lives of their families on the firing line for true freedom of speech, I will step forward.  To all those who are true enemies of freedom, no matter what country, religion, or party I have but one thing to say:  Bite Me. 

LW

A Hard Thing To Do

Time is one of the most precious commodities, and it seems these days the one we have the least of.  I’m trying to do a number of things in my life, and I need time in order to do them.  WIth luck, getting them done may allow me much more time to devote to the fun things.  I can dream.  While it was extremely difficult to do, and I had looked long and hard for ways not to do it, I stepped down as Assistant Volunteer Coordinator at Wolf Park.  I will continue to give what time I can, and do what I can to support the Park, but for the next little bit it is not going to be as much as I would like it to be. 

I also want to state for the record that in my writings here, I do not represent the Park nor do I speak for it in any official capacity.  I speak merely for myself, and myself only. 

Speaking for myself, I hated to step down.  I have enjoyed very much working with Dana, and hope that I may do so again some day.

LW

Sunday, February 10, 2008

A Wish List

People have liked the videos and more, and I am slowly compiling a wish list of things that will help deal with the areas needing improvement; a list of things I would love to have and would make things better in my opinion; and, a list of things that would help me prepare for the next embed.  This will be getting updated, and maybe even bumped up a time or two…

Wireless microphones to help improve audio:
The good
The better
The best?
Maybe this one? 

Additional Hardware
And some headphones for editing and travel
If you really want the video bumped up this will do it
A couple of these memory cards would be nice
As would a couple of these for backup and storage that can survive almost anything…

Shotgun microphones
would be nice...
or this one

Batteries
one or two of these
one of these...

External Hard Drives
This one looks really good for field work
For home, as many of these MiniStack V3 in 500Gb or 750Gb anyone cares to send would help.  I knew video took room, but really didn’t appreciate how much it does…

Fitness
This thing is good but meaner than it looks
An incline bench
A flat flat utility bench
A nice barbell rack
Or, just send a Dick’s Sporting Goods gift certificate and I will go get flooring, weights, and more. 

More soon,

LW

Content copyright C. Blake Powers and the individual authors. Comments become the property of C. Blake Powers and may be altered, edited, deleted, and used by C. Blake Powers or the individual authors without restriction or recompense.