Was it the back rub that unglued Angela?
Posted: April 30, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized Comments OffDid this:
lead to this?
Angie in her undies turns heads in Berlin
When walking a dog, the shortest distance between two points is impossible.
Posted: April 30, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment »Yesterday, brother Mike stopped by for a visit, eager to have me listen to a new-old Hugh Masekela CD. The conversation covered a lot of terrain, music and politics, but mostly about family, stories of hope and adventure, stories of hard times getting harder.
“So,” he asked, “how old is Marley?”
“Thirteen.”
“What is that in human years?”
Well, as it turns out, the commonly used metric of one dog year equaling seven human years doesn’t quite work. Dogs mature much earlier than humans; a one-year-old dog is more like a teenager than a seven-year-old human.
Data (PDF) from California Veterninary Medicine Association.
So, that led to a search for clever about dogs, leading to “My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to 99 cents a can. That’s almost $7.00 in dog money.” ~Joe Weinstein
The quote is undated, but I figured that a can of Alpo has increased in price along with everything else. Google Shopping showed that you can get pretty close to a buck a can for some sale items in case lots.
One offering, though, is not much of a deal at all. Not only is the price-per-can at nearly $3.00, but shipping is, well, …
For that price, they should not only ship it, but also get up early in the morning and feed it to him.
While looking around for that other information, I stopped to sniff these fenceposts:
- The Centers for Disease Control report, via WSJ, (subscription), that tripping over pets is a major cause of emergency room visits and that people are more than seven times as likely to trip over their dogs as over their cats.
Spending $50 to test your dog’s IQ probably says more about your IQ than your dog’s.
Worried about swine flu? The economy? Well, some yard work might help.
Posted: April 30, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized Comments Off“That is well said,” replied Candide, “but we must cultivate our garden.”
Oh, snap. 
Itch Alert: Poison ivy seems to be growing faster and with greater potency
The winters are very long in Canada. Too long.
Posted: April 29, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized Comments Off
The article says, “Think carrot cake without all the work.”
No. I won’t.
Neighbors balk at Westminster development plan – Sentinel & Enterprise
Posted: April 29, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized Comments OffQuote of the day from my old town:
Neighbors balk at Westminster development plan – Sentinel & Enterprise: “I’d like kids in my family to have a job where they don’t have to go all the way to Worcester, where they could be threatened by some crack head with a butcher knife,”
When it comes to speaking, I’m all thumbs.
Posted: April 29, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized Comments OffOntheCommon.com – When it comes to speaking, I’m all thumbs.
Crime in suburbia
Posted: April 25, 2009 Filed under: crime in suburbia Comments OffFrom The Landmark (subscription required):
Holden
Monday, April 13
1:11 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout, Shrewsbury St.
1:23 p.m. Suspicious male for the second time at residence, River St.
2:45 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout at Dunkin’ Donuts
6:22 p.m. Large black bear climbing up tree and causing traffic delay, Highland St.
7:41 p.m. Teens on bikes reported posing safety hazard
9:09 p.m. Bear went back into the woods
10:42 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout
Tuesday, April 14
12:27 a.m. Pedestrian signal on lights at center activating
8:22 a.m. Pedestrian crossing lights cycling
9:30 a.m. Pedestrian crossing lights fixed
9:45 a.m. Motor vehicle lockout, Main St.
11:11 a.m. Caller reporting dog in yard; owners got dog
11:53 a.m. Lockout, Lovell Rd.
6:59 p.m. Dog chased jogger, Bullard St.; owner spoken with
11:05 p.m. Loud music, Main St.
11:10 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle in parking lot, Shrewsbury St.; OK, making phone call
Wednesday, April 15
12:35 a.m. Suspicious person behind Papa Gino’s; OK, having trouble with vehicle
1:24 p.m. Solicitors selling meat, Wachusett St.
2:05 p.m. Moped in woods, Wild Rose Ave.
5:54 p.m. Report of receiving weird letters
6:52 p.m. Tenant making noise late at night
Thursday, April 16
8:15 a.m. Caller believes son and friends are using drugs; requests extra patrols
8:30 a.m. Truck with uncovered load
8:54 a.m. Stray cat, Wachusett St.
3:11 p.m. Report of black bear, Harris St.
3:30 p.m. Water flowing out of sewer and crack in Kendall Rd.
11:06 p.m. State police report if gunshots are heard on Newell Rd., they’re putting down a deer
Friday, April 17
4:16 a.m. Loud animal sounds, Mark Cir,/Salisbury St.
6:08 a.m. Private investigator working in area, Greenbriar Ln.
9:08 a.m. Woman with child in southbound travel lane, Main St.
10:36 a.m. Tree company dropped tree on Greenwood Pkwy.
11:05 a.m. Complaint of brush piles at residence too high for folks making turns off Reservoir St.;
1:40 p.m. Private investigator in area
9:18 p.m. Caller unable to contact boyfriend on cell
Saturday, April 18
1:52 a.m. Man and woman walking in travel lane, Main St.
2:23 a.m. Motor vehicle with dome light on, Nola Dr.
12:02 p.m. Vehicle on both sides of Clark St. obstructing traffic
12:21 p.m. Call about removal of leaked fuel into garbage can
12:48 p.m. Irate customer at gas station
4:50 p.m. Overload of cars at St. Mary’s due to church function
6:36 p.m. Kids in lot on Main St. advised to leave
11:40 p.m. Report of new occupants on Main St. with loud stereo
Sunday, April 19
12:30 p.m. Off-road motorcycle speeding toward maze
Paxton
Monday, April 13
9:39 a.m. Caller reports a suspicious man with a rake. Turns out he is landscaper, Shanadoah Dr.
Tuesday, April 14
11:09 a.m. Horse caught in fence, Richards Ave.
Wednesday, April 15
2:33 p.m. Spencer Rescue Squad advising they have locked themselves out of the ambulance. Requesting officer, Paxton Garage.
11:00 p.m. Office flagged down to attend to a raccoon that was hit by car. Advised the animal is code 4.
Thursday, April 16
3:55 p.m. Town crossing guards reporting loose beagle in Country Bank parking lot
3:59 p.m. Caller reporting that a male with long hair and beard is riding his bike erratically, near Maple and Grove Sts.
Saturday, April 18
4:15 p.m. Caller reporting people down by the reservoir, retrieving brush. Concerned for their safety. Reservoir security notified
Sunday, April 19
11:55 a.m. House at Monticello Dr. has brush in roadway, traffic hazard
5:02 p.m. Missing poodle “Elmo” Has tags and harness, last seen at Keep Ave.
Princeton
Tuesday, April 14
5:10 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
Wednesday, April 15
10:21 a.m. Disturbance, gun shots, Rte. 140 N
5:12 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Bullard Rd.
Thursday, April 16
11:00 a.m. Assist fire department, Hubbardston/Allen Hill Rds.
Friday, April 17
1:52 p.m. Trash/litter complaint, Worcester Rd.
6:04 p.m. Traffic safety hazard, Dowds Ln.
Saturday, April 18
9:20 a.m. Disturbance, Fitchburg Rd.
2:04 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Hubbardston Rd.
Sunday, April 19
3:52 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Mountain Rd.
4:21p.m. Assist fire department, Clearings Way
6:07 p.m. Assist fire department, Whitaker Ln.
Rutland
Monday, April 13
5:49 p.m. Rubbish dumping, Maple Ave.
9:33 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout, Miles Rd.
Tuesday, April 14
1:15 p.m. Black wire hanging low over roadway, Kenwood Dr.
4:15 p.m. Motorist reports she ran over something and it damaged her oil pan, Maple Ave.
Wednesday, April 15
6:44 p.m. Parking violation, access road at the schools
8:14 p.m. Several attempts to serve summons, Memorial Dr., Glenwood Rd.
Thursday, April 16
10:04 a.m. Person at station to speak with officer regarding tractor dispute, Main St.
1:51 p.m. Person wants to speak with officer on duty, Main St.
5:58 p.m. Complaints about vehicles parked at the schools, school access road
Friday, April 17
6:33 a.m. Report of moose at end of Pommogussett Rd.
4:07 p.m. Officer speaks to youths on skateboards, Main St.
5:46 p.m. Suspicious white van in beach area, Crawford Rd.
Saturday, April 18
8:30 a.m. Person wants it recorded that someone left a beer can in her mailbox overnight, Birchwood Rd.
9:35 a.m. Yellow/orange bike left at end of driveway, Main St.
10:03 a.m. Green ATV in roadway, Glenwood Rd.
2:32 p.m. Person to speak with officer regarding carrying a hand gun, Main St.
6:00 p.m. Person at station to speak with officer, Main St.
10:21 p.m. Motor vehicle lockout, Main St.
Sunday, April 19
10:38 a.m. Party complaining about neighbors on ATV on sidewalks, Glenwood Rd.
7:29 p.m. Erratic driver all over road, Main St.
9:04 p.m. Erratic operator, Main St.
10:28 p.m. Suspicious motor vehicle, Main St.
Sterling
Monday, April 13
8:21 a.m. Call about loose dog, Chace Hill Rd.
3:01 p.m. Person dropped off item found on Laurelwood Rd.
8:30 p.m. Black bear and cub in area of Elliott Rd.
Tuesday, April 14
7:57 a.m. Report of problem at intersection of Riverview/ Greenland Rds.
2:48 p.m. Person asking whether anyone on Chace Hill Road has seen two small white dogs
3:11 p.m. Suspicious male in roadway, Squareshire Rd.
6:32 p.m. Police remove two juvenile skateboarders from middle of Worcester Rd.
6:59 p.m. Caller reports dirt bikes on Old Beaman Rd.
8:39 p.m. Black bear on porch, advised to remove bird feeders, Upper N. Row Rd.
Wednesday, April 15
9:31 a.m. Handful of screws found at end of driveway, Elliott Rd.
1:34 p.m. Two small dogs running in traffic, Leominster/Pratts Jct. Rds.
5:29 p.m. Police asked to check on skateboarders behind church, Bridge St.
5:51 p.m. Excessive barking of dog, Glendale Ave.
6:09 p.m. Skateboarders, Waushacum Ave./Newell Hill Rd.
7:23 p.m. Vandalism, screws found in driveway, Elliott Rd.
Thursday, April 16
8:44 a.m. Screws found in driveway, Elliott Rd.
9:16 a.m. Bear sighting, Upper N. Row Rd.
Friday, April 17
2:38 a.m. Assist State Police checking area of Muddy Pond Rd. for anyone on foot
9:07 a.m. Car in parking lot is running, person at wheel sleeping, Leominster Rd.
10:22 a.m. Solicitors going door-to-door, Fitch Farm Ln.
9:24 p.m. Disturbance, loud music, Wilder Rd. Loudest noise is the crickets
Saturday, April 18
5:00 a.m. Caller reports road blocked by tree limbs, Olde Parish Ln.
6:38 p.m. Suspicious activity, Pratts Jct. Rd.
10:55 p.m. Suspicious activity, motor vehicle, pulling into driveways, Chace Hill Rd.
Sunday, April 19
1:45 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Lakeshore Dr.
2:11 p.m. Dog found on Beaman Rd, belongs on Pinewood Rd.
3:06 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Newell Hill Rd.
5:43 p.m. Complaint about loud music, Wilder Rd.
8:46 p.m. Youths throwing things at trailers, Main St.
9:19 p.m. Loud yelling, Glendale Ave.
Website terms unenforceable due to unlimited right to amend
Posted: April 23, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized Comments OffWebsite terms unenforceable due to unlimited right to amend:
“The US District Court for the Northern District of Texas has said, though, that Blockbuster cannot rely on any of its terms and conditions because a clause allowing it to alter them creates too much uncertainty for customers.”
It would be interesting to see if, by extension, this ruling could apply to credit card companies that have allegedly changed interest rates, fee structures, and penalties without appropriate notice.
Just in time for Mother’s Day
Posted: April 23, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized 2 Comments »From the PediSedate web site:
“PediSedate is a medical device consisting of a colorful, toy-like headset that connects to a game component such as the Nintendo Game Boy system or a portable CD player. Once the child places it on his or her head and swings the snorkel down from its resting place atop the head, PediSedate transparently monitors respiratory function and distributes nitrous oxide, an anesthetic gas.”via Nifty gaming gadget administers nitrous oxide to kids
Microsoft tests its new software delivery system.
Posted: April 22, 2009 Filed under: Uncategorized Comments OffMONTAGUE – Police here have what they say is important computer software that was found along a rural road and they are searching for its owner.
RCMP Const. Jamie Parsons of the Kings District RCMP say a motorist driving along the Greenfield Road in Summerville, near Montague, located a container containing numerous computer CDs, with what Parsons believes is important computer software. The container was found Wednesday.
Anybody with information about the container is asked to contact Montague RCMP at (902) 838-9300.”
