'That's ridiculous!"

I need to be better at writing everyday. I just visited the Three Durham Dogs blog and was very impressed that they are able to get on the computer everyday. My mom is so busy with schoolwork (and I'm not allowed to type without her) that we get behind pretty easily.

I was going to write a long piece on the President's recent trip to Europe but I got bored with it right away. To me, a humble pup, the most exciting part of the whole thing was learning that Mr. Bush visited Belgium which is the country where my friend Xandro, the long-haired German Shepard, lives. Well, actually that fact and the part about "all options [being] on the table" regarding the "ridiculous" notion of the USA attacking Iran. They keep playing that clip on NPR to my delight. (Remember, that NPR is, unfortunately, my only form of entertainment during the day when my moms are out and about.) Really, the leader of the country embarrasses himself without any additional help from the media.

Last night was Oscar Night, and again, all canine breeds were shunned not only from winning but from the running altogether. I was also disappointed that The Story of the Weeping Camel did not win Best Documentary, but my moms were glad that Born Into Brothels did (If Spurlock had won with his "Super-Size"-d entry, I would have cried Michael Moore-sized foul, as much as I despise the fast-food industry). Momma C laments the fact that she no longer works for a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts. She used to get pre-Oscar screeners to take home and preview to help with the voting (shhh, don't tell anyone). In years past, we'd seen all the films in contention before the big night. I can't say that not seeing the films was any deficiency in picking the winners (you don't have to actually see the movies to know who's going to win. It's pretty political, and, usually, in the pocket of Miramax and Harvey Weinstein. (Although not this time!)) It was a pretty tame show overall (though not as tame as the Superbowl).

What they really need to do is have a Best Animal in a Feature Film. The red carpet would never be the same. That said, it should be open only to real animals, not any of that animatronic, CGI, or puppet nonsense that's keeping me out of the biz. I'm a looker, but I know my supposed "behavior issues" will keep me off studio lots for my entire lifetime. *Sigh* As video screen tests of fellow Durham dogs attest, you need the cast the real deal. I'm racking my brain for non-doc, feature films of 2004 with real animal stars. I can only think of the tiger cubs (and adults) with the "lead roles" in Two Brothers (which also starred the talented little (human) Freddy Highmore from the Oscar-nominated Finding Neverland.) But most studios, again, do not trust real animals for the lead roles. They build them using animation tricks and then do something even nuttier by having Tobey Maguire or Frankie Muniz voice them (Cats and Dogs and Racing Stripes, respectively). (Bonus Trivia: The hero of Balto (1995), a bi-species wolf-dog, is voiced by Kevin Bacon if you're ever in a Kevin Bacon game jam -- only one-step to co-stars Bridget Fonda, Bob Hoskins, Jim Cummings, Phil Collins, or Miriam Margolyes. That film made me proud to be "mixed.")

I'll leave you pondering that for now...

Doobie, Doobie, Do

From the AP Wire today:

Dog Busts Owner on Marijuana Charge

GRAPEVINE, Texas - The owner of J.D. the Labrador may be wishing his dog weren't such a good retriever. Matthew Porter and two friends were playing Frisbee golf in a park Monday when a police officer who thought he smelled burning marijuana began questioning them.

As the officer was checking for outstanding warrants, J.D. waded into a nearby creek and emerged with a plastic bag containing the drug.

Porter, 25, was charged with possessing drug paraphernalia. Micah Hays, 24, was charged with marijuana possession. J.D. was turned over to the third person at the park, who faces no charges.

J.D. also faces no charges, but may have a new job opportunity.

"People have been asking if we're going to recruit the dog for police work," said Grapevine police Sgt. Todd Dearing

I wonder if I'd be able to sniff out the stuff. It could be a new career for me.

Breed Profiling

I read in a news article today about "breed profiling." Insurance companies are dropping homeowner's policy holders who have specific breeds of dogs. So if your people have a German Shepard (or even a part-Shepard like me), they might be surprised to find themselves without insurance or with a doubled premium, if not now, then possibily in the future!
While I understand that there are dangerous dogs out there, to single out German Shepards as an "unacceptable breed" is quite unfair. We are so smart and loyal; so many of us are working dogs. (I suppose some people are still prejudiced from when they use to use our kind in K-9 units during the civil rights riots. This is understandable, but they should really come meet me. I'm a teddy bear.) There are little yappy dogs with sharp teeth out there that scare the bee-jeebers out of me, yet Liberty Mutual and Allstate find those "dogs" acceptable.
(Read the entire article here.)

Luckily, our home is covered under State Farm who, for now, does not have breed restrictions. I feel so wronged that someone would judge me based on how I look. That they would think I was dangerous based on what my brothers have done (or have been accused of doing). They would turn and walk the other way if I came up to them in a dark alley. But a standard white poodle (the devils) would be whisked into the nearest salon and pinned with another kennel club award. Oh, the injustice. Oh, the humanity.