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April 30, 2007

Dog... friend or foe

Got into a heated debate tonight with mother and a friend of the family concerning a dog that had bitten this friend's granddaughter, but had not broken the skin - dragged her to the ground though. Ever since Ian's dog bite to the face so many years ago I have had a distinct and nonpermissive slant concerning dogs out of control. I don't believe there is any circumstance (aside from cruelty based attacks prompted from the animal) when a dog ever should be permitted to attack anything. I blame the owner that lets the critter run loose in the neighborhood, believing that his dog won't hurt anyone because it never has before, and they have had it forever so they should know. Its lazy pet ownership and irresponsible, these are animals.

My whole point of view was that the owner was 100% responsible for anything the dog did and should take care of it so it doesnt happen again (ie securing the animal so it doesnt run loose).

I am biased concerning all dogs. I see ALL dogs as a potential threat after what happened to Ian. Seeing your brother almost lose his eye, nearly losing part of his lip, dislocating his jaw... something about that just brings out either fear or anger about the whole thing... mine being the latter. Any dog out of control gets me immediately pissed off, all I see is what happened to him and I won't have it again. I chase dogs out of our yard all the time, nearly having lost our dachsund to a wandering shepherd that some asshole neighborhor allowed to run amok has only reinforced it. I have had to confront a pitbull in the yard with a broomstick and the certainty that I would kill the bastard if it even tried to come any further in or wouldnt leave... just because it was aggressive, snarling, etc. I take it all seriously, I see the potential... I act to block and stop. I refuse to allow the animal to be out of control around me. Even if it means me getting hurt, I would rather remove the threat of the animal with me. Thats what kind of an impression my brother's attack had upon me.

So yes, I am heated on the subject. I am jaded, I may overreact. But I prefer my vigilant, nonaccepting of these potential threats to ever again seeing someone mauled before me. Having the dog disappear and seeing the person suffer through the treatments. Its not going to happen again if I can control it.

Its not that I don't enjoy or like dogs... I do. I believe that they have the capacity to do great harm if not held in check at all times.

Posted by Ravennacht at 11:25 PM | Comments (0)

April 29, 2007

As good as gold...

Who was it that first decided that gold was valuable. I mean when you look at the stuff, its largely useless in any sense. Its too heavy... its too soft... its not particularly attactive (at least to me)... the purer it is the weaker it gets. I mean, what braniac picked this yellow crap off the ground and said THIS is what we are going to base the monetary economy of the realm upon. At least a diamond is hard enough to be used on drills or as focals for lasers and such. But this sickly yellow rock... I'm going to kill a race of south american natives over. Yeah, makes sense... (sarcasm added)

Posted by Ravennacht at 01:44 AM | Comments (0)

April 28, 2007

Nary a Compromise to be Seen

The formation of this country was on the foundation of dissent. It is not unpatriotic to disagree with those in command of the nation, it is rooted within its very bones/framework. We are bound to one another and strengthened by our differences, the voice of the minority should never be silenced, but always heard as the voice of moderation of majority overreaching. When we find ourselves in control we become deaf ... whether in retribution for what was done whilst our faction was in less control... or just through the normal mechanation of moving stuff 'quickly' through the system. We really need to take the time to stop and listen... speak with one another... form more compromises that serve the whole.

I resent this President and continue to for his audacity in believing that his way is the only way. I disagree with the democrats on many points as well. My patience wears thin... I am tired of the jockying for airtime blurbs and poll stat flinging. They all act like they don't have any common sense about what the common person, or the soldier in the field is going through owing to their decisions. Enough is enough.

Posted by Ravennacht at 09:13 PM | Comments (0)

Art Entries

Two fast character-based entries in an art contest held a while ago by Dragonfable. The Jungle Fury and the Doomcrawler. Naturally, I lost, but que sera.

Posted by Ravennacht at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)

April 27, 2007

And another soldier (this a colonel) arises to speak out concerning the generals in control of the war in Iraq. Interestingly this one is still in the service (for however long that will be now after speaking out against superiors). The retired generals have been beating this drum for years... now the servicemen are starting to speak. Is it just one person... is it a consensus. Unfortunately we likely will not know from their mouths... because they simply cannot say. This chap will likely pay the price with his career for saying what his opinion was. We shall see. All I can say is supporting the military includes listening to them. The time is approaching when we will all need to decide that enough is enough. Its not soon enough for me. I want them home.

Posted by Ravennacht at 11:45 PM | Comments (0)

April 23, 2007

Amalgam

Its been a timultuous month, personally, work, and otherwise. Another visit with the skin doctor today, followed by court tomorrow. Work has been hectic, with a bomb threat lock-down on campus happening late last week sending everyone home. The world is going all freaky.

Spent most of Sunday watching the recap of the Attorney General's testimony before the Senate. erm, yeah. I don't have a lot of confidence for the highest level attorney in the land when he doesn't have a strong grasp on what is going on in his department and fails to look behind the recommendations he is handed. When you find yourself answering a lot of questions with "I don't recall" there is a severe problem, especially when you are an attorney/past judge. And they wonder why confidence is shaken with the Justice Department... hmmm wonder why. This administration is messed up, everyone works for the White House rather than the country. I am over all of them.

As for the whole Imus thing, I personally think he deserved to be fired for his choice of words. Yes there is freedom of speech, however there are repercussions for saying the wrong things... you can't yell "fire" unless its true, you can't incite riot, you can't speak anything untrue about another... without a consequence. The man is a radio talk show host... he is there to make statements that are edgy and controversial, this time it slapped him in the face. He chose to make disparaging comments about a specific group of women. These were not celebrities, nor professional athletes, that are used to opinions and rag articles being made about them. These are college students... come on already. It's not okay to excuse something done by one person just because some other group gets away with it. Wrong is wrong on both counts.

If I see one more "news" story about Anna Nicole Smith I am going to blow a vessel. This stuff isn't news, its crap. Hello people out there in journalism land... there are wars going on out there... i want to know what the hell is going on with that every day, not this schlock crap. The whole problem with this country is that its the armed forces that are at war and not the country... we haven't dedicated or geared our public system to wartime (like they did in WWII)... we aren't making any personal sacrifices (conserving gas, collecting metal, bandages, care-packaging, wartime industrials, war bonds to fund)... its almost beneath and beyond our notice... and inconvenience to our everyday run of the mill lives. We allowed our government to send them to these places and don't expect answers on what is happening to them everyday... what they are going through... we want to see the latest bit about paternity of an unfortunate baby.

Going to be heading to Florida for a couple of weeks in the May to take care of my cousin while my Uncle is away in the Phillipines. Last time he went, he left his brother in charge and things worked out badly. Did I mention that I hate Florida? Too hot, bugs, breathing like you're underwater with all the humidity... bleck

I think my car is starting to get on its last legs. Its a marathon now to see how long it lasts.

Posted by Ravennacht at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)

April 08, 2007

Posted by Ravennacht at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)

April 03, 2007

Another year older. Funny, but I don't feel any different now than I did when I was 21, 25, or 30.

Posted by Ravennacht at 02:24 PM | Comments (0)