Not much exciting to report, honestly. I got to spend some time with my family today, especially my nephew and niece, the videos are in a previous post. The afternoon Circus show was great, as always. I was excited because I got to feel my pregnant friend Lindsey's twins moving around at one point. After the show, I headed home. John made dinner while I unpacked and then I headed to bed. It's been pretty quiet here at work tonight, thank goodness.

http://www.metafilter.com/83210/First-select-your-species-to-access-the-correct-section-of-our-website

28 years ago they came to Earth. Explore the world of District 9. Consider a career with Multi-National United. Find out about enhancing your math skills with DNA from outer space. Play the game. And learn the truth behind the lies.

http://www.metafilter.com/83211/Web-10-Style

Mr Googfan's Website of Random Shit - by rights, a home-built website created to document a precocious little kid's scientific experiments should be terrible, but somehow this is full of win. Flame-thrower, night vision, magnetic levitation, 50kV voltage multiplier - he must have some rad parents.

http://www.metafilter.com/83209/The-Death-of-anjool

After a client complained about his posting "I am hot, I am hot" on a financial website, Anjool Malde -- a hard-partying young banker from a small town in the UK who tweeted as @anjool -- went to a high-end London restaurant in a stylish suit, ordered champagne, and jumped off the balcony to his death.

http://www.metafilter.com/83208/Dangerous-trap-high-difficulty-map-and-unexpected-situation-wait-for-you

Holdover is a difficult but compelling exploration platform game. Marie must escape from an abandoned scientific research installation, with no assistance other than recordings left by her father decades ago. Makes extensive and very good use of the "hold your breath" mechanics found in many such games. Available both in Japanese and bad English. A more reasonable English translation can be downloaded from the IndieGames weblog and dropped into the game's folder.
Has some nudity and a little blood. Recommended for ages 15+. Maps and Japanese-language walkthroughs can be found by clicking "Capture" on the Holdover home page.

So my parents are having trouble with my dog Guinness. He is very close from being banned from our local dog park due to complaints.

Before I explain the whole situation, he's a year and four months old, he's a Newfoundland/Flat Coated Retriever Mix, and lives with three other dogs, whom he has no aggression towards at all. All four of our dogs are spayed and neutered. We have a female black lab, a male doberman and a female english shepard who is his best friend. He been socialized since he was a puppy when we got him at four months and has been going to dog parks and beaches once a week since we got him.

He has never been aggressive with children, my parents, my siblings, and never with the dogs he grew up with except for minor squabbles over toys.

The past few months, he has been EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE at the dog park. He has to be on a leash now when he's there. Before, when he was around 8 months to a year, the only dogs he ever went after and the only dogs that ever went after him, were male unneutered Boxers. But a couple weeks ago he started a fight with a smaller spayed boxer, a spayed whippet and a neutered Australian Shepard who he knows very well.

Today, one of his frequent friends, a small husky mix went to play with him and he went after her with no warning at all. And it's like he goes from ZERO TO SIXTY within seconds. One minute he'll be happily sniffing and the next he's going crazy trying to attack. Teeth bared and everything. Since he is so strong, the only person who can handle him at the dog park is my step-dad.

We don't know what happened to him, or what's wrong with him that's making him snap on certain dogs. There's no similarity between the types of dogs he's going after so it's hard to know what he should stay away from, or what we should let him close to.

Basically what I am asking, is there anything that may be wrong? Ever had a dog that acted like this before? Any advice?

I'm looking for some sort of lead to go off of to figure out why he may be doing this.

AND SO THIS ISN'T A WALL OF TEXT, HERE YOU GO~:

(  mostly Guinness because he's the easiest to take pictures of!  )

FUN FACT: 3/4 of my dogs are named after Irish Alcohol! Guinness and Murphy are beers and Bailey is well...Bailey's Irish Creme. Chloe isn't an Irish Alcohol, but it is an Irish name! :3

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=231547&title=jason-jones-behind-the-veil

Jason Jones plays "Jihad Walking" in Iran and America to find out which country knows more about the other.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=231545&title=governor-mark-sanford-is-missing

Where does Mark Sanford fall on the "Our Governor Has Wandered Into the Woods, How Worried Should We Be" scale?

http://www.metafilter.com/83207/Because-it-is-bitter-and-because-it-is-my-heart

From these various anthropological approaches, a basic dichotomy has emerged between two types of societies from very different ecosystems: societies born in rain forests and those that thrive in deserts.... Begin with religious beliefs. A striking proportion of rain forest dwellers are polytheistic, worshipping an array of spirits and gods.... But desert dwellers... are usually monotheistic. Of course, despite allegiances to a single deity, other supernatural beings may be involved, like angels and djinns and Satan. But the hierarchy is notable, with minor deities subservient to the Omnipotent One. This division makes ecological sense.... Desert societies, with their far-flung members tending goats and camels, are classic spawning grounds for warrior classes and the accessories of militarism.... Rain forest cultures also are less likely to harbor beliefs about the inferiority of women; you won’t be likely to find rain forest men giving thanks in prayer that they were not created female, as is the case in at least one notable desert-derived religion.... (Previously, previously, previously)

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/uclick/calvinandhobbes/~3/cAqUfwG3O-Y/437912

Calvin and Hobbes for Monday, July 13, 2009

Photographrer unknown. 30 years of 20 century
( +1 800х530 )

Говорит вот что:

«Не знаю, хорошо или плохо, но жить мешает. Всю жизнь жалею всех вокруг, даже тех, кого вроде и не полагается. Причем постоянно нахожу внутри себя причины, по которым я вроде как в чем-то виновата.

Ужасно жалею людей, которые работают невидимками-вахтёров и операторов турникетов. Мне все время кажется, что это ужасно тяжело-быть никем в течение всего рабочего дня, когда тебя никто не замечает, никому нет дела ни до твоего недовольства, ни до твоей улыбки... Думаю, в такой сфере работают больше от безысходности и от отсутствия других вариантов, чем от намеренного нежелания общаться. постоянно испытываю перед ними стыд-не в моих силах изменить их жизнь к лучшему.

Жалко промоутеров. Люди смотрят, ходят и говорят даже не мимо них, а сквозь. Они стоят у переходов метро с листовками и вроде как что-то предлагают, но их лица выражают просьбу-возьмите, ну пожалуйста... Какая-то душераздирающая виктимность.
Тоже почему-то стыдно перед ними, хотя я как раз-одна из немногих, кто вечно ходит с полной сумкой рекламок всякого говна вроде криотерапии, типографии эконом-класса, распродажи детской обуви и т. д., чтобы выкинуть это все дома, без палева для промоутера.

Ужасно жалею недалёких людей, которые считают себя умными, но их мнение на этот счет никто не разделяет. Я не говорю, что у меня сверх-интеллект, но есть вещи, которые для меня лежат на поверхности, а для этих людей они просто непостижимо далеки, если они вообще подозревают об их существовании.
Перед ними я чувствую себя виноватой в том, что не обладаю способностью объяснять простые для своего понимания вещи.

К чему отнести эту пургу — к состраданию, к излишней эмоциональности, к сочувствию или к жалости — донт андерстенд. И надо ли с этим что-то делать — тоже не знаю».

Slake has been really playful, so cute.


( More )

http://www.metafilter.com/83206/What-she-thought-she-knew-a-love-story

What she thought she knew.

In Baltimore now for 2 weeks training. First flew to New York. On flight from NY to Baltimore, I sat next to 2 models going to a German catalog photo shoot. The model next to me said her life was not like that shown on Tyra Banks's show. It also was the smallest, most cramped plane we all had ever taken---maybe 8 rows of seats. "It isn't like on TV," she said, "or else we wouldn't be on this plane." ;p

She was my seatmate, very tall, black, and originally from Detroit. She started modelling right after college, when her friend had invited her to go to an agency. They hired her right away. Her first job was the J.C. Penney catalog.

Also, she and her friend were "plus-size models." They looked totally normal, healthy, and thin to me. I was shocked at what is considered "normal-sized."

http://www.metafilter.com/83205/The-wane-in-veins-draining-the-brain

A quiet revolution is taking place in the multiple sclerosis community. Long thought of as purely an autoimmune disease, possibly secondary to Epstein-Barr virus infection or even an STI, MS has never been pinned down to a single cause. Now things are changing, in a big and bloody way: MS appears to be related to abnormalities in veins.
In December 2008, Italian researchers reported that the vast majority of 65 MS patients studied, and none of the 235 controls, had significant abnormalities in the veins draining the brain. While it's too early to conclusively identify this as the cause, rather than an effect, of MS, patient forums have been abuzz with talk of this discovery and the ensuing positive experiences of MS patients who have had stents placed to alleviate venous stenoses.

Of course, no new discovery would be complete without word from the non-conventional medical community. The proponents of Inclined Bed Therapy -- raise the head of your bed by six inches, cure all ills! -- are already using this news as justification for their claims.

http://www.metafilter.com/83204/Ten-new-wind-turbine-designs

Ten new wind turbine designs. Curious, grotesque, sculptural, beautiful, utilitarian.

I'm still gardening in zone 7 Mississippi though things have been very hot and very dry though there's a chance of some rain tonight, so I'm hopeful. Along with my first major gardening effort, I'm keeping a spreadsheet of what I've harvest to date. So far it's been fun. It's allowed me to see what's really doing well, so I can plan better next year. Grape tomatoes are doing better than anything else. I've harvested 204 of them. If only everything were doing as well.


( how most everything else is doing )

So we went to the vet today, and got pretty good news coupled with bad news. It turns out that his heart failure is not related to the crazy case of hookworms he had last month (recap- I found him in a parking lot half dead  and covered with ticks about a month ago) so unfortunately he will be taking 3 meds 2x daily for the rest of his life. the vet said he could die tomorrow or live for several years. He also can not have the surgery to remove his undescended testicle, and the vet advised me not to put him through a vaccination schedule right now. The good news is that he is now worm free and has gained FOUR pounds! yay!  Everyone was talking about how amazing he looks and how much he's improved, and I am so glad that we decided to keep him. The vet said that because of his heart failure that he will lie around and be sluggish, to which I replied "I Wish!" This dog needs ritalin and a padded room. He bounces off walls, destroys toys, and yesterday ate an gold birthstone necklace. He's crazy active, and you can't tell anything is wrong. Anyway, last month I promised photos once he starts looking better, so here goes.....( Heeeeeere's Charlie )

What would you pick for your first marathon?

#1:
14th annual Indianapolis Marathon (indianapolismarathon.com)
On October 17th
About 100 feet of elevation variance.
Ends on an uphill
Described as "very hilly or very flat; depends on your frame of reference"
Doesn't have pace groups (as far as I can tell)
The timing fits in perfectly with my training
I don't know anyone else doing it

#2:
2nd annual Monumental Marathon (monumentalmarathon.com; also in Indianapolis)
On November 7th
about 100 feet of elevation variance
Finishes on a downhill
Described as "flat"
Has pace groups
The timing fits pretty well with my training
I have 2 friends doing it, but neither of them are my pace.

These are the two kitties who live at Mountain Spirit Center, a Korean Zen Buddhist temple in the mountains of Tehachapi, California.

( Gami and Brownie )

http://www.metafilter.com/83203/Pope-American-News-at-11

Caritas in Veritate (summary here), Benedict XVI's third encyclical, hit the presses last week and made it into Obama's hands on Friday. Part of a large body of Catholic social thinking, Benedict called for a United Nations "with teeth" (maybe it could happen) and a focus on authentic human development, grounded on a focus on the whole person and an economics governed by love.
From the right:

George Weigel: Ignore the Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace behind the curtain... (see also, parodied already)

Deal Hudson: Encyclical reconciles Catholic left and right

Rick Garnett: Take seriously encyclical's truths about the human person

Fr. Robert Sirico: Just economies come from just people

From the left:

James Martin, SJ: Catholic social teaching's economic third way

Thomas Reese, SJ: Benedict sounds "like a union organizer"

Drew Christiansen, SJ: Encyclical represents the best of a "both/and" theology reconciling faith and reason

David Gibson: Pope is more liberal than Obama

From left field:

David Gibson: Are social encyclicals binding?

John Allen: Indiana firm gets "thumbs up" from encyclical

Rocco Palmo: How do we translate "caritas" anyway?

Bonus: Market Economics and Ethics by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, for the particularly theologically inclined.

I've been needing to get back into exercising again. Well, today I went out and bought my new pair of running shoes! I've been needing a pair for quite a while but since I was preggo I didn't bother getting them because I wanted to make sure that I didn't buy a pair of shoes and then them be too big for my feet after the swelling went down.

I'm planning on starting the Couch-To-5K Program again tomorrow morning - this will be my third time - with one completion and a 5K race and the other a partial go. Most likely I will just run around my complex or on the treadmill at the complex gym, with the occasional outing if I get bored or am able to run with my husband or whatever. There just really isn't any good place to run around my apartment without having to drive somewhere.

My husband is planning on running a half marathon in November and will be training Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, and Sun and I will train Mon, Wed and Fri for my 5K. I'm thinking I will do the Addison Oktoberfest 5K on September 19th. The CK5 program is 9 weeks long so by starting tomorrow I give myself two extra weeks for those times that I might need to repeat a week, which I am sure I will need to do. I picked this race because it is close to when I should finish the C5K program and because the race is so close to my house I have no excuse not to go. And it allows strollers which is great since we will most likely have to take one if not both kids.

I'm excited about getting back into the swing of things. I'm just hoping that this heat doesn't kill my enthusiasm. I know that there will be nights that are bad (especially with a7 week old) and I will not want to get up and run the next day but I'm going to try really hard to do so. I know that by running, even on the bad days, it will make my days better eventually.

I don't plan on running with music. In the past I've found that it's a bit more distracting, especially when I'm having to keep up with my schedule times of walking and running. I might run with music when I can actually run a 5K and not have to worry about keeping up with my time but I'm not sure. I know that a lot of races do not allow headphones and I sorta agree with their reasoning - I've actually been run over while running by someone not paying attention because they were running with headphones. And besides, you if you are running anywhere where there is traffic you wouldn't be able to hear a thing unless you kept the music really low and honestly, what's the point in that? Music is meant to be listened to loudly. :-D

On the days I am not running I am going to at least get a walk in and if I can manage I will try one of the yoga DVD's I have at home. And plenty of stretching and plenty of water (especially since it is so darn hot here and I am nursing).

Also, if there is anyone in my area that would like to get together on occasion to run that'd be great. Only, I'm slow. :-) I live in Far North Dallas, TX near Keller Springs and the Dallas Tollway.