Drive-Bys

This is one way of making sure no one gets caught plagiarizing in the future. What were their parents thinking when they allowed this suit to go forward?
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Well if this isn't the kiss of doom for Obama's campaign, I don't know what is.

Drive-Bys

Here's a three-fer:

You Follow Your Head

You're rational, collected, and logical. Generally, it takes you quite a while to fall in love. In fact, you've even been accused of being very picky. While you're cool, you're not ice cold. You just know what you want, and don't mind waiting to get it.

Do You Follow Your Head or Your Heart?

(Blame that one on LadyGunn.)

You Are 50% Passionate, 50% Compassionate

You possess an ideal balance of passion and compassion. You definitely can get swept away and lose your head a little. But you're rarely a fool for love!

Is Your Love Style Passionate or Compassionate?

Yup.

You Are 77% Grown Up, 23% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature. Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed. [At least before you've had a couple of cocktails, that is.]

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

Nice to know I'm so consistent.

Traveling Companions

The Divine Miss Marilyn wants to know if anyone's heard from Gigolo Kitty or his Devoted Mistress lately?

(If he doesn't come back soon, she's dumping his plushy tushie for a couple of Meezer Boys who are paying her handsome compliments these days...)
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But seriously, I am concerned. It's been months. If anyone hears anything, please drop me a line.

Traveling Companions

The Divine Miss Marilyn wants to remind you that it's Tummy Tuesday. Go visit Lisa Violet for links to more fuzzy feline tummies!
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If you haven't already stopped by, go visit this week's Carnival of the Cats at Scriblings.

PSA

Was your pet affected by the Menu Foods tainted pet foods? If so, you may want to join in the class action suit filed against Menu Foods.
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P.S. -- Whatever you do, don't do this. That's disgusting. Stupid, too.

Chartered Excursions -- Blown-Eyed Blodgemeet

Got your ticket yet? I'm telling you, this is one fun group of people, and it will make for an unforgettable weekend.

It's an interesting mix of folks I've already met, folks I've been dying to meet, and a few that I probably wouldn't have stumbled across except through a meet like this.

I'm so excited!
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See! El Cap knows me and proves it right here! Is it any wonder I love this guy?
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El Cap? These two styles are probably the closest I could find on a quick Google search to what I'm looking for. Fit, color and the rest of that stuff will all come together in the boot store. It's a visceral thing.

Drive-Bys

If you're not reading the Ambulance Driver, you have no idea what you're missing. Like this post that had me laughing so hard I cried.
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Have your high blood pressure meds handy when you read this. The sad part? I can't even say, "Unbelievable!" Because it is believable. Damn.

(This makes me want to jump on the first plane to Florida and hug the Princess Mom.)
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"He said he had a problem," Tennant said.

Ya think so?

"We were kind of concerned about how to match up bras and panties with victims," Tennant said.

"Would you really want them back?" he asked.

Um... NO.
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I know exactly how spontaneous human combustion works. It happens when you read stuff like this and your head bursts into flames.

There is no place in the blogosphere where behavior like this should be acceptable. NO PLACE.

(And a tip of the cap to Richard, who provided that perfect metaphor.)
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It's nice to see there are some good men out there who are willing to do the right thing by stepping in to help. Kudos to the guys with the spade!
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Drive-Bys

Sweet home Chicago: If it walks like a crook and talks like a crook... you think it might be... hmmm.... a duck?

Speaking of bad apples in the ranks of the CPD, I think Second City Cop has a very valid point, and, as my Greek friend Christos always says, "A fish stinks from the head down."

I'll tell you something interesting about all this -- if the John Gorman mentioned here is the same one I used to have cocktails with (along with a posse full of other folks, but many of them ASAs), then he's a standup, highly ethical guy, and SSC really is correct.
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She's doing fine? She's worth over $20 million buckaroonies, and I bought a better wig than that with my babysitting money in 8th grade. Somebody get that girl to a good wig maker, would you? One that works with human hair?

Gah! Talk about tacky!
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Holy moley! This sounds like Jimbo's worst female nightmare come true!
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Future Darwin Awards winner, wouldn't you say?

PSA

Aloysious reports that seventy-two more pets have died from tainted pet food.

The cause is poison. Tainted Chinese wheat is the culprit.

If you feed a sliced food in gravy to your cat or dog and you haven't already gone to the Menu Foods website to make sure the stuff on your shelf is not affected, do it right now.

Here's more info, received in an email from the CEO of PetSmart:

Dear Valued PetSmart customer:

As you have probably heard, Menu Foods, a national manufacturer of pet foods, issued a voluntary recall of canned and pouched wet dog and cat food manufactured in two of its facilities between December 2006 and March 2007. Again, this is a recall of a specific type of wet pet food made by Menu Foods. Other wet pet foods and all dry pet food and treats are not impacted by this recall.

Menu Foods initiated the recall after receiving reports that some of its foods may be the cause of reported illnesses and kidney failure in dogs and cats. Menu Foods distributes these products to supermarkets, mass merchandisers and pet specialty stores, including PetSmart®, under a variety of brand names.

Click here to see a complete list of PetSmart products that are part of the recall, as well as their respective UPCs (also referred to as the bar code). The bar code can be found on the product label; the UPC is under the series of bars. As a reminder, the items listed are the only items that PetSmart carries that have been affected by the recall.

In the meantime, we have pulled all recalled products from our store shelves and have a process in place to help ensure they're not restocked or distributed in any way. The brands and products currently on our shelves are considered safe.

If you have purchased any of the recalled items, you should discontinue use immediately. We recommend you contact your vet if you have any concerns that your pet may have been affected. Symptoms may include:

1. Vomiting (this is usually the first sign)
2. Refusal to eat
3. Fatigue
4. Abnormal increase in water consumption
5. Abnormal increase in urination

If you're interested in finding out more about what kinds of tests vets recommend to make a diagnosis, click here.

Additionally, if you are looking for a recommendation for your unique pet food needs, please visit our Smart Nutrition Selector on our website. Or, if you need additional assistance while in the store, feel free to ask an associate. If you know of any other pet parents that are in search of more information, please share this with them.

If you have food that is a part of the recall, you can bring it back to PetSmart for a complete refund. Or, we'll exchange your items with any dry food or alternative canned or foiled pouched wet foods that we have in stock.

Please remember, this recall affects only specific wet pet food items. All dry pet food and treats are not impacted by this recall.

We also encourage customers with concerns or questions to contact any of the companies listed below:

Authority – 1-866-738-7375
Award – 1-866-738-7375
Eukanuba – 1-800-882-1591 (www.eukanuba.com)
Grreat Choice – 1-866-738-7375
Hills/Science Diet – 1-800-445-5777 (www.hillspet.com)
Iams – 1-800-882-1591 (www.iams.com)
Menu Foods – 1-866-463-6738 (www.menufoods.com)
Mighty Dog – 1-800-778-7462 (www.purina.com)
Mixables – 1-303-768-8400 (www.varietypetfoods.com)
Nutro – 1-800-833-5330 (www.nutroproducts.com)
Sophisticat – 1-866-738-7375

At PetSmart, we're very concerned pet parents too, and we will do everything in our power to help. Please visit PetSmart.com for the most up-to-date information. If you have any additional questions about the Menu Foods recall, please call our Customer Service line at 1-866-738-7375.

Sincerely,

Philip L. Francis
Chairman & CEO, PetSmart, Inc.

What a mess.

Traveling Companions

The Divine Miss Marilyn...

... puts on a bit...


... of a peep show. Surprise!
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Don't forget to stop by...

• the Friday Ark at the Modulator;
• the Carnival of the Cats, hosted by Scribblings this Sunday evening;
• Weekend Cat Blogging at I Got Two Shoes; and,
• the Cat Blogosphere.

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Update: Sorry if you didn't get the photos the first time. Blogger's being really wonky, so I deleted the old photo files and re-uploaded.

Bus Fumes

This story just gets thuglier and thuglier. Second City Cop isn't pleased, either.
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Looks like the Duke Lacrosse players are finally going to be off the legal hook. What the hell took so long?
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Speaking of Second City Cop, here's the quote of the day:

There's a reason the fire trucks and ambulances have those great big freaking sirens on them - that's a damn heavy piece of equipment flying down the street. And after the push for "Pull to the Right for Sirens and Lights" we've noticed citizens failing to do so once again recently.

There's no reason for things like this to happen. Just pull the hell over when you hear sirens, dammit!

Drive-Bys

I know it'll get better, but WHEN???

(And a tip of the cap to Akira O'Connor for the fabulous image.)

Bus Fumes

What kind of a man sits on his ass for a full minute before he gets up to stop the asshole who is beating this female bartender???

As bad as it sounds on paper, be sure and watch the video.

I don't know what offends me more -- the drunken fool beating the woman, or the pansy-assed idiots who just sat there and watched.

I am pure-D disgusted with the bunch of them.
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And if that's not enough to make your head explode, how about this:

"Children in the back seat lowered suspicion, (so) we let it move through, they parked the vehicle, the adults run out and detonate it with the children in the back," Barbero told reporters in Washington. "The brutality and ruthless nature of this enemy hasn't changed."

Dear Lord!

Traveling Companions

The Divine Miss Marilyn hoists the ballet leg. Feel the burn, indeed.

Drive-Bys

Doggy dementia -- who knew?
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And you wonder why I find animal rights nuts so distateful... not to mention downright dangerous?
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You Are 59% Burned Out

You're fairly burned out, and it shows. You probably have been feeling a little rundown and irritable lately. If you can, drop a few of your minor responsibilities and focus on what's really important. You have too much on your plate, and it's catching up with you.

Are You Burned Out?

Yes. It has been that kind of week.

(A tip of the cap to Maranda, who's more burned out that I am.)
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I rarely pimp a product... but I'll make an exception for this IQ Derma product. I took them up on their try it for a month deal, and am happy to report that this stuff works. It's worth every penny.

(But don't bother with the under eye concealor or the mascara. They're crappy. Just get the eye junk. You'll thank me for this tip.)

Traveling Companions

The Divine Miss Marilyn is a sucker for Tummy Tuesday and adores Lisa Violette.
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If you haven't already stopped by, go visit this week's Carnival of the Cats at Pet's Garden Blog.

Drive-Bys

This article filled my head with the sound of Old Crankypants laughing his ass off.

"We're all gonna die!" Indeed.
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All I can say is, "Huzzah!" (Well done.)
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Not taking things too seriously was what got that idiot Tank Johnson some jail time in the first place. Sheesh!
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Play the "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" Game here.
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Now who'da thunk the Manolo would point me towards a site that would be of keen interest to these two guys? That just boggles the brain.

(Heh! And Contagion thought he was done blowing all his hard-earned cash! Let's just see him resist the siren song of one of these doo-hickies. Or one of these.)

PSA

If you are a dog or cat owner, please stop and read this important dog food/cat food recall announcement.

Dogs and cats are dying from this. Don't let this happen to your animal because you didn't take a few seconds to read on!

Here's the AP article that came out Saturday:

Dog, Cat Food Recalled After Pet Deaths

Saturday March 17, 7:32 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A major manufacturer of pet foods sold throughout North America under dozens of store names is recalling millions of containers of its products while working to determine what caused kidney failure and some deaths of cats and dogs.

Menu Foods said Saturday it is recalling dog food sold under 46 brands and cat food sold under 37 brands and distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The pet foods were sold by major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates is available from the Menu Foods website, . Consumers with questions can also call (866) 895-2708. http://www.menufoods.com/recall

"At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened," said Paul Henderson, the company's president and chief executive officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6.

The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Co., Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, Henderson said.

The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

P&G announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.

Menu Foods' three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J., Henderson said.

Henderson said the company received an undisclosed number of owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure in dogs and cats after they had been fed its products. It has tested its products but not found a cause for the sickness.

"To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product," Henderson said.

The company alerted the Food and Drug Administration, which already has inspectors in one of the two plants, Henderson said.

Menu Foods is majority owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.

Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.

Yikes!

Drive-Bys

Mimi Smartypants pointed me towards this Koala tale that'll ensure that you never think the little boogers are cute and cuddly again.

After you stop roaring with laughter, that is.

Traveling Companions

The Divine Miss Marilyn...

... said to tell you...

... that she's glad it's Friday, because she'll have my lap all to herself for a couple of days. (As it should be.)
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Don't forget to stop by the Friday Ark at the Modulator.

The Carnival of the Cats will be hosted by Pet's Garden Blog this Sunday evening.

That's not enough?

How about Weekend Cat Blogging at I Got Two Shoes?

The Cat Blogosphere?

C'mon. Get your fur fix.