h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A friend of mine has an ex-racing greyhound. An amenable creature, extremely laid back. As you said, it needs to run like hell once a day. Shirly brought Checkers over to my back garden for exercise, and Gretta was very pleased to have a playmate. She thinks she's pretty fast, but you should have seen her face when they came round the corner of the house to a straight run and Checkers put the pedal to the metal. She stopped dead and watched in astonishment.

And then when he was finished, the greyhound flopped down, spent. So maybe not a country dog. I would expect a dog who likes to chase things to get home by itself.

Plus, they are indifferent to watchdog duties. I'll certainly go to the SPCA for Dog #2, but #1 will have to be a known quantity.

Talking about inbred beasts, I see bonny Prince Charles has donated 500,000 pounds towards a fund that helps relieve financial suffering by Brit farmers during the current Foot and Mouth plague.

Jolly good show Sir.

My two dogs, Lucy and Mocha, are mutts from the pound. Lucy is a lab/ aussie shepard mix, and she is incredibly smart, totally loving, and can find her way home from anywhere. Mocha, as mentioned before, is a chesapeake bay retriever/ chocolate lab mix, and if you are ever around small children, this is THE dog to have. She is so mellow!

Then again, that's just my .02, so what do I know?!

How is everyone?

Doing brill thanks, but quiet nights now that my good preggers lady heads to bed at an early hour.

When do you head off Lil?

Could I have a Scotch please, Matina. Thanks.

Good call eatsmice

Well now having seem 2001 on the big screen it was great. I must say I had forgotten how little dialogue there is in it - for a 2.5 hour film. Seeing those opening sequences with a big curved screen and good sound system really did make it. The final sequence to infinity was a big headrush, though I still must say I don't quite understand the very final bit where he grows old and is reborn - must read the book for that bit I guess.

i've got a pug.

he's a purebred (read: a bit dim-witted) but he's terribly loveable and he has NEVER bitten anyone. even if he did, he's got the tiniest, dullest little teeth, i doubt he'd do any harm.

i swear, that dog has been accidentally stepped on so many times, most of the time he doesn't even make a sound in complaint. he's wonderful with children... although occasionally (since he's natural, aka unfixed) he tends to get a bit... er... /excited/ around people with noticeable body odor. *shrug* i don't know why... he just does.

he's a wonderful watchdog as well... and a reliable doorbell.

mailman doesn't like him much, though. something about barking too much.

I'm glad we're having this conversation about dogs, cos I'm learning a lot!

I'm going to New Mexico on a short reconnaissance trip and to attend an historic photo workshop in Lincoln, the weekend with 12 May in it. I should add, it is the photos which are historic, not the workshop. Anyway, if all goes well, I should be well-organised for digs. Having a destination may make the final move easier!

marv, I can well understand how you feel about dobies. They don't give over. Even now, Gretta tests me. Being the alpha entity is a constant fight.

No constant struggles in my house. My rabbit knows that he can push me a pretty good distance, but he also knows that I'm the only one willing to give him food, water, and a clean cage once in a while.

I've just come to a startling conclusion about myself. The majority of my biggest interests are "cult" interests, if you will, most of which have a background with a kind of "rags to riches" story. Here's a list just off the top of my head.

Zork-Best selling computer game series of all time; started in the basement of MIT.

Interactive Fiction-Same success, similar beginnings.

Mystery Science Theatre 3000-One of the most popular shows that can still be said to have a "cult following." Started out on a UHF station in Minnesotta, ended with its own movie, book deal, and a very succesful contract with the sci-fi channel.

HHGTTG-I'm sure that you're all familiar with the success of this story/book/radio show/TV mini series/upcoming movie/computer game (see Infocom above); started with DNA thinking "If only I had a hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy, so that I could leave this planet," while lying in a field, somewhat drunk.

Commander Keen-Another very popular computer game series, no longer in production; Made by two programmers who stayed at work late one night after realizing they had stumbled onto a new kind of programming.

"Weird Al" Yankovic-Arguably the most succesful novelty song writer of all time; started when his parents purchased an accordian w/lessons, and after he parodied the Kinks' "My Sharona" with his now classis song, "My Balogna."

Practically all of my biggests interests are not things that came up slowly, as opposed to with a lot of marketing flair, but instead things that generally start in someone's garage (not counting my interests that have been around for centuries, or even millenia, such as my religion, or chess).

I think I need to start a TV show. I'll broadcast it from my garage, and enjoy making something that practically no one will know about. I've already got a short mini-movie in the first stages of production. Maybe I can base it off of that...

BTW, back on the subject of dogs, a close relative of mine is considering getting one. Because I would most likely see this dog multiple times over the course of any given two month period, what calm, easy going dog might I suggest?

is that REALLY how the HHGTTG was dreamed up?!?!

i highly recommend pugs, but due to their price, i'd recommend going down to the local animal shelter and picking out a nice mutt. no inbreeding to worry about, and they cost next-t--nothing. sometimes they even have puppies.

Gracias, Sea.

*As he quietly mocks the moderators...*

lol. de nada...

Lil, My problem with dobies is one of fear. When I was a child my aunt had a pair of police dog school dropouts and one of them attacked me unprovoked one day. I was nowhere near her or my cousin when she jumped on me trying for my throat. Had my father not been there I might not be here. I have had a dim view of the breed since. I do know that not all of them are mean or agressive but I still shudder when I am near them. I have been on speaking terms with a doberman only once since. That dog was a nice one but stupid as a brick wall. My all time favorite dog was Dudley, a half wolf half husky who was the smartest anmial I have ever lived with.

Evening all, I am off to the graduation ceremony for a friend.

Marv

Kelpies rule, OK

¿Estamos hablando en español?

Hoke mi

[Kasia]

I remember when I was up in Alaska for summer vacation. There was a guy in Ketchican with one those half wolf sled dogs. That dog was MASSIVE! The guy was using a towing chain for the dog's leash. From the size of the animal, I don't think it minded at all.
BTW, All Hail MST 3K.

Oh yes. That was also the most beautiful dog I've ever seen. The Half Wolf, not MST 3K. As if you couldn't guess...

Dudley had a tow chain for a leash as well. He broke it. And yes, that combination is a very attractive one. Huskies are only slightly removed from Wolves anyway.

Marv

[P] - Can't really contribute to the discussion on dogs cats or other pets as he's never had one.