eagles -- for shame!

LET THE DOGS OUT ... DON'T WE WISH THIS PHOTO WERE TRUE??
I can't believe how low the Eagles have stooped. Michael Vick? Are you kidding me?
How about bringing T.O. back to join him?
Vick is beyond being a low life and Eagles fans should show their outrage by staying away in droves.
The sad thing is, of course, they won't. Even sadder ... lots of people think Vick is great and the only thing that matters is winning a football game.
Maybe they would like to read this column we ran at The Reporter recently.
Or look into the eyes of a defenseless animal...

====

Down with dog killer Vick

Some people just cannot wait for dog killer Michael Vick to return to professional football. The only thing this inter-species sadist deserves is universal derision.

Let’s recap exactly why the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded guilty to running a dog-fighting ring, earning him 18 months in federal prison and house arrest until July 20.

Vick helped kill eight dogs and injure dozens of others. According to his federal court filings, “Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts of (co-defendants Purnell) Peace, (Quanis) Phillips and himself, Vick.”

Other legal papers detail Vick’s anti-canine savagery.

In a Statement of Facts related to his Aug. 17, 2007, plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Richmond, Virginia, Vick’s co-defendant Quanis L. Phillips (a.k.a. “Q”) admitted that “In or about April 2007 ... (Purnell A.) PEACE (a.k.a. “P. Funk”), PHILLIPS and VICK executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well in ‘testing’ sessions at 1915 Moonlight Road by various methods, including hanging and drowning. All three participated in executing the dogs. PHILLIPS agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts of PEACE, PHILLIPS and VICK.”

The July 17, 2007, federal indictment against these three degenerates states that their dog-killing methods also included electrocution and “slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.” The indictment added that on April 25, 2007, the following items were discovered at Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennel: “...approximately 54 Pit Bull Terriers, some of which had scars and injuries, appearing to be related to dog fighting (and) a ‘rape stand,’ a device in which a female dog who is too aggressive to submit to males for breeding is strapped down with her head held in place by a restraint...”

Dogfights, dog rapes and dog executions — all in a day’s work for Michael Vick.

It might be one thing if Vick were out carousing with friends on a Saturday night, drunkenly stumbled into a dogfight, and foolishly threw down a $20 bet on one dog or another. That might qualify as “a mistake,” as Vick breezily described his role in this carnage.

It is quite another thing to organize these things on one’s own property, and for profit.

Nonetheless, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally reinstated Vick. He may practice immediately and could play by Oct. 18.

While the souls of these dead pups look down in disgust from Doggie Heaven, Vick’s apologists sing his undeserved praises.

Responding to reports that Vick faces a four-game suspension before resuming play, Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens said: “The guy’s already suffered so much. And to add a four-game suspension on a two-year prison sentence, that’s ridiculous.” He later told ESPN: “The commissioner needs to go sit in jail for 23 months.”

As USA Today reported, Owens recruited other footballers to support Vick via Twitter. Their rampant errors of grammar, spelling and syntax are preserved here for posterity:

“im in support of mike vick too man,” wrote Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. “I wanna c him back in action being the human highlight file he is. Im with ya bro.”

“Never heard him complain or wine,” remarked Minnesota Viking tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. “Let the man play.”

“He did time and lost his shoe deal,” pleaded Cardinals defensive end Darnell Dockett. “Dear Commissioner please reinstate mike vick.”

Having completed his prison sentence, Vick is even-Steven with Uncle Sam. Now the private sector must address this man’s evil.

Vick does not deserve any prestigious position of visibility, glory, or adulation.

Any team that hires this dog killer should be boycotted by dog lovers and decent people everywhere, as should that team’s sponsors. If he ever enters an athletic venue, he should be booed off the field, out of the stadium, and beyond the parking lot.

Rather than resume his multimillion-dollar sports career, someone somewhere should hand Michael Vick a mop.

Deroy Murdock is a columnist with Scripps Howard News Service and a media fellow with the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace at Stanford University. E-mail him at deroy.Murdock@gmail.com.

stupid man, poor dog

Stupid people seem to abound in this area, and this morning's award goes to the guy driving the white utility/pickup truck down Allentown Road, then turning onto Wambold Road, about 6:45 a.m.
Yes, you... the one who had what looked to be a black Lab in the back of your truck. I followed you out of Elroy and the poor dog kept trying to keep his footing among the various items and boxes in the back of your truck. I couldn't tell if you had a leash tied somewhere... not that that would matter.
What do you think would happen to this poor pooch if you had to stop quickly or were in an accident?
If you don't want the dog in the truck with you, leave him at home.
Obviously the dog is a lot smarter than the human in this scenario. Too bad he couldn't drive and leave the guy in the back, sliding from side to side.

triplet fawns???

I had a pleasant surprise this morning when I looked out my bedroom window. A small fawn was slowly walking past, obviously heading to where I put seed out for the birds.
I moved to get a closer look and saw another fawn. Ah, twins, I thought. Then I saw another one. Figuring the moms must be close by, I got a different vantage point. But there was only one mom, eating the bird seed, as expected. I looked around a bit, assuming I'd see another ... but there was none.
So, could these be triplets? Or perhaps this deer was just baby-sitting for a friend.

Ummm... what do you think?

OK, I breastfed my daughter a million years ago. But this doll... well... the whole concept seems a bit creepy...
Here's some info:

Spanish toy manufacturer, Berjuan, has introduced Bebe Gloton, supposedly the first-ever breast-feeding doll. Translated Baby Glutton, it comes with a halter top for the doll's owner to wear. The top is adorned with two daisies, strategically placed. When the doll is near the flowers it makes sucking sounds.

dang, I missed it!

Somehow, I forgot all about tuning in Monday night to see the return of "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Or is it "Jon cavorts, Kate fumes, kids run rampant"?
At any rate, it seems we are not going to be spared, the family still is going to get all sorts of gifts and now there is a kitchen remodeling going on in their huge home, so Kate heads off for a vacation with the kids.
Just like in real life.
In case you want to catch up, here's an Associated Press story to help you:
=======
Reality TV mom Kate Gosselin says she feels a sense of peace after making the decision to separate from her husband, Jon.

So should fans of "Jon & Kate Plus 8," who may have fretted that this family-oriented reality show would be jeopardized by the co-stars' estrangement. For better or worse, the TLC series is as warm and fuzzy as ever, if two new episodes that aired Monday are any indication.

The episodes marked the end of a hiatus that began in June, when the Gosselins revealed to a huge audience of 10.6 million viewers their decision to split. The TLC network said then the couple needed time to "regroup," an odd word choice for partners in a broken marriage.

But having regrouped, the show is now focusing, as before, on everyday family activities with the couple's eight kids (5-year-old sextuplets and 8-year-old twins) — even if their mom and dad are "separately parenting" (another TLC term).

With a kitchen renovation project under way at the Gosselins' Pennsylvania compound, Kate fled the chaos with the kids for a beach in North Carolina. Jon stayed home to oversee the construction.

"It's kinda strange," Jon said. "We're remodeling our kitchen in the middle of our separation."

He added, "The decision to have the kids at the beach and me at home gave us a break to think about what we need to do as parents for our kids."

Then, when Kate and the youngsters returned home, Jon had taken his leave.

"This was my first official turn with the kids," Kate said. "It didn't feel very much different. It just felt more like the future."

Kate supervised a camp-out for the kids in the yard.

"This is a very, very difficult time right now," she told the camera from her interview chair, a change from the couch she and Jon had shared on the series in the past. "But my main goal is to make this transition as easy and painless ... for the kids as possible."

As co-stars of TLC's biggest hit, Jon and Kate also have been magnets for the tabloid press since their marriage began to crumble.

But "Jon & Kate" fans (and TLC) needn't worry about scandalmongering from the outside world. The show still tells its own squeaky-clean story. The show's opening still has Jon declaring, "It might be a crazy life," and Kate chiming in, "But it's our life."

On "Jon & Kate," it's almost as if nothing in life had changed.

fond memories

“Back when I was a kid....”
That’s the phrase that makes every young person cringe. I know, I used to feel the same way in the days of my youth.
But as a boomer, I find myself saying that more and more. And I’m sure there are lots of people cringing every time I do.
Hey, at least I’m cognizant of the fact.
Really, though, I find it both fun and a bit comforting to lose myself in those days of yore every now and again.
And when the early days of August roll around, I always find myself thinking back to the years I spent in 4-H, since the annual 4-H Fair is held at this time.
This year is no exception. Montgomery County’s 4-H Fair runs Aug. 6 through Aug. 8 at the center in Skippack, and when I read the press releases they send it immediately takes me back.
Of course, “back when I was a kid,” there was no 4-H Center or pole barns or horse show rings or ... Well, you get the point.
For many years, we had our “round-up,” as it was called back then, on the grounds of the Worcester Elementary School. There were so many exhibits that some of them also had to be housed in the Farmers Union Hall at the edge of the school grounds.
Tents were put up as shelter for the large animals and as “show” areas for them. Other projects were displayed in the school.
Growing up on a small farm, I always had Jersey dairy animals, and other 4-H projects included chickens, pigs, flowers, vegetables, geology, entomology and the like.
Of course the pig round-up was held in the beginning of September at what had been the Hatfield livestock auction. Because there was no actual “ring” to show them in, cars and trucks were parked tightly together to fashion a makeshift show area.
Ah, yes, we had all the latest amenities.
But no one cared. The 4-H program was huge and it was a time when there were still lots of farms in the area. When I was in the dairy club, for example, we had three different clubs to accommodate all the members.
And when you stood in a line for the “fitting” contest with your animals — to see how well you had washed, clipped their hair, cleaned their ears and otherwise “manicured” them —it seemed to take forever for the judge to make it to your spot.
We had so much fun back then. The 4-H activities included roller skating at Menlo Park in Perkasie, hayrides, Halloween parties, trips to Penn State for competitions, late nights at district and state animal shows —and yes, a lot of work.
But it was all worth it. And it sure beat today’s obsession with computer and video games.
There’s so much I haven’t even mentioned, like the never-to-be-forgotten week in Washington, D.C., filling out “blue forms,” helping the younger kids as a teen leader, “liberating” that sign from the Farm Show building dorm that reads “No lights or alarms before 5:30 a.m.,” washing cows at 4 a.m., learning how to milk, searching for fossils at Deer Lake or coming back from a hayride and trying to explain how all that straw got stuffed down inside my clothes.
Hey, it was all good clean fun. Honest.
My days in 4-H have left me with lasting memories. I hope the “kids of today” are experiencing the same.
And don’t forget to check out the fair next week. It may just spark some memories for you, too — or prompt you to get your kids enrolled in a great program.