Did you know that you no longer have to be at home to feed your pet? Or that you don’t need to rely on a pet sitter, relative, friend or neighbor to feed Mittens or Fido if you’re away? It’s true.
Apparently there’s an app and a special food dispenser that will do it for you. But only if you have a Mac, iPad, iPhone or similar device. And only if you’re willing to spend more than $100 for the feeder.
In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
On its website, the company that makes the product lists all sorts of reasons why buying it is a great idea. But personally I am not convinced.
Sure, I think it’s a great alternative for pet owners who have to work late once in a while, or for those who have to travel occasionally and don’t want to pay a friend, neighbor, relative or pet sitter.
Do I think it’s a good idea to rely on Internet technology to feed your pet all of the time? Absolutely, positively not. Frankly, if you’re not around enough to feed your cat or dog a couple of times per day, you probably shouldn’t have one.
A recent article in The Daily Dot proves my point. Apparently, the servers crashed — leaving the pets that rely on the technology for food without any. The reporter that wrote the story didn’t interview any pets that were affected, but I imagine they weren’t very happy. Judging by a copy of a social media post (tweet) included in the story, I think its safe to say the pet owners whose dogs and cats were affected weren’t very happy, either.
I can’t say whether the company’s claims that the server crash was unusual and that it was working to prevent similar failures reassured those who were affected. But I can say that I’m not impressed. I told Eli about the whole ordeal, and he’s not too impressed, either.
The bottom line is that our companion animals rely on us for only a few things: shelter, food, healthcare, and love. It’s really not asking too much. And in return, we get more love and loyalty than we deserve.
“And I thought hedge fund guys were the only ‘reptiles’ slithering in and out of Greenwich on Metro North.”
So I came across a really interesting article in the Connecticut Post yesterday. I mean it. It was really cool.
Apparently a Harvard researcher has determined that “non-native Italian wall lizards” are making themselves at home in Greenwich. And he has a fairly outrageous theory about how they got here.
He says they might have taken Metro North. Seriously. Check your calendars. It is not April 1. Then click the link above if you haven’t done so already. Yes, the story is legit. I wouldn’t kid you about something like that.
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
But back to the matter at hand. This guy claims a bunch of these little critters have been living in The Bronx for a while. And then, for reasons known only to them, they decided to move. Since they can’t drive and it would take forever to walk, I guess they decided to hop some northbound commuter trains to explore life in the suburbs.
“It’s a really nice expressway for them to travel distances,” Colin Donihue told the Post. “Those little guys move pretty fast.”
Can’t you just picture it? Dozens of little creatures — resembling miniature versions of a certain gecko of insurance advertising fame — riding the 6:37 p.m. local? And I thought hedge fund guys were the only “reptiles” slithering in and out of Greenwich on Metro North. Cue rim shot…
But in all seriousness, Donihue says the wall lizards probably followed the train tracks — which afford protection from predators, warmth in cold weather and shade in warmer weather.
Donihue has reportedly observed 15 to 20 lizards in some yards and estimates there could be up to 1,000. Determining how far off the beaten path — er track — they went will help him refine the estimate.
He is also trying to determine if they have made it to Stamford yet.
Personally I doubt it. I live just steps away from the New York State line, and I can see the Metro North train tracks from my house. But, no, I haven’t seen any Italian wall lizards in my yard.
That does it. In my next life, I’m coming back as my own cat. Seriously.
In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
I’ve officially decided that human beings are definitely overrated. Just look at everything that’s happened lately. We’ve had cop killings, terrorism, mall shootings, nightclub shootings, and train attacks carried out by ax-wielding maniacs. And then there’s the collective insanity otherwise known as presidential politics.
Yes, humans are overrated. We think we’re so special because we have opposable thumbs and souls. We also think our ability to reason sets us apart from other animals. Well, for such an intellectually and technologically advanced species, we sure are screwing things up a lot. And for some strange reason, we seem completely incapable of learning from our mistakes.
Yes, people are overrated. And life is complicated.
Don’t get me wrong. Life isn’t necessarily easy for American dogs and cats, either. As much as we love our pets, the sad reality is that there are millions of unwanted animals in the United States. According to The Humane Society of the United States, more than 2 million “healthy, adoptable” dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters every year. The organization estimates that is roughly one every 13 seconds.
Yes, you can chalk that up to human stupidity, too.
But my cats were lucky. We got Tiger from family friends when they moved to Saudi Arabia; if we hadn’t taken her, she would have been left outside to fend for herself. Heals was a stray. A co-worker found her wandering in the neighborhood and took her in, but couldn’t keep her. If I hadn’t taken her, she would have ended up in the local pound. And Eli — my sweet baby boy — my “pit bull in a cat costume”– he was a pound cat with an attitude when I adopted him. I hate to think what would have happened if I hadn’t chosen him.
Today, I don’t think there’s a cat on the face of the earth that has it better than Eli. Eli is spoiled rotten — and he knows it. His chief concerns are when he’ll get breakfast and dinner. Beyond that, his only worries are whether he’s got enough kibble and whether his litter boxes are clean (yes, he has more than one). Oh… I suppose he also worries about being hauled off to the vet, having his claws clipped and how long it will take one of us to figure out that he wants to go out on the deck.
He does not have to worry about being abused or being abandoned. He’ll never have to worry about being neglected. In other words, he’s got a pretty good life — and he knows it.
This is so embarrassing. I mean, I really hate to admit it…. but I guess I should just go ahead and get it over with. So here goes nothing…
I’m not perfect.
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
I know, I know. No one is. But I hold myself to ridiculously high standards. I always have.
So when I see a typo in a blog (or anything else I’ve written for that matter), I get pretty mad at myself. I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s embarrassing. It’s actually humiliating — and in my line of work, it can also be very costly.
Think about it — I provide writing and editing services for attorneys — so who on earth would want to hire me if they scrolled through my website and found a whole bunch of mistakes? Never mind, that’s a rhetorical question.
Perhaps I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, though. As I said earlier, we all make mistakes. And usually I catch and correct my typos pretty quickly. That in itself is pretty remarkable considering how our minds tend to play tricks on us when we are rereading our own copy.
Yes, I usually catch my bloopers straight away — but not always. Sometimes it takes a few hours — and sometimes it takes longer. It all depends on whether I read the material aloud as I am writing it, or if I am reading it to someone else after the fact.
One would think that the spell-checker (is spell-checker hyphenated?) or proofreading tool on a computer would help prevent the inevitable gaffes, bloopers, blunders and faux pas. Think again. These tools will help catch some spelling mistakes. They’ll help reduce grammatical errors. But the bottom line is, if a sentence with a mistake in it makes sense to the computer, the computer won’t even notice there’s something wrong.
Trust me. I speak from experience. Plenty of experience.
At least I know why I goof. Sometimes I forget to delete a word when I’m reworking a sentence. Sometimes I forget to delete unnecessary punctuation, as well. Sometimes, I realize that I’ve been using the passive voice (which I hate), but forget to change all of the language when I switch to the active voice. Sometimes I make mistakes when I’m overtired and sometimes my fingers just work faster than my brain. And let’s face it. Sometimes I’m just sloppy.
As I said earlier, no one is perfect.
Of course it would probably help if I let someone else edit my work. Another set of eyes is supposed to help. But I can’t afford to hire anyone right now and even if I could, I doubt I’d let them have editing privileges.
Yes, I’m a little bit of a control freak — especially when it comes to my writing. But as I said earlier, no one is… Never mind. I’m sure you get the point.
And anyhow, a second — or even a third — set of eyes doesn’t always help. I say this as someone who worked at newspapers for more than 20 years. Mistakes would often go unnoticed — even when we had editors and copy editors to review copy before the paper went “to bed.”
“Collectively we all felt like a bunch of asses afterwards…”
On one especially memorable (and humiliating) occasion, my editor wrote a headline for a story about local beach pollution and the consultants hired to assess the situation. Only no one noticed that he left the last “s” out of the word “assess” until it was too late. Collectively we all felt like a bunch of asses afterwards…
Yes, that pains me to this day. But at least we weren’t alone. You can read about some real doozies here.
Hopefully I won’t make any terrible blunders — but if that does transpire, I am counting on you, my small but loyal band of followers, to let me know. All I ask is that you do so nicely. After all, we are all in this together.
You can also let me know how you feel about typos in general. Do you struggle with your own mistakes? Do you get upset when you see mistakes in other people’s copy? Share your thoughts in the comments section below…
Phew! The s–t storm that the landscapers were creating in my yard just ended and I can finally hear myself think. More importantly, Eli feels safe enough to come out of hiding.
To me, the tree shredding machine in use for the better part of an hour sounded like a jet engine on steroids. I can only imagine what it sounded like to my cat. All I know is, the second that racket started, he tried to dive under the bed. When he discovered there wasn’t any room there, he sought refuge elsewhere.
In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
Lately I’ve been wishing I could hide under the bed. Not that it would solve anything. But given recent events in Dallas and Nice and Baton Rouge — and current events in Cleveland — I just need a break from all of the madness.
My faith in humanity is taking a beating. My moral outrage is almost spent. I can’t cry anymore. I’ve had it. I’m pooped.
Fortunately, I found some stories that have nothing to do with cop killing, terrorism, or presidential politics. Since I’m exceedingly generous — and since we can all use some good news at this point, I’ve decided to share links to my favorites. In no particular order, here they are:
In California, Ventura County Animal Service just got a big grant from the Petco Foundation. According to published reports, the agency will use it to fund a program that helps people keep their pets. You can read more here.
A new study just identified some really cool pets for people who want something other than a dog or cat. Of course, getting one might be a little tricky. Find out why here.
Eli hates going to the vet. And to be honest, I hate taking him there. If you and your pet feel the same way, “mobile pet care” could be the solution. Read this to learn more.
A large donation will allow a New York State humane society to help people who can’t afford to feed their pets. Read more here.
I hope this lifts your spirits or makes you smile. Maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem, after all.
Greenwich, Connecticut is pretty special. There’s no doubt about it.
Nestled along Long Island Sound, it is a (relatively) short drive or train trip from New York City. Home to 60,000 people (give or take a few) the Town of Greenwich is composed of several distinct neighborhoods — including Greenwich itself, Old Greenwich, Cos Cob and Riverside. Within Greenwich itself, there are several colorful enclaves including Belle Haven, Bruce Park, Byram, Pemberwick, and Glenville (to name a few).
While its economic and cultural diversity is surprising to some, Greenwich nevertheless ranks among the wealthiest communities in the country. With its share of yacht clubs, golf clubs, restaurants and shops, it’s the perfect playground for movie stars, TV stars, Broadway stars, professional athletes, New York power brokers and their trophy wives (or girlfriends).
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
Speaking of shopping, Greenwich Avenue — a huge hill situated in the middle of the central business district — is home to some of the best. It is also has another unique feature that sometimes results in an interesting (but somewhat predictable) brand of lawlessness.
You see, Greenwich Avenue is one of the few remaining places in the country where police officers direct vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Yes, instead of traffic lights or stop signs at the intersections of Greenwich Avenue and its side streets, you will find real, live police officers. At least, that’s the case most of the time.
Through the dead of winter and dog days of summer, Greenwich police officers assigned to “The Avenue” man their posts six days per week. Without them, who knows what kind of mayhem would ensue? People probably wouldn’t be able to figure out that you can’t drive up Greenwich Avenue. They’d also be risking their lives while trying to cross the street — but then again, they do that now.
Yes, the scofflaws had a field day at the Greenwich Sidewalk Sales last weekend. With their sense of entitlement on full display and their cell phones in hand, oblivious pedestrians strolled through the intersections as if the cops weren’t even there. Needless to say, the cops — who were working even though it was 90 degrees with at least 40 percent humidity — weren’t exactly happy about being ignored.
“Really,” one said as a few pedestrians strolled into the path of oncoming traffic.
Some of his colleagues were more vocal than that.
Eventually, even I’d had enough.
“Hello,” I said to one group of jaywalkers. “The police officer is here for a reason. He is not standing in the middle of the road for his health. How about paying attention next time?”
The crowd ignored me. The cop smiled. And if nothing else, I got the last word.
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about my friends lately — and with good reason. Most of them are cops.
I’ve known a lot of these guys for at least 12 years. I’ve known some of them longer than that.
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic
Having said that, I must admit I wasn’t happy about getting the cops and courts beat when I started working at The Greenwich Post back in 1996. In fact, it was the last thing I wanted. I was so upset I cried. But I did my job. I didn’t love it — but it was OK.
When a new reporter joined the staff, I happily handed her the police beat. And it was only when I no longer had the job that I learned to appreciate it. With no pressure, I started doing some features on the Greenwich Police Department and getting to know everybody there a lot better. From that point on, covering cops was all I wanted to do.
In 1999 I left the Post to work at a weekly newspaper in Westchester County. And that’s when I got a chance to cover not one but three different law enforcement agencies. Two of them are pretty small and the police beat in those communities was pretty tame. And then there was the PCPD.
The Port Chester Police Department is pretty small, too. But because it serves a more urban, densely populated and ethnically diverse community, let’s just say that writing about crime there was often… challenging. Believe it or not, it was fun, too.
A lot had changed by 2003. The publisher had sold the newspaper where I had actually enjoyed working in the summer of 2001. The new owners were…. well, the less said about them, the better. So in January 2004, I moved 300 miles away from home to join the staff of what had once been one of the best suburban newspapers in the country.
I had a five-year plan when I moved to Warrenton, Va. But for various reasons I ended up staying there for more than eight. The cops in the law enforcement agencies I covered there became friends. And because I had moved to Virginia alone, without knowing anyone, they also became my surrogate family. That didn’t mean I compromised my objectivity, though. If anything, it made me work even harder to make sure my “journalistic integrity” remained in tact. (You can stop laughing now. It does exist — and I did have it.)
Having said that, there was one time when I almost lost it. It was December 29, 2009. I had just brought Eli home from the vet, and was making lunch when I heard a court deputy’s voice come across the police scanner. “Officer down! All units! Shots fired! Officer down!”
At first I thought it was some sort of drill. But I didn’t waste too much time thinking about it. I set the land speed record from my house to the courthouse, where a bank robbery suspect awaiting a hearing made a desperate bid to escape. He stabbed one deputy in the face and then used his first victim’s gun to shoot another deputy who intervened.
I arrived at the Fauquier County Circuit Court building to find the scene had already been secured. No one objected when I joined a K-9 handler on the perimeter and snapped some photographs of one of the victims being loaded into an ambulance. Long before the D.C. media arrived on the scene, I learned that perpetrator was quickly subdued and that both deputies — one of whom I knew pretty well — were expected to make full recoveries.
It was a very, very close call.
I think about that day every time I hear about a police officer being hurt or killed in the line of duty. I say a silent prayer for the victim(s) and their families. And then I thank God it was no one I know.
I think about my friends every time I hear about a law enforcement officer being hurt or killed in the line of duty. And then I say a prayer that they’ll all stay safe. Because they have husbands and wives and boyfriends and girlfriends and children and parents who would be destroyed if anything happened.
And then I think about the thugs and criminals who prey on innocent, law-abiding citizens and the cops who are sworn to protect them. And then I say a prayer that they’ll be brought to justice — even though I know that seldom happens.
Frankly it makes me sick. But not half as sick as I feel when I listen to President Obama and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio making baseless and ignorant comments that fuel anti-police sentiment. Thanks largely to their anti-law enforcement rhetoric, people like alleged Dallas sniper Micah Johnson think it’s perfectly okay to declare open season on police.
Now I will never deny that there are some really bad cops out there. There are plenty of racists and bullies in uniform — there is no doubt about it. They make me sick. And yes, Mr. Obama, they should be held fully accountable for their actions.
But what about the thugs and gangsters and criminals who routinely target honest, decent, hard-working cops in law enforcement agencies across the country? What about all of the people in this country who want to kill cops just because they’re cops? What about them, Mr. President? What about them?
It’s been less than a week since alleged Dallas gunman Micah Johnson killed five police officers and injured seven in a hate-fueled rampage.
I’ve heard some people are angry because they don’t think some of you’ve said enough about the tragedy. Personally I think you’ve all said too much. And every time you open your mouths, things get even worse.
Memorial Day Wreath. Warrenton, Va., 2011. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
So please do me a huge favor. Just be quiet.
The immediate aftermath of a national tragedy is not the time to promote your personal and political agendas. Please show some respect. Give the victims’ families the time and space they need to grieve before you start pontificating about racism, gun control or any other relevant issue. There will be plenty of time to talk about that later.
Please remember that it’s not always about you — and that most of us couldn’t really care less about what you think.
I seldom agree with New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, but as he said when Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton reportedly approached him in the wake of the Dallas shootings:
“Our interest is staying out of the politics of the moment, and not to provide photo ops,” Bratton said. “If Mr. Trump wants to speak to me, I would be happy to brief him on what we’re doing. If Sen. Clinton wants to speak to me, I would very happy to brief her on what we’re doing. But we are not in the business of providing photo ops for our candidates.”
Perhaps you should all take the hint.
But if or when another tragedy befalls us and you feel compelled to say something about it, please consider the following suggestion:
My fellow Americans,
In the wake of the tragedy that has befallen our nation, it is understandable that you should seek comfort and reassurance from your elected leaders. Please know that we are monitoring the situation and will do everything within our power to ensure the safety and security of all of our citizens.
Because this is an ongoing investigation, we are refraining from any comments about the incident itself at this time. We respectfully request that the media directs questions to the appropriate authorities. We also request that the media respects the victims’ families need for privacy….
Thank you for your time and consideration with regards to this matter.
If just half of the information that has surfaced about alleged Dallas cop killer Micah Johnson over the weekend is true — and I do stress if because I would really rather not get sued — one thing is for sure. This was a sick, warped, twisted young man.
“We’re convinced that this suspect had other plans and thought that what he was doing was righteous and believed that he was going to make law enforcement and target law enforcement, make us pay for what he sees as law enforcement’s efforts to punish people of color,” Dallas Police Chief David Brown said in published reports.
Brown also said that recent police shootings that claimed the lives of black men in other parts of the country prompted the rampage that injured seven law enforcement officers and killed five. When police tried to convince him to surrender after the shooting, the alleged gunman indicated he wanted to kill even more police officers, Brown added.
NYPD barriers. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
If that’s not twisted, I don’t know what it is.
It’s also sad. Very sad. But in all honesty, it’s not surprising — because that’s what hate does. The ugliness hardens your heart. It messes with your mind. Before you know it, you’ve been consumed by it — and there’s no going back.
Now, some of you may be wondering what a middle-aged, middle class white woman from Connecticut really knows about hate — or discrimination for that matter. Trust me. I know plenty.
If I had a dollar for every misogynist comment I heard while working as a police reporter, I would be independently wealthy. Every time I got upset, one of the guys asked whether it was “that time of the month.” Every time I showed any emotion, one of the guys said it “must be a woman thing.” I had a strict rule about dating guys in the agencies I covered. I never did it. Ever. But if you think that stopped the “locker room talk,” think again. I guess it’s just the price I paid for being “one of the boys.”
As if all of that wasn’t bad enough, I never made as much as my male colleagues. And my male bosses — who were easily intimidated by an assertive woman — routinely treated me like garbage. Not that I put up with it at all.
But yes, I know a few things about gender discrimination.
I know a few things about hate, too. Back in the 1990s, my father received death threats because of his ethnicity (and a Letter to the Editor he sent to The New York Times). Things got so bad we had a wire tap on our phone and FBI agents in our house.
I was the one who answered the phone when one guy called and asked for Dad. When I asked what he wanted, he said something about a furniture order. When I told him (in no uncertain terms) that I had no idea what he was talking about, he told me to “tell that effing Serb his coffin is ready.”
Yes, I remember that phone call to this day. And yes, I know a few things about hate.
I also know we all have choices. Ultimately we determine how we react to discrimination or hate. We can choose violence, or we can find another way to defeat those who are determined to bring us down.
Some of the greatest men in history found another way. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Nelson Mandela. Mahatma Gandhi. All three suffered. All three fought for what they believed in. All three advocated for change through nonviolent means.
I’m not exactly a “sit around the camp fire and sing Kumbaya” kind of girl. I don’t agree with everything these men espoused. But I do believe we should all strive to follow their lead.
Because at the end of the day, hate begets hate. Violence breeds more violence. And nothing will change.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen. By that definition the Dallas shooting that claimed the lives of five law enforcement officers and injured seven others on Thursday night was an act of domestic terrorism. Whether anyone in the Obama administration cares to admit it or not.
It was also a hate crime. Whether anyone in the Obama administration cares to admit it or not.
As defined by federal statute, “hate crime acts” include those in which someone “willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion or national origin of any person…”
According to published reports, Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, was allegedly responsible for the Dallas carnage. He reportedly expressed the desire to “kill white people, especially police officers.” Johnson, who police killed during a standoff after the shooting, was apparently motivated by “recent fatal shootings of black men by police elsewhere in the United States.”
NYPD barriers. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic
In other developments, authorities in Missouri are now investigating what might have prompted a motorist to shoot a police officer during a traffic stop on Friday.
The suspect, identified as Antonio Taylor, 31, had reportedly been stopped for speeding. Then, for unknown reasons, the “routine” traffic stop took a tragic turn. Harrowing images captured on the cruiser’s camera, show the officer speaking with Taylor and returning to the police car. Taylor can then be seen approaching the patrol car, where the officer appeared to be doing paperwork. Without any visible provocation, Taylor fired three times, critically injuring the officer.
Police arrested him a short time after he fled the scene in his car and tried to avoid capture on foot. Taylor, a convicted felon, is now facing several charges including assault on a police officer in what police have described as an “ambush.”
Meanwhile, Tennessee authorities are also trying to determine what prompted a recent shooting spree that killed one civilian, and injured two others. A police officer was also hurt.
According to media accounts, the suspect hit a civilian when he allegedly fired through a hotel window on Thursday, and then targeting vehicles on a nearby highway. Lakeem Keon Scott, 37, who is also accused of firing at responding police officers, was also injured when they shot back.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, a preliminary investigation indicated that Scott “may have targeted individuals and officers after being troubled by recent incidents involving African-Americans and law enforcement officers in other parts of the country.”
When all is said and done, I am sure the authorities will identify the motives for these attacks — but they’ll never be able to provide a satisfactory explanation. It’s impossible — because there’s simply no cause for such hateful behavior. None whatsoever.
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