Random Thoughts – Page 4 – In Brief Legal Writing Services

Eli says: take a breath, America

Posted on June 17, 2017 by alexb2448

This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

Eli hates it when I’m angry.

He doesn’t even like it when I raise my voice.

There’s no doubt about it.

Eli, the In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot. — In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic

He makes his feelings on the subject perfectly clear.

If I raise my voice for any reason, but especially in anger, he bites me. Repeatedly.

I don’t know why he does that, but I think it probably has a lot to do with the abuse he took before I adopted him. Or perhaps it was the violence that he witnessed…

At any rate, he has very sharp teeth, so it gets my attention. Believe me.

So perhaps I should turn him loose on the rest of the country. He could just go around biting anyone who’s yelling about something, or yelling at someone else, for that matter.

It would get their attention. Believe me.

On second thought…

But then again, that’s a huge responsibility for huge responsibility for one cat.

I mean, let’s be honest. It seems like everyone in America is angry about something these days. It seems like everyone is yelling. People are yelling on TV. People are yelling on radio talk shows. People are yelling on social media. People are yelling about politics, politicians, and anything remotely political.

And there’s only so much Eli could do. It would take him a long time to bite everyone.

So maybe it’s time to take a collective breath, America. And maybe it’s time to take a take a good, hard look at ourselves, our behavior and the way we treat others. Maybe it’s time to take responsibility for our actions, and our words. Because that old line about “sticks and stones” is a myth.

Words are incredibly powerful. Especially when everyone is screaming invective at the top of their lungs.

Some unsolicited advice…

For what it’s worth, here’s how I keep my temper in check online and elsewhere.

If I’ve got to vent I do it in private.
I repeat the following until I am calm enough to have a rational, civilized discussion: I am an adult. I am in charge of my feelings. No one has the power to make me feel anything. Only I can decide how I react.
If I see an offensive comment online, I count to 10 before I decide whether to engage, and how to engage with the person who made the offensive comment.
l remind myself to respect everyone’s right to their opinions, even if I don’t agree.
If all else fails, I take a deep breath and count to 10, and remember what my mother taught me at a very young age: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all…“

Yes, I’m still alive (and here’s what I’ve been reading…)

Posted on May 24, 2017 by alexb2448

Hi, everyone. Yes, I’m alive…

Sorry I’ve been away so long. But living and working in a renovation zone has been keeping me pretty busy. In other words, I have not had much free time.

In the spare time that I have had, I’ve been struggling to find activities that allow me to escape from all of the stress and horrors of, well… living and working in a renovation zone. So I’ve been binge-watching a few TV shows, borrowing movies from my local library, and reading whenever I can.

Yes, I love to read. In fact, it’s something that I’ve loved to do since I was just a little kid. And for as long as I can remember, I’ve loved books about animals. I’ve also been known to enjoy a good mystery or two.

Here’s what I’ve been reading

So with all of that being stated, here’s what I’ve been reading.

Right now, I’m about three-quarters of the way through Live and Let Growl by Laurien Berenson. And so far, I really like it. I don’t love it. But I really like it.

It’s part of the “Melanie Travis Canine Mystery” series. As such, it’s what would usually be classified as a “cozy” mystery, which basically means that it’s a “who-done-it” without all of the mayhem and gore. And right now, that’s fine with me. I’ve got enough chaos in my life as it its.

But back to the point.

One of the reasons I like it so much is because the protagonist is from Connecticut. So I can relate. The other reason I like it is because of the setting. It’s set at a dog show in Kentucky horse country. Dogs…horses…mystery…intrigue… what’s not to love?

And now for some recommendations…

Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten about all of my feline-loving friends out there. In fact, I’ve got some great recommendations for anyone who shares my passion for cats and books, or more specifically, cats and mysteries.

You simply must check out the Cat Who… series by the late Lillian Jackson Braun. This set of 20-plus books by Braun features an intrepid reporter (Jim Qwilleran) as the protagonist and his trusty Siamese sidekicks, Yum Yum and KoKo. Together they get in and out of their share of trouble while solving perplexing crimes.

Like Berenson’s books, these are “cozy” mysteries, so they’re suitable for readers of all ages.

Give them a try, and let me know what you think. Or you can share your thoughts about your favorite books in the comments section below. I’d love to hear about what you enjoy and the books on your summer reading list.

Life lessons I’ve learned from my cats

Posted on April 26, 2017 by alexb2448

Perhaps it’s the weather that’s making me feel so philosophical. Maybe I’m just tired. Or perhaps it’s just old age.

For whatever reason, I’ve recently been thinking not only about the values my parents instilled in me, but also about the life lessons I’ve learned from my cats. So without further ado and in no particular order of importance, here they are:

Forgive but don’t ever forget
Loyalty and respect must be earned
Trust is a precious commodity
So is unconditional love
When someone hurts you, take a breath, step back and evaluate whether or not your own actions prompted that behavior
Physical scars may fade with time, but emotional scars don’t
Compassion is not just a human trait
Persistence pays off
Sometimes you have to yell louder than everyone else in order to be heard
Every day is an adventure
Being really cute can get you out of lots of trouble
Being really cute can get you into lots of trouble
Never let anyone know how clever you really are
Never follow orders without thinking about it first
Let everyone else think they’re really smart
Annual checkups are highly overrated
Road trips aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be
Getting enough rest is super-important
So is friendship
Life can be really hard and scary sometimes…
But no matter what, you just gotta have faith that everything will be okay…

Life with a scary smart cat

Posted on April 15, 2017 by alexb2448

Official disclaimer: I am not a crazy cat lady. For one thing, I only have one cat. For another, I harbor no illusions that he is my “child,” and I do not treat him as such. Eli is definitely a cat.

Having said that, after living with him for more than nine years, I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s a genius. Seriously. This is one scary smart cat.

How do I know? Simple. Through personal observation, that’s how.

Anecdotal evidence

The other day for example, my 11-ish, (possibly) Birman/American Shorthair mix, was clearly looking for something when he came into the living room. He’d already eaten, but I knew there were some leftovers on his saucer and asked him if he wanted his “crumbs.” He promptly went to the spot where he usually eats, and didn’t find his saucer there. So he came and sat in front of me.

“Go on,” I told him. “Go and find your crumbs.” I didn’t point him in any particular direction. I didn’t tell him where they were. I simply told him to go find them. And he did.

In past posts, I’ve shared how I taught Eli to sit, so I won’t do so again. However, it’s interesting to note that while he does sit on command, he usually sits when he wants to. To me, this is a sure sign of intelligence. He thinks about it. If it’s in his best interest to plop his butt on the floor, that’s what he does. If he doesn’t feel like it, I can tell him to sit until the cows come home and it won’t make a bit of difference. Like I said, Eli is definitely a cat.

A few other things of interest:

If I tell Eli to go to his “number two person,” he goes to my mom.
If she tells him to find his “number one person,” he comes to me.
If I ask him to “show me out,” he goes to the door.
He comes when he’s called (if it suits him)

Room for debate

Of course, there’s always room for debate. And there’s been plenty of debate about just how intelligent our pets are. There’s been plenty of debate about how much they really understand, how much they remember and how much self-awareness they truly have.

Skeptics say that dogs and cats don’t really understand what we’re saying. They say that our pets only understand body language and tone of voice.

Personally I believe that our pets do understand those things. I know for a fact that they understand and appreciate the love and kindness that we share with them. As living, breathing creatures, they need those things.

Don’t we all?

Who says cops don’t have a sense of humor?

Posted on March 15, 2017March 14, 2017 by alexb2448

A pig dressed like a cop. Now there’s something you don’t see every day. Even in New York City.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a recent sighting of one generated a lot of attention. It even made the news.

Black and white photograph of New York Police Department barriers taken by Alexandra Bogdanovic — NYPD barriers. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic

As News 4 reported, the little pig spotted by the Apple Store in Soho “belonged to a young woman,” and its outfit “seemed fit for purpose, with utility pockets and identifying badge.”

Apparently some bystanders — including some of New York’s Finest, — enjoyed meeting the little guy.

Witnesses told the media that the NYPD officers “were amused by the curly-tailed member of the force.”

“They were all laughing,” one witness said.

“There were lots of people entertained by this little piggy.”

The letter of the law

It’s a good thing the officers had a sense of humor. After all, having a pet pig is against the law in New York City. It’s also illegal to keep sheep, goats and “most farm animals” as pets in Gotham. City regulations also prohibit the ownership of:

Venomous spiders including but not limited to tarantulas and black widows
Various monkeys and apes
Large/predatory birds
Various large and venomous snakes including vipers
Various types of lizards
Various reptiles and amphibians
Wild/predatory dogs and cats
Squirrels, racoon and bats
Venomous insects

In other words, you can’t keep a wild, exotic, or potentially dangerous animal as a pet in New York City. And with good reason.

Some people just don’t get it…

But some New Yorkers just don’t get it. Or if they do, they don’t care.

According to published reports, the city’s Health Department issued nearly 300 tickets to offenders in one five-year period.

Administrative judges preside in cases when New Yorkers accused of keeping banned pets choose to fight the tickets. And many do. But losing can be costly, with fines ranging from a few hundred bucks to a few grand.

Of course, we all have choices. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

How a New York story about a big bunch of bull ended badly

Posted on February 24, 2017 by alexb2448

If there’s one thing the NYPD is used to it is dealing with a whole bunch of bull. But this was different.

According to media accounts, a “rogue bull” that recently escaped from a slaughterhouse in Queens, N.Y., led cops on a “wild chase” that ended badly — for the bull.

Footage shot from a TV news helicopter showed just how wily and determined the bull was. Just when it seemed the police had him trapped, the bull managed to elude them. At one point, he dodged an officer who had “jumped atop an emergency response vehicle.” At other times, the bull showed its prowess by “ducking under yellow caution tape” as it “galloped down the middle of a street and onto a sidewalk.”

I suppose it would be a stretch to call it a “police-involved shooting.” But the animal, who evaded law enforcement and civilians during its mad romp through the Jamaica and South Ozone Park neighborhoods, reportedly had several tranquilizer darts in its flank by the time the chase ended.

The bull was alive when the pursuit ended in someone’s back yard. However, he died while he was being transported to an unknown destination. The cause of death was “not clear,” according to published reports.

The urban jungle

This wasn’t the first time an animal has given the NYPD a run for its money.

“Cows escaped slaughterhouses at least twice last year, in January and April,” according to media accounts. But I’m happy to report that one of those cases had a happy ending. The escapee got a second chance at life when it ended up at an animal shelter owned by comedian John Stewart.

“In December, a white-tailed buck who was granted a last-minute reprieve from euthanasia after a days-long back and forth between the city and state died in Harlem,” an NBC-TV affiliate reported. “The one-antlered buck died while state officials from the Department of Environmental Conservation were arranging relocation. The city blamed the state for its death; the state blamed the city.”

Leave it to a bunch of politicians to “pass the buck.”

Cats crash the party at Westminster Dog Show

Posted on February 20, 2017February 19, 2017 by alexb2448

Yes, this is probably old news by now. But I think it is such a significant development that it bears repeating. The domestic cats’ plans for world domination is finally coming to fruition.

Seriously.

How do I know?

Simple. In an unprecedented feat, a bunch of cats just participated in an agility competition — at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

“For the first time, felines sidled up to the nation’s premier dog show, as part of an informational companion event showcasing various breeds of both species. It included a cat agility demonstration contest, while more than 300 of the nation’s top agility dogs vied in a more formal competition,” a Connecticut-based NBC TV affiliate reported.

Cat agility at dog show yields mixed reaction

Apparently, this did not sit well with some dog lovers. To Hannah Naiburg of Milford, Conn., for example, the whole situation was just “so weird.”

Personally, I think anyone willing to enter their dog in an agility competition could show a little more flexibility. And some of them did.

Tina Ackerman of Goffstown, N.H., was perfectly fine with the idea of cats participating in agility competitions. Just as long as it’s not her cat.

“Good for them,” she said. “There’s no way we could ever have trained any of our cats to do agility.”

And the winner is…

When all was said and done, a rookie named Bemisu won the feline agility competition. And apparently, it only took her about half-an-hour to learn the ropes.

“I had no idea she would learn so fast,” said her owner Blake Gipson, who also has a pit bull. “She’s smarter than I ever gave her credit for.”

Bemisu’s success didn’t come as a surprise to Vickie Shields, who “helped organize cat agility as a sport” 14 years ago.

Contrary to popular belief, cats aren’t loners, Shields said. And because many cats enjoy chasing toys, training is also easier than most people think, she added.

It all depends on the cat

It’s a good point. After all, even house cats are predators. Their innate need to chase their prey is often manifested as “play.” So it makes sense that some cats enjoy chasing toys on an agility course.

However, I disagree with something else Shields said. She maintained that most cats “are often more motivated by chasing toys than getting treats.” I say it all depends on the cat. And I speak from experience.

When I first got Eli back in February 2008, he was obsessed with food. He was such a glutton that he would wolf everything down within a couple of minutes after I put it down. So in order to teach him patience and discipline, I taught him to sit.

You heard me. I taught my cat to sit.

Here’s how I did it: Whenever I put food on his saucer at mealtime, I told him to come and when I had his attention I held the saucer up in the air, so he had to look up at it. As he did, he naturally ended up in a sitting position. I reinforced all of this by saying “sit.” So he eventually learned to associate the word and his behavior with being fed. And the rest is history.

Today Eli sits on command (when he feels like it). He also comes when he’s called (when it suits him). He meets me at the door (sometimes). He also sleeps on my bed.

Yes, Eli is a very doglike cat. But he is a cat. And he’s awesome.

Crime and punishment

Posted on February 17, 2017 by alexb2448

So here’s a question for you.

How desperate does someone have to be in order to steal quarters from coin-operated washers and dryers? And how much do you think you could get?

Ok. So that’s really two questions. And yes, I am serious. Someone really did that.

According to published reports, Alisha Russell of Syracuse, NY, allegedly stole more than $14,000 worth of quarters from machines in an apartment complex in upstate New York. Russell, who once worked as the leasing agent at the complex where the thefts occurred was recently arrested on grand larceny charges.

Russell reportedly “had a key to the machines and regularly collected money from them as part of her job.” Police say she lost her job for unrelated reasons before the investigation into the coin thefts — which occurred over a 10-month period — began.

Hmm…

How much is that little doggy in the window?

In other news, a Long Island man was also arrested on several charges including grand larceny and identity theft last month.

Police caught up with Victor Franco, 23, after he allegedly used a fake credit card to buy a puppy from a Merrick, NY, pet store. And this wasn’t just any puppy. It was a French bulldog that cost more than $3,000. In fact, the grand total was $3,592.21.

At the time of Franco’s arrest, police said the dog “still hadn’t been returned” to the shop, and added that it would be returned if they found it.

Franco also stands accused of using a fake credit card to buy a cell phone worth more than $200.

What is wrong with people?

To summarize, two people in two different parts of New York were arrested on grand larceny charges after they allegedly committed two very different crimes.

In one case, someone allegedly stole $14,000 worth of quarters from coin-operated washers and dryers at an apartment complex in upstate New York. In the other case, someone allegedly used a fake credit card to buy an expensive puppy dog from a Long Island pet store.

All of which leads to yet another simple — but rhetorical — question.

What is wrong with people?

And on that note, have a great weekend everyone…

The last time someone built a wall…

Posted on February 11, 2017 by alexb2448

He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors’.
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
‘Why do they make good neighbors? Isn’t it
Where there are cows?
But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That wants it down.’ — Robert Frost, Mending Wall

Yes, there’s been a lot of talk about walls lately. Specifically, there’s been a lot of talk about President Donald J. Trump’s wall. You know. The one he wants to build along the border with Mexico. Yeah. That wall.

Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic

According to published reports, it wouldn’t actually be a “wall.” It would be “a series of fences and walls.” Depending on what you choose to believe, it would cost anywhere from $12 billion (the figure given by Trump before he was elected) to more than $21 billion (the figure quoted in a “U.S. Department of Homeland Security internal report”). Then again, it might only cost $15 billion (the figure provided by Republican leaders).

As proposed, Trump’s wall would also:

Take more than three years to build
Cover more than 1,200 miles
Supplement existing border barriers (covering approximately 650 miles)
Extend “almost the length of the entire border”

Here’s what happened the last time someone built a wall…

But everyone is getting ahead of themselves. Before anyone starts building anything, maybe they should stop and take a breath — and more importantly, take a good hard look at what happened the last time someone built a wall.

After all, it didn’t happen all that long ago. In fact, construction on what we came to know as the Berlin Wall began in August 1961. And, according to the blurb on history.com, its official purpose was to “keep Western ‘fascists’ from entering East Germany and undermining the socialist state.” But the fact of the matter was that it was also built to halt a refugee crisis — of sorts.

You see, the West Germans didn’t build it to keep people out of their country. With the Soviet Union’s blessing, the East Germans built it to keep people from leaving theirs. (For some reason, hardcore socialists and Communists didn’t like people fleeing from their warped version of paradise. Maybe 21st century leftists should take note — but that’s another blog topic for another time.)

The fact remains that in the summer of 1961, more than 67,000 people “defected” from East Germany by escaping through Berlin before the East Germans built their wall. By the time they finished building — and reinforcing — it, the wall was 12 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It was topped with an obstacle that was also designed to thwart escape by anyone brave or lucky enough to get that far.

Some who tried to escape after the wall was erected didn’t live to tell the story. But over the years, thousands of people (approximately 5,000 in all) were successful.

As we all know, (or as we should all know) the Berlin Wall — the wall that divided east and west throughout the Cold War — “fell” in 1989.

Now, less than 30 years later, there’s a lot of talk about another wall. Trump’s wall…

“And before I built a wall, I’d ask to know what I was walling in or walling out, and to whom I was like to give offence…”

Just saying.