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Life with a scary smart cat

Posted on April 15, 2017 by alexb2448

This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

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.

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

“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?

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.

For pet owners, this is a matter of life and death

Posted on January 25, 2017January 25, 2017 by alexb2448

As many of you know, Eli, my best friend and the mascot here at In Brief Legal Writing Services, had a couple of health scares last year. In fact, it was roughly a year ago this week that he had surgery to remove a small (and thank goodness relatively benign) growth on his back.

With that being stated, I am happy (and relieved) to report that Eli’s most recent vet visit (for his annual checkup and shots) resulted in a clean bill of health. You see, I love him more than life. And even though he’s 11 and I know he won’t live forever, the thought of him getting really sick scares me to death.

And frankly so does this.

According to a recent CNN report, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has announced that certain skin cancer creams that prevent or fight the disease in people can be lethal for our pets. Specifically, the FDA is warning the public about creams that contain fluorouracil or 5-FU. Common brand names are Carac, Efudex and Fluoroplex.

The FDA issued the warning after learning about five cases in which animals died after swallowing the cream.

“In one case, a playful dog punctured a tube of fluorouracil cream. Within two hours, the animal began vomiting, experienced seizures and died 12 hours later,” CNN reports. “In another case, a dog ingested a tube of the cream. Though the owner rushed the dog to a veterinarian, who immediately began to treat the animal, the dog’s condition worsened and after three days, the owner deemed it necessary to euthanize the pet.”

Because even a small amount can be deadly, experts are advising pet owners to store the cream in a place where their animals can’t get at it, and to discard it properly when it’s no longer needed.

Additional precautions are warranted. Specifically, the FDA recommends “patients safely discard or clean any cloths or applicators used when applying the cream.” The agency stresses that “it’s also important to make sure clothes, carpets, floors and furniture contain no creamy residue. Hands must also be cleaned after using the cream.”

Most importantly, experts urge pet owners who must use cream containing fluorouracil to avoid contact with their pets after they’ve applied the medicine. This is especially crucial for dog owners, whose animals are likely to lick the areas where the cream is typically applied.

“Immediately consult a veterinarian if a pet becomes exposed to the medicine or begins to vomit, have seizures or show other signs of illness,” the FDA warned.

This story is guaranteed to make you smile

Posted on January 18, 2017January 19, 2017 by alexb2448

If this story doesn’t make you smile, you don’t have a heart. Or you maybe you do have one… and it’s made of stone.

Apparently a little girl, untainted by cynicism, bitterness, skepticism, anger, or any other emotions that typically cloud adult minds, has decided to “share the love” with law enforcement officers across the country.

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

As reported by a local NBC TV affiliate in Mobile, Alabama, Rosalyn Baldwin embarked on her mission after “learning about the heroic and sacrificial efforts of many law enforcement officers.” Specifically, Rosalyn, age seven, decided to “offer hugs to all the law enforcement officers that crossed her path.”

So far, her plan to hug law enforcement officers in one major city in every state is off to a good start. In addition to Mobile, she has hugged law enforcement officers in Louisiana and Mississippi.

“Law enforcement officials say they’re thankful she has a heart to spread love to everyone,” Mobile TV station WPMI reports.

During a recent visit to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the deputies got hugs, and “officially hugged by Rosalyn” stickers to mark the occasion. In return, they gave her some souvenirs to remember them by.

As it stands, it’s a lesson none of us should forget. After all, in a world so full of hate, it’s amazing what a little bit of love can do.

Bad news for ‘professional’ bloggers

Posted on January 13, 2017 by alexb2448

As a blogger, I’m one in a million. Or perhaps a billion.

Back in 2013, I started a personal blog in order to promote my memoir, Truth Be Told: Adam Becomes Audrey. Two years later, I launched my business, In Brief Legal Writing Services, and created this site in order to establish a digital (virtual presence). I also started this blog in order to promote it.

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

As it stands, I’m glad I did. I happen to enjoy writing about the law, animal advocacy and related issues.

Having said that, I never harbored any illusions about getting thousands of hits or attracting tons of readers. Writing a blog that generates that sort of interest requires expertise that I simply don’t have, money I don’t want to spend (for SEO classes and so forth) and time that I can’t afford to waste. After all, I am busy working for a living…

Which brings me to my point. Finally.

Not too long ago, a New York court dealt a big blow to “professional bloggers.” Specifically, Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department of the State of New York ruled that a freelance writer and blogger is not eligible for unemployment benefits.

As forbes.com reports, “the case involved Gregory Mitchell, a freelance writer, who entered into a contract in 2010 with The Nation to author regular blog posts for the company’s website.”

Everything was fine for a few years. But as we all know, nothing lasts forever. And in 2014, management at The Nation decided not to renew Mitchell’s contract. That’s when he applied for unemployment benefits.

At first, state officials tasked with determining who is eligible for said benefits sided with Mitchell, saying that he was actually an employee. Representatives for The Nation disagreed and pursued an appeal.

Needless to say, a legal battle ensued with the outcome hinging on a key issue. Was Mitchell an employee in the legal sense, or an independent contractor?

With the shift in the economy since the Great Recession, making the distinction has become even more difficult. As a result, the government and courts have established specific criteria to differentiate between traditional and “gig economy” workers.

These are include varying forms of control and the relationship between the “employer” and “employee.”

Based on its assessment using these criteria, the court determined that Mitchell is actually an independent contractor. In New York, independent contractors “are not covered under the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Law.” In other words, they cannot claim unemployment benefits.

As the attorney that represented The Nation in the case told forbes.com, “This case takes a major step in clarifying how rules developed to deal with traditional employment relationships apply to the rapidly changing world of modern journalism and its reliance on bloggers and other more casual employment relationships.”

For now, that seems to be the end of the story… at least in this case. But as the “gig economy” continues to grow, the question remains whether other courts will follow New York’s lead… or not.

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 11, 2017 by alexb2448

Hello, everybody! I know it’s a bit late, but I just wanted to start this post by wishing everyone a belated Happy New Year and apologize for being MIA for the last couple of weeks. Suffice it to say, 2016 ended on a rather frantic note and so far 2017 has been just as hectic.

And I swore this would be the year in which I would be less stressed and more relaxed — even if it killed me! So much for New Year’s resolutions… Still, 11 days into 2017, there are some I haven’t broken… yet.

This year, I am determined to be:

More positive
More tolerant
More patient

This year, I will:

Get rid of all the toxic people in my life
Listen more and talk less
Keep a lid on my temper
Make time to do the things I enjoy…

Speaking of which, as most of you know, I love to read. And with that in mind, I am once again participating in the annual reading challenge on goodreads.com. Although I fell well short of my goal last year, I once again set the same target: 100 books. And so far I’m off to a great start, if I do say so, myself. (I’ve already read three books, and I’m halfway through my fourth…) So I’m actually ahead of schedule! But we’ll see how long that lasts…

So what’s on my reading list?

So what am I reading? I guess it will depend on what’s available at the local library, my local “book bin,” and how much I want to spend on adding to my digital book collection.

One thing is for sure. With more than 100 books on my “to read” shelf on goodreads, I’ve got plenty to choose from. Here’s a small sample:

Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey
Unleashed by David Rosenfelt
The Girl in the Basement by Dianne Bates
Where there is Evil by Sandra Brown
The Abbey by Chris Culver
The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop
Beneath Outback Skies by Alissa Callen

Unfortunately I won’t be able to share my opinion about everything I read here. But if you’re curious, you can always find links to reviews on my personal Twitter page.

All I want for Christmas is…

Posted on December 23, 2016 by alexb2448

Yes, it’s old news. But it’s a story that made a lasting impression — for all of the wrong reasons.

Last December, the court of public opinion indicted a woman who reportedly spent a lot of money on a lot of Christmas presents for her children. While she defended her right to do as she pleased, critics said she was sending the wrong message.

I agree. Christmas is not about “stuff.” It’s not about what we get, or how much we get. It’s about so much more…

With that being stated, here’s a Christmas letter I hope you will enjoy.

Dear Santa —

True, I’m not a little a girl anymore. And as you know, I haven’t really been all that good. But I still felt compelled to write.

You see it’s been a crazy year. Everyone seems so angry, and they’re all fighting for no reason. To make matters even worse, it seems like the people who scream the loudest and say the nastiest things get the most attention.

The whole situation makes me really sad. So I was hoping you could help straighten things out by bringing everyone some gifts they could really use. Here are some suggestions.

This year, please bring the world the capacity for:

More love and less hate
More tolerance and less ignorance
More peace and less war
More happiness and less anger
More kindness and less cruelty

I know you’re extremely busy and this is asking a lot, especially at the last minute. But we can use all the help we can get.

I know you’ll do your best, and look forward to seeing you tomorrow night. (You know I’ll be up!)

In the meantime, please give my regards to Mrs. Claus and all of the elves. Oh, and don’t forget to pat the reindeer for me!

Have a safe journey.

Love,

Alexandra

The tale of a well-read writer

Posted on December 19, 2016 by alexb2448

In the spirit of the holidays, I’ve decided to take a break from blogging about the law, animals, and animals who break the law.

Instead, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I love to read. And I read a lot. So this January I decided to participate in a reading challenge on goodreads.com. Since it was the first time I participated in the annual contest — and with nothing at stake except pride — I decided to go for broke. I decided to try to read 100 books in 2016.

By my calculations that meant I had to read roughly two books per week in order to complete the challenge.

Well, with less than two weeks left in the year, I can happily report… that I’ve failed. Miserably. According to the goodreads tally, I’ve read 68 books so far this year. But in the interest of full disclosure I’ve only read 66. This miscount happened because I marked one book as read (even though I didn’t finish it), and had to mark another one as read even though I accidentally clicked on the wrong title.

On one hand, 66 percent isn’t very good. In fact, it’s barely a “passing grade.” On the other hand, if you consider how much time it actually takes to read 66 book, it’s not bad. In fact, it’s not bad at all.

Here’s a closer look, “by the numbers.” So far I’ve read 66 books or:

Approximately 24,000 pages (give or take)
Shortest book 166 pages
Longest book 693 pages (actually this was the one I didn’t finish!)
Average length 386 pages
Average rating 3.3 (out of 5) stars

Here are my favorites:

An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Parts One and Two) by J.K. Rowling
The Death Artist by Jonathan Santlofer
Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag
Criminal by Karin Slaughter
Die in Plain Sight by Elizabeth Lowell
State of Fear by Michael Crichton
One True Thing by Anna Quindlen

My least favorites:

The Janson Directive by Robert Ludlum (so horrible I didn’t get past the first chapter)
The Sigma Protocol by Robert Ludlum (not that much better)
A Touch of Ice by L.J. Charles
Once Gone by Blake Pierce
Before He Kills by Blake Pierce
Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell

My recommendations (for animal lovers, especially those of you who love cats):

Anything by Lillian Jackson Braun

So there you have it — for whatever it’s worth.

My cat may not be my child — but he is still my boy

Posted on November 1, 2016November 1, 2016 by alexb2448

In case you’ve missed it, there’s a debate raging across the Internet. And believe it or not, it’s got nothing to do with the election. It’s not about Democrats or Republicans or conservatives or liberals or Hillary or Trump. In fact, it’s got nothing to do with politics whatsoever.

But it’s heated. Because this debate pits pet owners against non-pet owners and animal lovers against non-animal lovers.

It all started not too long ago, when a New York Magazine writer penned an article claiming pet owners who think of themselves as “parents” to their dogs and cats are delusional. The headline simply read: Pets Are Not Children So Stop Calling Them That.

As someone who always wanted to have kids of my own but didn’t due to circumstances beyond my control — and as someone who has had pets for most of my life — I actually agree with him. But only to a point.

Personally I think that dressing companion animals in “costumes” resembling human clothing (for any reason other than to keep them warm in exceptionally cold weather) is taking things way too far. I feel the same way about transporting them in strollers and throwing parties to celebrate their birthdays. To me, there’s something about it that just isn’t right.

However, I strongly object to the author’s contention that, “In stark contrast to pets, children are always trying to outgrow, outflank, and outsmart their parents. Children are cunning and devious, with long memories and big plans. They don’t just grow, they develop.”

This comment shows a considerable lack of insight and a remarkable amount of stupidity.

I got my first cat when I was 10. She died when I was 27. So we literally grew up together. Her name was Tiger. She was a little Siamese cross with a huge personality. And she was a peacemaker. Whenever there was drama in our house (and there was lots of it), Tiger would stand between the warring parties and cry her little lungs out. She didn’t stop making noise until we did. She wasn’t necessarily “cunning and devious,” but she was smart.

Then there was Heals. She came into my life a few months after I lost Tiger. She was a big, outgoing, happy-go-lucky cat. She was also adventurous and insisted on being outdoors, even after I moved twice in a short period. When we lived in West Harrison, she had a habit of wandering into one neighbor’s garage to say “hi.” I don’t know for sure, but I rather suspect she got a few treats there, too. So was she “cunning and devious?” Perhaps. Was she “trying to outflank and outsmart” me? I wouldn’t have put it past her. Was she intelligent? No doubt.

And now I’ve got Eli. My big, sweet, wonderful boy. He came into my life back in 2008. I adopted him from the Fauquier SPCA when I lived in Virginia — and it was clear from the beginning that he’d had a troubled past. He spooked easily and ran from anything he thought he could be hit with. Even soft toys seemed to pose a tremendous threat. He didn’t like men, or little kids and cringed at loud noises. At times, he acted out in ways that were clearly indicative of “fear aggression.”

So can I honestly say he has a “long memory?” Hell, yes. But with time and patience and love, I won his trust. And we now have an unbreakable bond. He is definitely my cat. And I am his number one person.

Like Tiger and Heals did before him, Eli counts on me for everything, but most importantly food, shelter, water, healthcare and a clean litter box. As long as he is alive, I am responsible for his well-being. And as long as he is alive, I will remain fiercely protective of him (as I was with Tiger and Heals).

Anyone who even thinks of putting a hand on him in anger or malice has to come directly through me. Yes, I would literally defend him with my life. I love him that much.

And in that regard, I am no different from any other parent.

Actually words do matter, Mr. Trump

Posted on October 10, 2016 by alexb2448

It is with great trepidation that I am sharing my opinion on recent events in this forum.

As I have mentioned before, this is a business site — and while I have chosen to address controversial issues and share personal experiences here — I have also taken great pains to stick to apolitical topics.

The decision to do so is largely a matter of common sense, given the ugliness of U.S. presidential politics and the candidates currently involved therein. Furthermore, I am a private person who generally has little desire to air my personal opinions publicly.

However, there are times when I simply cannot remain silent. So today, I am writing to refute U.S. presidential nominee Donald J. Trump’s assertion that the lewd and vulgar remarks he made about women 11 years ago are of little consequence.

To begin with, let’s examine Trump’s claims that the remarks were simply “locker room talk” that he engaged in during a private conversation, and that they are not indicative of his true feelings about women.

There are two specific reasons why these claims lack merit.

The first is based upon my personal experience. Having been around plenty of public figures as a journalist, I can say with great certainty that you will very rarely, if ever, see the genuine person when they are in the spotlight. In public, every single second is contrived. Why? Because they know they are being watched. It is only in the private, unguarded moments when they feel safe and at ease, that you will see the person’s true character. So in my humble opinion and experience, the words Trump uttered when he had no reason to fear being caught are definitely indicative of his true character.

The second, and more important is that in Connecticut, where he once had a home and now owns at least one luxury high-rise that I know of, the activity Trump so callously described in his alleged “locker room talk” is a crime. The relevant portion of C.G.S. §53a-72a states that someone is guilty of sexual assault in the third degree when they compel “another person to submit to sexual contact (A) by the use of force against such other person or a third person, or (B) by the threat of use of force against such other person or against a third person, which reasonably causes such other person to fear physical injury to himself or herself or a third person…” The offense is a Class D felony, punishable upon conviction by up to five years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $5,000.

To brag about wanting to, or being able to engage in such conduct — specifically kissing women without their consent or grabbing them by their private parts — and then chalking it up to “locker room talk” is inane at best, and arguably symptomatic of depraved thinking at worst.

Now as Trump and his supporters rightfully contend, it is not illegal to say what he said, as long as he never actually acted on it. And, as Trump and his supporters contend, there are some people who may not find his remarks vulgar, offensive or morally reprehensible at all. Frankly, I don’t know who they are — and I don’t want to know. But I digress.

In the last few days, Trump has repeatedly attempted to mitigate his own behavior by drawing comparisons to things former President Bill Clinton has allegedly said and done. However, his insistence that his verbal denigration of women pales in comparison to Clinton’s alleged and actual sexual transgressions also falls flat for one extremely significant reason.

If elected, Donald J. Trump will find himself in a position where a poor choice of words can have very, very, serious consequences — because words are very powerful.

Throughout the ages, words have been used as weapons and used as tools to broker peace. They have spurred men to action. They have sparked revolutions. They have been used to ensure the punishment of the guilty, and for the wrongful indictment of the innocent. Historically, words have been used to lift people from the depths of despair and to beat them into submission. Words have shaped countries and cultures and people.

The greatest dissidents, the greatest thinkers, the greatest leaders of all time, were known not only for what they did, but for what they said, and what they wrote.

So actually, Mr. Trump, words do matter.