Steel beams packed with pot, police say

Dog Daycare matthews,NC -

Steel beams packed with pot, police say
(Observer Staff Reports) A 44-year-old Charlotte manfaces several felony charges after police in Gaston County say he accepted delivery of steel beams that were packed with marijuana.

The beams had been delivered from a site near the Mexican border, police say, and they credit drug-sniffing dogs for breaking the case.

It’s Not the Years, It’s the Mileage – 30 Years of Being an Indyfan!

It’s Not the Years, It’s the Mileage – 30 Years of Being an Indyfan!

When "Raiders of the Lost Ark" premiered in June 1981, it just wasn't a two hour thrill ride of a film for me, it became a lifelong friend. Indiana Jones would inspire me, create memories and friendships, and even lead to a bizarre photography incident with Harrison Ford himself!

From meeting fellow Indyfans to cast and crew, artist and writers to the man with the hat himself - this article has it all! Beyond the films, it tells how Indiana Jones is more than just a great series of action films, but really a force in many folk's lives to do some good.

So if you want to find out when you turn a hobby into something more, then read on and discover that if adventure (and great memories) does indeed have a name . . . it must be Indiana Jones!

 

             It’s Not the Years, It’s the Mileage – 30 Years of Being an Indyfan!

 

JUNE, 1981 NEW HAVEN, CT : Did I ever imagine when I begged my elderly, Italian grandmother to take me to the sneak preview of a movie called “Raiders of the Lost Ark” that it would alter my life for the next three decades? Did I expect her to go running out of the theatre when our hero, Indiana Jones was in an ancient temple surrounded by thousands of snakes? The answer to both of those burning questions is a resounding “NO”, but they both happened.

 

After seeing that film I realized I had just witnessed the first cool, onscreen, nerdy professor turn into a swashbuckling adventurer! He was smart, well educated and could kick butt! Heck, he even got the girl and he wore glasses! Sure there was Clark Kent, but let’s face it – he was an alien. Plus no matter how many times they said it, you never really did believe a man could fly. But Indiana Jones, he was different. You could actually grow up and be this guy, providing you had good medical insurance. So I immediately hit the books, and started getting A’s in History and Religion, and who knows maybe if I had the smarts, I could get in that big school in town that looked like where Indy taught, Yale. Not many movies make kids do better in school. Way to go, Dr. Jones!

 

MAY, 1984 Still in NEW HAVEN, CT High School graduation was fast upon me and the world outside looked pretty big and scary, but not as scary as theTemple of Doom! Indy was back for another thrill ride, but not with that hot brunette from the first film instead he had a screaming blonde and a little Asian sidekick? Life rafts falling out of airplanes? Chilled monkey brains? Hearts being ripped out? What the heck was this? Oh well, it was still the best thing on the screen and this time when I took my grandmother she sat in the theatre the whole time. Not so bad, Indy.

 

MAY, 1989 You got it - still in NEW HAVEN, CT College graduation, and no it wasn’t Yale, and this time the real world was here and with a degree in art, I thought I could at least draw movie posters and maybe even Marvel Comics about Indiana Jones if I couldn’t be him. I mean he always had new movies coming out, so there would be more to come, right? – LAST CRUSADE? Riding off into the sunset? Named after the dog? Indy don’t leave us! Well, Indy brought his Dad on this adventure and it had been years since I went to a movie with mine. I asked my Dad, and though he didn’t get around much since having a stroke, he agreed – only because he heard James Bond was in it. My Dad took me to my first movie when I was a kid, and little did I know seeing Indy would be the last one we would share together. Thanks, Indy!

 

FAST FORWARD almost ten years later. “Life goes on”, as Indy’s sidekick Sallah said in “Raiders”, and it does at a fast pace. Gone were the adventures of Indiana Jones as were my movies-going, dearly departed, grandmother and father, but the memories we shared of the silver screen were still there. Enter my lovely wife, Sharon, who after watching “Last Crusade” in 1989 turned and asked if I wanted to sit through it again, I knew then she would be the mother of my children someday. In April 1999, while attending a charity event in New York City I run into the man with the hat himself, the captain of the Millennium Falcon, the Fugitive, the President of the US, Jack Ryan and the toughest Amish ever – HARRISON FORD! After the fan gushing, mandatory autograph request and photo, my night was made. It was then I am handed an old 110 camera by an overzealous fan, who commands me to take a photo of her and Mr. Ford. Ford asks me to please oblige her quickly. What happens next I blame on the dark, some alcohol, or nervousness, but whatever the reason, I held the camera backwards and with a snap of the shutter and a blinding flash, heard Mr. Ford laughingly shout “You just took a picture of your eye”! Sorry, Indy! Let’s move on . . .

 

MAY, 2007 NEW HAVEN (again). Grey haired, be-speckled and slightly pudgy, I still speak of the thrilling adventures of Indiana Jones, but now as bedtime stories to my two little boys. Like a myth of old, I relate the stories of derring-do of the teacher with the whip. Some kids learn about Winnie the Pooh getting stuck in a tree, but never being chased by gun-totting Nazis! So, we went ahead and named our dog Indiana. Even making an Indy comic for a school project was just about all the new Indiana Jones action there would ever be. . .  or so I thought!

 

Then one day, I pick up the newspaper to see the impossible. INDIANA JONES IS COMING BACK! Indy is returning to the silver screen – and unbelievably to film scenes in NEW HAVEN, CT! Life is weird that way. Even better they hold an open casting call for extras in the "Crystal Skull"! Though I don’t get the extra part after a valid attempt that lands the boys and me in Entertainment Weekly magazine, I take my family to see the set and the legendary film hero racing down the streets I grew up on! Could it really be? Indiana Jones was teaching at Marshall College (Yale) trying to escape the bad guys - HERE?! Welcome back, Indy!

 

Then something truly amazing is discovered. As I snap some non-spoiler, photos of the streets transformed to look like Indy’s world of1957 and share them online with some friends. Very quickly, I begin to get emails and meet Indyfans from Poland, Italy, Russia, Japan and other parts around the world all asking about Indiana Jones.

 

Since that spring in 2007, I have been part of a vast community of Indyfans of all ages and from all parts of the world. I began contributing articles to the world’s longest running and considerably “best” Indiana Jones website, TheRaider.net. Soon after another Indyfan from Australia, Ed Dolista, decides to start up a podcast called the IndyCast, and I come aboard writing features and interviews and soon get in on the action by recording my own segments. I start going out to conventions, and putting my professional skills at marketing and public relations to use. Fueled by a love for Indiana Jones, I soon start traveling and meeting Indiana Jones authors, comic book writers and artists, cast and crew (like the amazing Frank Darabont), fan filmmakers (like "Indyfans" director - Brandon Kleyla and "Indiana James and the Lost Shaker of Salt"s Tom Pimentel), theme park ride designers, and real life archeologists! Acting as the Indyfan reporter allows me to meet with fans like me who all share dreams of adventure inspired by Indiana Jones.

 

Besides, just gushing over great movie moments from the Indy films, I started to see how much the character had changed so many fan's lives and led them to be teachers, archeologists, actors and writers. Even more remarkable, none of them seemed to be chasing after "fortune and glory", but were trying to help the community around them. I myself got involved in the restoration of a 160 year old cemetery that had had suffered from years of neglect. The headstones and grave-markers of Irish-Americans who came to the Bridgeport, Connecticut in the mid 1800s were buried under several inches of grass and were forgotten. Fathers, mothers, children, Civil and Spanish American war veterans, immigrants and others had been buried under years of dirt and grass as if they never existed at all. Armed with some good old fashioned elbow grease and a spirit of "doing some good", a group of volunteers help recover over 400 stones. Knowing that I had help uncover a piece of history, and allowed the names of those who struggled so hard over a hundred years ago only to be forgotten, to have their names be read aloud in the land of the living was an amazing experience. Saving the St. Augustine Cemetery may not have been as huge as finding the Ark of the Covenant or Holy Grail, but it let everyone there feel a bit like Indiana Jones for a few moments.

 

As I type this I look up to see the framed movie posters of the Indy films and shelves filled Indiana Jones toys, books and collectibles I have picked up on my travels I am amazed by all the things that have happened along the way. Then there are photos from my travels, including a tour of Lucasfilm’s ILM where the magic of Indy’s special effects were created. Best of all are the memories of meeting the Indyfans who have enjoyed the podcasts and website articles. It’s like discovering long lost friends. Truly a treasure trove of experiences all due to that cool movie I saw in 1981 with my screaming grandmother! I guess its like Indy said thirty years ago; “It’s not the years, it’s the mileage” and what a great long trip it has been!

 

 

 

To read about the embarrassing Harrison Ford camera incident go here:http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/fan_meets_harrison_ford_81076.asp

 

The St. Augustine Cemetery Recovery can be found  http://www.lynchonline.com/cemetery_bridgeport_st_augustine.php

 

Links to the St. Augustine Cemetery Recovery Day of Remembrance and Photos:http://www.lynchonline.com/st_augustine_cemetery_bridgeport_ct_remembrance.php

 

Links to TheRaider.net's and stories about New Haven and Indy 4:http://www.theraider.net/news/archives/indy4/2007l.php

 

The INDYCAST The only Indiana Jones Fan Podcast since 2007 is available here:http://www.forcecast.net/c-indycastnews.asp

Aid Fund For the Animals of Japan and Virtual Pets

Whilst writing the article below about artificial life becoming a reality in virtual pets and the way they respond to their avatar owners, I came across a fund raising site in Second Life that has just been set up to help the real life animals of Japan who also suffered the terrible consequences of the tsunami/earthquake.

 

After the disaster one media picture went all around the world, becoming a token of the bravery of the animals who have also lived through these awful times. The picture shows a dog standing guard over his injured canine companion.  The dog protects his little friend, not letting anyone near him.  I was happy to read that both the dogs have been rescued, and I think this SL charity fund called Project FUR Japan is a great idea to collect money for the animal rescuers.  The Project FUR Japan information reads “Find exclusive and limited-edition items and help raise funds to aid animal rescue groups who are helping the thousands of animals lost and/or injured during the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Find out more about the Project FUR Japan event at: http://projectfurjapan.wordpress.com.”

 

I hope people travel over to The Project FUR Japan event and give generously if they can.  Below is my story of how virtual animals are becoming more than just pixel cartoons, thanks to the clever people who make and script them:

 

Animals play a big part in lots of people’s lives, so it’s hardly surprising that people have created virtual pets in Second Life.  Recently buying some SL land, I decided I needed some animals to add interest for visitors and also to make it more interesting for me too.  Virtual animals are cleverly scripted to react to their avatar owners, or to just move around by themselves in the parcel of land where you place them.  I’d been given a gift of a virtual Siamese kitten a while back and he’s just amazing; in many ways almost real.  He will come over to my avatar and look up and make cat noises as if he’s talking to me.  With the HUD driven menu you can feed him, bathe him, set him free to roam around, call him over, carry him or let him sleep.   The thing that astonished me about him though, is that even without the HUD attached, he still comes over to me and follows me along the road.  When I’ve logged out of SL he carries on without me. I remember when I had an apartment in Virtual Chelsea and left him running about there, when I logged back in, I was told that the little cat had ventured out into the street and kept the people company who were building there.  He even fell asleep next to them.    The Siamese kitten is made by a company called A.I.F. and they also make dogs and foxes as well as cats.  You can get the latest script updates for free from them too, so once you buy a pet you have a virtual friend for life.

 

I went over to a sim called Animania to look at some wildlife for my virtual home, they specialise in birds and insects and they have an incredible selection to pick from.  I was instantly taken with their range of parrots and the trouble they had taken to recreate the proper species of the parrot family.  I bought a Blue and Gold Macaw, a Green Wing Macaw and a Hyacinth Macaw.  You also purchase the parrot stands for your birds and the parrots walk along the perch, bobbing up and down just like real ones.  They squawk  too (you can switch the parrot noises off if you wish), and they also take off, flying at random around the sim.  These particular macaws are so well copied from real life, their wing movements are extraordinary, gracefully flapping their wings and landing gently back onto their perches.

 

I built a pond on my land and whilst looking at the parrots at Animania, I decided to get some ducks too, to swim on the pond.  I bought a pair of Mallard Ducks, I liked the Mallards as I used to feed the real version in St James Park in London a few years ago.  Taking the virtual ones home, I put the first one into the pond.  But disaster struck, as suddenly the duck took off and was gone out of sight.  I actually got a message from the duck in text saying it was lost and couldn’t get back.  I searched around, but without success, so I contacted Ani, a manager at Animania.  Within a few minutes Ani came over to see me, and she was really helpful.  She looked for the little duck too, but she couldn’t find him.

Looking at my newly dug pond Ani told me that the bottom wasn’t level enough and she thought that the duck had touched the ground triggering him to fly off.

 

Ani stayed for quite a while showing me how to build a swim area for the ducks, a clever invention to keep them within a certain range without them touching the edges of the pond.  She also sent me a replacement duck for the one who went missing.  After Ani had left disaster struck a second time, I tried to put the new duck into the pond and he went flying off into the distance too (It was my fault, I hadn’t set the swim area up properly as Ani had advised me to do).  However, this time I was lucky and I had my SL camera trained on the duck, so I was able to see exactly where it had gone.  For some reason the duck had headed for the next parcel of land belonging to Spooks Blackburn who owns Whitechapel 1888.  To my utter astonishment I spotted the first ‘lost’ duck whilst picking up the new one.  The first escapee duck had actually found some virtual water and was swimming happily around.  Taking both ducks back into my inventory, I later returned the first one to Ani, thanking her for all her help.  Afterwards I went back to Animania and bought a couple of little Mallard ducklings to go with the parents, and with the swim area set up properly this time, I set the family of Mallards into their new virtual pond home.  If you rez the ducks in the proper order, the adults adopt the chicks and each other as well, swimming around in a family group.  I also bought a duck feeder, a little wooden box, which I put at the side of the pond.  If visitors come along and touch the feeder the duck food is scattered into the pond and the ducks then feed as you watch them.

 

I bought a blue butterfly to flutter among my wild flowers (also from Animania), and to complete my garden, a family of wild deer created by Jon Haskell, a truly gifted animal sculptor.  They move their heads to feed and look very real.

 

So what is the point of virtual animals?  Well for me they do add a little bit of life to an otherwise dead parcel of land. I like to see the macaws flying and the ducks swimming in the pond whilst hearing their calls.  I also have some sounds that friend Hibiscus gave me too, so I can hear the ocean and the water lapping against the rocks where I built my shoreline.  Max the Siamese kitten is real company in the virtual world too, visitors are always enchanted with him, telling me that he has followed them around too!  If you like animals in real life, you will be sure to like virtual ones as well!

 

 

Project Fur Japan

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Plumhill/134/144/30

 

A.I.F.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spinolds%20Flat/152/183/58

 

Animania

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Animania%20Island/198/124/21

 

Jon Haskell Sculpty Creations

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Extrem%20Island/173/53/26

Whitechapel 1888

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jamaica%20Inn/224/58/24

 

 

My Gardens

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jamaica%20Inn/40/53/22

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

Dog Daycare Charlotte,NC -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

Dog Daycare matthews,NC -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Desperate Housewives 4-3

Desperate Housewives 4-3

Finally a new episode of Desperate Housewives aired April 3rd.

 

Click on the link below if you need a recap of the previous episode since it's been over a month, then come back here.

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-566778

 

Beth is in the hospital brain dead after shooting herself.  Paul does not want to give Susan Beth's kidney, he tells Susan she did nothing to deserve it, Susan agrees with Paul and does not want to fight him over it, Mike did want to fight over it but Susan said no, that she would feel like Beth committed suicide just to give her a kidney.

 

Paul visits Beth's mother Felicia in prison where he learns that Beth really did love him.  Paul is both stunned and saddened because when he found out Felicia was her mother he thought she was out to kill him.  Paul then visits Susan at her apartment and tells her he is on his way to say goodbye to Beth and sign the papers for her donation to Susan.  Susan then questions Paul why he would do this because he was right about her not deserving the kidney, she tells Paul that she never really was nice to Beth and didn't deserve her love, Paul tells Susan that Beth didn't love people because they deserved it and that he was proof of that.  Paul starts crying and they hug each other.

 

Renee has been planning a Spring Fling party, she's upset because non of her neighbors want to attend due to the tragedy of Beth. She has no sympathy for Beth.  Renee refuses to cancel her party so she ends up with a full house of gardeners, dog catchers, poolman and the like.  She tells Gaby, who is the only neighbor that did attend, that she has to have this party every year without fail.  Renee's mother committed suicide when she was a child and this party is her way of saying "I choose life over death".

 

Bree finds out her son Andrew has a drinking problem.  Andrew's boyfriend Alex left him because of it.  Bree, a former alcoholic, will do anything she can to help him.

 

 

Tom was offered a great CEO position with fantastic pay and perks including a company jet.  When he turned the position down Lynette thought he was joking.  Tom tells Lynette that he doesn't want to leave Carlos in the lurch.  Lynette tries to seduce Tom to change his mind, he agrees to go to Carlos and tell him of the offer he received to see if Carlos would match it.  Carlos tells Tom that he couldn't afford to match the offer.  Lynette is upset and tells Tom that if she didn't push him he would go nowhere. Lynette also tells Tom that Carlos is lying about not being able to match the offer.  Tom is livid when she says that, then tells her to drop this.

 

Lynette test drives a Lotus, parks it in front of Carlos' house, when Tom see's it he immediatley calls the person that offered him the CEO job and accepts it.  Lynette is thrilled, then Tom say's he's going over to give Carlos a piece of his mind, Lynette then admits that it's not really Carlos' car, that she was just test driving it.  Tom is upset with Lynette, he say's after they take the car back to the dealer he's going to recant accepting the CEO job.

 

Starting up the Lotus, Tom has that OMG look on his face, driving the Lotus, Tom has this "I want this car" look on his face.  They decide to take a long 2 hr. drive.  I'm pretty sure Tom will be able to buy that car soon.

 

Oh, I almost forgot.  The prison warden found Felicia in the chapel and told her that her humanitarian release has been approved.  She pretended to be sad about her daughter's death then when the warden left she turned and smiled that evil smile of hers.  Watch out Paul mommie-in-law coming after you!

 

Be sure to watch Sunday nights on ABC.

Ancient Holy Cave Of India

Indiana Jones did inspire me and specially when the movie 'Temple of Doom' mentions about the story where Lord Shiva gifts Adi Shankara with the divine Shivalingams.

 

I travelled extensively in India, visiting temples and samadhis of ancient gurus of India. Seeking the spritual treasures of India.

 

I once came across a book written by sage from South India about the story of Shankara translated from an ancient scripture.

 

The story mentions a cave of Dattatreya in the Himalayas near Badrinath, where Shankara supposed to have attained maha samadhi.

 

Many people though have different opinions to that story.

 

I continued my search visiting ancient caves of India in the Himlayas with perseverance.

 

I came across lost Shivalingams in the forest in dilapidated conditions. Majestically surviving for centuries.

 

Sometimes I stayed in caves hallowed by great spiritual masters of India . Far from the madding crowd at about 8000ft with no town in sight for miles and miles.

 

I was, as if driven by the elephant(like in the video),  to seek the unknown.

 

I made lots of friends too... the dogs were great support to me when i was in the forest. They protect villagers from wild animals and i was lucky to have them around me.

 

Then one day out of the blue when i was passing through a village in the Himalayas near Badrinath, I had the supreme satisfaction to view one of the magnificent natural holy cave and incidentally it is also known as The Dattatreyaguha or The Cave of Dattatreya.

 

The entrance to the cave is naturally shaped like a hooded cobra. The cave is about four feet by six . It has a small Shiva lingam inside.  The cave inner walls have  drawings of gods and goddesses.. .it was my most wonderful moment.

 

Later i was blessed with tiny natural Shivalingams... an experience i will cherish all my life.

 

Today due to deforestation and constructions of hotels and guest houses in the Himalayas these ancient temples caves are getting wiped out.

 

Visit my channel for more ancient temples...

 

http://www.youtube.com/sivayog

Aid Fund For the Animals of Japan and Virtual Pets

Whilst writing the article below about artificial life becoming a reality in virtual pets and the way they respond to their avatar owners, I came across a fund raising site in Second Life that has just been set up to help the real life animals of Japan who also suffered the terrible consequences of the tsunami/earthquake.

 

After the disaster one media picture went all around the world, becoming a token of the bravery of the animals who have also lived through these awful times. The picture shows a dog standing guard over his injured canine companion.  The dog protects his little friend, not letting anyone near him.  I was happy to read that both the dogs have been rescued, and I think this SL charity fund called Project FUR Japan is a great idea to collect money for the animal rescuers.  The Project FUR Japan information reads “Find exclusive and limited-edition items and help raise funds to aid animal rescue groups who are helping the thousands of animals lost and/or injured during the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Find out more about the Project FUR Japan event at: http://projectfurjapan.wordpress.com.”

 

I hope people travel over to The Project FUR Japan event and give generously if they can.  Below is my story of how virtual animals are becoming more than just pixel cartoons, thanks to the clever people who make and script them:

 

Animals play a big part in lots of people’s lives, so it’s hardly surprising that people have created virtual pets in Second Life.  Recently buying some SL land, I decided I needed some animals to add interest for visitors and also to make it more interesting for me too.  Virtual animals are cleverly scripted to react to their avatar owners, or to just move around by themselves in the parcel of land where you place them.  I’d been given a gift of a virtual Siamese kitten a while back and he’s just amazing; in many ways almost real.  He will come over to my avatar and look up and make cat noises as if he’s talking to me.  With the HUD driven menu you can feed him, bathe him, set him free to roam around, call him over, carry him or let him sleep.   The thing that astonished me about him though, is that even without the HUD attached, he still comes over to me and follows me along the road.  When I’ve logged out of SL he carries on without me. I remember when I had an apartment in Virtual Chelsea and left him running about there, when I logged back in, I was told that the little cat had ventured out into the street and kept the people company who were building there.  He even fell asleep next to them.    The Siamese kitten is made by a company called A.I.F. and they also make dogs and foxes as well as cats.  You can get the latest script updates for free from them too, so once you buy a pet you have a virtual friend for life.

 

I went over to a sim called Animania to look at some wildlife for my virtual home, they specialise in birds and insects and they have an incredible selection to pick from.  I was instantly taken with their range of parrots and the trouble they had taken to recreate the proper species of the parrot family.  I bought a Blue and Gold Macaw, a Green Wing Macaw and a Hyacinth Macaw.  You also purchase the parrot stands for your birds and the parrots walk along the perch, bobbing up and down just like real ones.  They squawk  too (you can switch the parrot noises off if you wish), and they also take off, flying at random around the sim.  These particular macaws are so well copied from real life, their wing movements are extraordinary, gracefully flapping their wings and landing gently back onto their perches.

 

I built a pond on my land and whilst looking at the parrots at Animania, I decided to get some ducks too, to swim on the pond.  I bought a pair of Mallard Ducks, I liked the Mallards as I used to feed the real version in St James Park in London a few years ago.  Taking the virtual ones home, I put the first one into the pond.  But disaster struck, as suddenly the duck took off and was gone out of sight.  I actually got a message from the duck in text saying it was lost and couldn’t get back.  I searched around, but without success, so I contacted Ani, a manager at Animania.  Within a few minutes Ani came over to see me, and she was really helpful.  She looked for the little duck too, but she couldn’t find him.

Looking at my newly dug pond Ani told me that the bottom wasn’t level enough and she thought that the duck had touched the ground triggering him to fly off.

 

Ani stayed for quite a while showing me how to build a swim area for the ducks, a clever invention to keep them within a certain range without them touching the edges of the pond.  She also sent me a replacement duck for the one who went missing.  After Ani had left disaster struck a second time, I tried to put the new duck into the pond and he went flying off into the distance too (It was my fault, I hadn’t set the swim area up properly as Ani had advised me to do).  However, this time I was lucky and I had my SL camera trained on the duck, so I was able to see exactly where it had gone.  For some reason the duck had headed for the next parcel of land belonging to Spooks Blackburn who owns Whitechapel 1888.  To my utter astonishment I spotted the first ‘lost’ duck whilst picking up the new one.  The first escapee duck had actually found some virtual water and was swimming happily around.  Taking both ducks back into my inventory, I later returned the first one to Ani, thanking her for all her help.  Afterwards I went back to Animania and bought a couple of little Mallard ducklings to go with the parents, and with the swim area set up properly this time, I set the family of Mallards into their new virtual pond home.  If you rez the ducks in the proper order, the adults adopt the chicks and each other as well, swimming around in a family group.  I also bought a duck feeder, a little wooden box, which I put at the side of the pond.  If visitors come along and touch the feeder the duck food is scattered into the pond and the ducks then feed as you watch them.

 

I bought a blue butterfly to flutter among my wild flowers (also from Animania), and to complete my garden, a family of wild deer created by Jon Haskell, a truly gifted animal sculptor.  They move their heads to feed and look very real.

 

So what is the point of virtual animals?  Well for me they do add a little bit of life to an otherwise dead parcel of land. I like to see the macaws flying and the ducks swimming in the pond whilst hearing their calls.  I also have some sounds that friend Hibiscus gave me too, so I can hear the ocean and the water lapping against the rocks where I built my shoreline.  Max the Siamese kitten is real company in the virtual world too, visitors are always enchanted with him, telling me that he has followed them around too!  If you like animals in real life, you will be sure to like virtual ones as well!

 

 

Project Fur Japan

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Plumhill/134/144/30

 

A.I.F.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spinolds%20Flat/152/183/58

 

Animania

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Animania%20Island/198/124/21

 

Jon Haskell Sculpty Creations

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Extrem%20Island/173/53/26

Whitechapel 1888

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jamaica%20Inn/224/58/24

 

 

My Gardens

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jamaica%20Inn/40/53/22

Dog Credited With Saving Missing S.C. Boy

Dog Credited With Saving Missing S.C. Boy

Authorities say a loyal family dog saved a missing toddler’s life by keeping him warm after he went missing in a densely wooded area in Elgin, S.C.

Warm weather brings snake dangers

dog-training-charlotte.com -

Warm weather brings snake dangers
(By NewsChannel 36 Staff, WCNC.com) North Carolina has the dubious honor as the state with the most copperhead snakebites each year, and the warmer weather is bringing the copperheads back out again.

Even a small copperhead can inflict serious pain and damage. That’s a lesson a Matthews couple and their dog recently learned the hard way.

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

Dog Training Gastonia,NC

Shon Mitchell
Owner: Dog Training In Your Home -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Dog gets hugs from owner after tsunami rescue
A dog rescued from drifting ocean debris immediately jumped to her owner and wagged her tail at their reunion more than three weeks after Japan's tsunami.

OUTSIDE OF REALITY As we welcome the spring,

OUTSIDE OF REALITY As we welcome the spring, we look forward to warmer weather and more time outside. For dog owners, many feel that this is a time that the dog can experience more freedom. If done correctly, this can be a great experience. If not done correctly, mischief and mayhem can ensue. Here are some helpful hints to make your spring less stressful: Boredom can lead to big problems. If you leave your dog outside without helping them to release their physical and mental energies beforehand, you may find that they will become creative. Their projects can range from a small hole to a knocking over your prized barbeque to tearing down or redecorating your deck and lawn furniture. Alone time outside does not replace walking and heeling practice. It is not an automatic relief of stored up energy, at least not in a consistently positive manner. A nap underneath a tree outside will only result when the dog is exhausted. Make sure to not put your dog in a position to express their creative energies in a way that would not make you proud. A watched dog is a better dog. Do not leave your dog in your yard unsupervised, especially if you expect them to behave. If regularly attended, the dog will understand that outside is just like inside: you are the leader and they need to listen accordingly. New sights, new sounds, looser dirt, small animals beginning their springtime frolic, and increased daily sunlight are all invitations for a grand canine adventure. If you would rather your dog not partake in these activities, you need to be consistent with your training. Remember, a long line (30 feet) can give your dog an increased area to play while remaining able to be consistent with your corrections. Even if your dog is reliably off leash trained, it may take a couple of days to remind them how to behave in their changed environment. Without a leash, this becomes much more difficult. Do not use a remote collar without proper training. Canine-proof your yard as much as possible. Too much time outdoors unattended can result in housebreaking issues. If a dog never has to ask to go outside, then it never will. Designate one area of the yard for bathroom activities, and make sure that they have enough time indoors to remember to hold it when they are not in their "rest" area. Dogs are creatures of habit. Do not assume that your dog will be happy simply because it is outside. Banishing them to the great outdoors while you are away can create stress. Many dogs would be happier to remain surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds indoors that can remind them of their place in your home especially if you have already proofed your dog for inside unattended time. If they are used to being in a crate, it is most likely relaxing for them to remain in their routine.
Dog Boarding Charlotte,NC

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

Dog Training Royal Oak

Ken Landa
Dog Training In your Home -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

Dog Training Gastonia,NC

Shon Mitchell
Owner: Dog Training In Your Home -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

Dog Training Royal Oak

Ken Landa
Dog Training In your Home -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Elderly man stabs neighbor in fight over cats

Elderly man stabs neighbor in fight over cats

Authorities say an elderly San Diego man stabbed his neighbor in a dispute over cats and dogs.

Source: feeds.foxnews.com

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

dog-training-charlotte.com -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

dog-training-charlotte.com -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

AG office asks SLED to probe dog shelter
(By Steve Lyttle, slyttle@charlotteobserver.com) The Attorney General's office in South Carolina has asked SLED for a closer look at the operation of Chesterfield County's animal shelter, including allegations that dog fighting took place at the facility.

Meanwhile, a group of animal-rights activists says it will lobby the Chesterfield County Council next week for major changes in the shelter's operations, perhaps turning it over to a private organization.

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed

Dog Daycare matthews,NC -

Dog fighting allegations hit SC animal shelter after dog shootings probed
Nearly a month after the Chesterfield County sheriff's office received allegations that county animal shelter workers may have shot almost two dozen dogs before dumping them in a landfill, new allegations are being investigated.

Charlotte Dog Training | Charlotte Dog Daycare |

Charlotte Dog Training |
Charlotte Dog Daycare |
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Tips on adopting a great dog

Tips on adopting a great dog
Read full story for latest details.

Helping your dog age gracefully
Read full story for latest details.

Can a dog thrive as a vegan?
Read full story for latest details.

Reduce your dog's carbon pawprint
Read full story for latest details.

NE Charlotte fire damages house

Dog Training Royal Oak

Ken Landa
Dog Training In your Home -

NE Charlotte fire damages house
(By Steve Lyttle, slyttle@charlotteobserver.com) A family of five and their pet dog escaped safely Thursday evening from a blaze at their home in northeast Charlotte, fire officials say.

The two-alarm fire was reported about 9:10 p.m. at a single-story house in the 6400 block of Grove Park Boulevard, off Robinson Church Road. Two adults, three children and their dog lived there.

April Fool's: Let's be careful out there
If you're paddling around in the food world online today, be careful and note the date. I almost got taken in this morning by the Manhattan User's Guide posting on the Colonel Mustard Food Truck, a condiments-only truck that follows the other food trucks to provide gourmet condiments for your hot dog.

It's true: April Fool's is like catnip in the food world. It dates back to the greatest April 1 stunt of all time, the BBC's 1957 report on the harvest of spaghetti trees in Italy. It's still a classic.

Doorbell Desensitization Ding, Dong! Are you and your

Doorbell Desensitization Ding, Dong! Are you and your dog ready for the trickiness of Trick or Treating this year? If your dog barks and runs at the door every time the doorbell rings, then this article on noise desensitization is for you. First, what is the barking all about? Doorbells signal change, and the introduction of an outsider to your environment. Barking can be a sign of excitement or anxiety related to these events. They may be guarding your home, or they may be welcoming your guests. In either case, you need to help your dog to relax. To do this you will need a clicker. If you do not have one, they are available at the register at most pet stores or through your trainer. If you have not used one of these during your training, a clicker is a small device with a button that you press to make a consistent noise. This noise will signify when your dog does something correctly. Prior to training, you must charge the clicker, or give it significance to your canine, by clicking the clicker and giving your dog a small, favorite, tasty treat several times in a row without training. Click! Treat. Click! Treat. You will notice that soon your dog will look your way as soon as you click because they understand that a treat is on its way. Second, you will need to create situations that simulate the doorbell environment that you want to change. You will need to have set-up doorbell ringing situations where you are prepared to train your dog. If guests and family members call ahead and are willing to ring the bell for you when they arrive, this is an easy way to naturally create this environment. Otherwise, you will need to employ volunteers to ring the doorbell for you. Have the person ring the bell, then click and treat the dog BEFORE it barks. Have the person repeat their ring several times at 30-60 second intervals. Each time, the dog gets rewarded for being attentive but not barking. Do not open the door every time. This will signal to the dog that just because the door is ringing, there is not necessarily someone waiting to come into their territory. Make sure to have your dog on a leash so that they cannot run to the door. Instead, guide them to come to you when the ring sounds for their click and reward. As your dog clues in to your training and becomes more relaxed at the bell, introduce verbal praise and wait longer and longer after the bell to click and reward the dog. Eventually, the doorbell will signal the need for calm energy to receive their reward, rather than a time to become excited and charge the door. Thirdly, now that you understand the basic premise, here is the doorbell workup routine to prepare yourself for the big day provided by watchandtrain.com: Have your dog on-leash. The time that your dog spends running towards the door barking can feed into his behavior and cause it to continue. Warm him up initially at the beginning of sessions, then do "cold trials". Warm up - one ring, one treat with your dog right near the door, maybe even having him see you press the bell. You can say "Ready?" to give him even more of a hint that you are about to start "the game". Harder - you are farther away from the front door. Even harder - farther still where you try for two or three rings between treats. Say "Good Boy" after each bell and only click and treat (C/T) after the second or third ring. Ready for an even larger challenge? Train your dog to go to another room when the doorbell rings by having your click and treat supplies in another room. When the bell rings, call them to you. Guide them with the leash to your location, if necessary. When they arrive, award them with a click and treat. This will defuse the door-rushing behavior that can sometimes add excitement to the doorbell situation. During these exercises, if your dog shows signs of anxiety (heavy panting, pacing, shaking, etc) or does not seem to be progressing, then you are moving too quickly. Remember, the idea is to reduce stress on your dog. You will need to do many repetitions of each step to fully desensitize your dog. If you would like a one-on-one demonstration of these exercises, please give us a call. We will be happy to help you.
Dog Boarding Charlotte,NC