short takes

[cellio]

A few days ago I was petting Erik and suddenly noticed he was naked -- his collar was missing. In the 14+ years I've had him he's never before divested himself of his collar, so I'm mystified. A search of his usual hiding spots didn't turn it up, nor did a cursory look around Mary's house (where he spent last week). How weird! I bought a new collar at the grocery store (and even cut the obligatory bell off); since ordering a tag takes time I applied a Sharpie to the back of the newest rabies tag, there being enough room for a phone number. He's never gotten out, but of course it would be my luck that he would while sans tags, so better safe than sorry.

Speaking of cats, I found this story about Oscar the death-sensing cat interesting. I wonder what he's reacting to. (The article doesn't address the question of whether Oscar is the cause rather than the sensor.)

This story about a man whose house was condemned because of his books (link from caryabend) makes me scratch my head. 3000 books isn't that many. What's really going on? A little googling didn't turn up more details.

This photographic evidence of a packrat made me laugh out loud. Fortunately, they don't condemn cars. :-)

Comments

Oscar

[dagonell.livejournal.com]

I think the article does address the question. In one case, Oscar was locked out of the room and meowed, demanding to be let in. If he's not in the room, he can't be the cause. Personally, I think he has to be smelling something. I don't think I'm quite ready to believe in a psychic cat.
-- Dagonell

[paquerette.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I didn't hear about that bookstore guy before! It doesn't surprise me to see Wilkes Barre pulling something like that, though. That whole county (Luzerne, just south of me) is corrupt, anti-intellectual, backwards, provincial, and nepotistic. Scranton is no picnic but at least we're not that bad. ;)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I did find an article with a photo of the apartment, and it DID look like a fire hazard -- but I don't understand why the city gets to do yearly fire inspections, anyway. Or why he has to go to court to un-condemn it, now that he's cleaned it up.

[schulman.livejournal.com]

Most Petcos have machines that will inscribe a pet tag for you while you watch.

Maybe Sophie will come home next time from Mary's with an extra collar, to balance things out!