Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[RED-DOG]

Speaking of top 10's. One of my top 10 films was on this week. "The Big Country" An epic from the year of my birth starring Gregory Peck and Jean Simmons. They were the Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie of the 50's, but Burl Ives magnificent performance steals the show.

I've managed to talk several family members into watching it with with me tonight, including 3 daughters, 3 granddaughters, and Mrs Red.

I hope they enjoy it as much as I will.

There will be an intermission, with pop and ice cream for those of us not on a diet, and fruit salad for those who are.

[sovietsong]

If you ever do find yourself out walking with a new puppy, wait until something distracts him, or until he wonders a little too far in front, and then slip behind a tree and spy on him, wait until he misses you and starts to panic a bit, then call his name. He will come to you. Make a huge fuss of him, and then let him go again. (Don't do this very often, just now and then)

He will keep a closer eye on you in future, be more likely to come when you call him, and I won't have my walk spoiled by you continually shouting.

You gave me this advice when I got Billie and due to this we have a brilliant recall.  She always comes back even if distracted by something. 

[Bongo]

Thanks for posting about that Mark Knopfler documentary - I'd seen it on the TV guide over the weekend but got overruled and then forgot about it... Thanks to you (and AndrewT) I got to watch it and thoroughly enjoyed it

[Longines]

Quick puppy question if I may:

Our Westie is six months old. Has generally good recall thanks to you advice. However, when it's bed time we put him outside for a wee. Cue anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes of 'chase me round the garden all you like, I ain't coming back inside....'

Suggestions?

[RED-DOG]

Quick puppy question if I may:

Our Westie is six months old. Has generally good recall thanks to you advice. However, when it's bed time we put him outside for a wee. Cue anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes of 'chase me round the garden all you like, I ain't coming back inside....'

Suggestions?

What a great game. He must love it.

Is the garden secure? If so, leave him out there until you decide he can come in. i.e. when he's fed up, cold and lonely.

Garden not secure? Take him out and attach him to a lead that you have made ready near his peeing place, then continue as above.

Never, ever play his game, and don't bother calling his name at any time during these proceedings. There is no point. you're only teaching him that he can ignore you and get away with it.

Never, ever call him if there's even the slightest chance he won't come.

Once you have conditioned your dog to come when he is called (And you must do it by conditioning, you can't force it) It will never even occur to him that he has a choice, he will just do it, at the double, every time.

My dog hates having a bath above anything on earth, and she knows what is going to happen the minute I get her towel and shampoo out. She goes off and hides somewhere. But when I call her, she still comes running, ears down, tail between her legs. She just doesn't know that she doesn't have to.

 

[RED-DOG]

Thanks for posting about that Mark Knopfler documentary - I'd seen it on the TV guide over the weekend but got overruled and then forgot about it... Thanks to you (and AndrewT) I got to watch it and thoroughly enjoyed it

Wasn't it a great programme?

Your fave DS track?

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[StuartHopkin]

Mr Red, we are exactly the same weight now.

Well done.

Im jumping on your band wagon.

[RED-DOG]

Mr Red, we are exactly the same weight now.

Well done.

Im jumping on your band wagon.

No problem. (As long as you're not driving)

[AndrewT]

PS - Noticed an early bath for you in the Vegas jobbie last night, I was hoping to be ringing you this morning with the "let's get those seats booked" 'phone call.

Car-crash, was it?

Two incidents - one early which was entirely avoidable and self-inflicted (hero calls are rarely a good idea on Sky) and then a pretty standard QQ into AA.

[Bongo]

Thanks for posting about that Mark Knopfler documentary - I'd seen it on the TV guide over the weekend but got overruled and then forgot about it... Thanks to you (and AndrewT) I got to watch it and thoroughly enjoyed it

Wasn't it a great programme?

Your fave DS track?

It was, you have to respect a guy who leaves one of the biggest bands in the world to make music the way he wants to.

I'm not sure I can pick just one track, it depends on my mood really.

[Eck]

Not a Dire Straits track but a favourite of mine. Enjoy the story telling and a wee bit of history in as well.

The story of the men behind the Mason-Dixon line:

[RED-DOG]

I did quite a bit of driving today.

For the most part, I enjoy driving, and today several elements fell into place to make the experience particularly rewarding. I was in no particular hurry, the traffic was light, visibility was excellent, the scenery magnificent, and Radio 4 was on top form.

One of the programmes I listened to was called "Saving Species" a bi monthly conservation presentation.

Before I get to discussing the show's content, I need to introduce you to this chap.







A Californian Condor. (Aint 'e andsome?)


He's a North American vulture. He has a bald head, a red face and a 10ft wingspan.

Apparently, during the 80's, he was shot, poisoned, and robbed of his natural habitat until his numbers dwindled down to 22 individual birds. He was teetering in the very brink of extinction.

At the last moment, a conservation plan was hatched and all 22 of the remaining condors were captured and transported to the Los Angeles zoo. There they began a carefully controlled captive breeding programme, and now there are almost 400 condors living, including almost 200 that have been returned to the wild.

The project cost thirty seven million dollars.


The question put forward on the radio programme was a simple one.

After taking all the other worthy causes into consideration, was it worth it?

[Rod Paradise]

The way the question's put - it's leading to a no answer, BUT the Condor is an apex species, to have a popuation so large you have to have a large area of habitat to support them, with all the species in that habitat to provide the food for the condor, the species (animal & plant) to support them etc etc, then yes - well worth it.

[RED-DOG]

The way the question's put - it's leading to a no answer, BUT the Condor is an apex species, to have a popuation so large you have to have a large area of habitat to support them, with all the species in that habitat to provide the food for the condor, the species (animal & plant) to support them etc etc, then yes - well worth it.

I was trying not to influence anyone one way or the other.

Fail eh?