Month: August 2016

Brodie explains “Extreme Vetting”

Published on by Lucas Pam4 Comments

Lots of noise out there about Mr. T and his latest quotable sound bite regarding “extreme vetting.”  What he has proposed has happened in the past…according to The Washington Post 8/16/16…”It has happened before: During the Cold War, there was ideological screening under the 1940 Alien Registration Act, designed to prevent the entry of communists, anarchists and others. Immigrants are currently required to know basic civics as part of a citizenship test, and Trump’s extreme vetting would require visa applicants’ affirmative agreement with those principles — though he wasn’t clear whether he would do this with a legislative change (which would be unassailable) or a unilateral executive action.”  So there are few details in this vetting…let me fill in the golden blanks.

Vetting is something that I do on a regular basis. My buddies go through the same.  When I was a growing up pup, I experienced “extreme vetting” until I grew to one year.  Then the older I got the less this happened…but never the less, my vetting now happens at least bi-annually and if I’m lucky that’s it.  Vetting keeps me healthy, keeps me from making other dogs ill and ensures that I continue to live a healthy and happy golden life.  There is a price to pay for this. I must have my shots updated and recorded. Then I can get my tag that says I have had certain tests and I can’t give rabies. I must have a fecal check so as not to spread nasty communicable diseases. Sitting on a scale is required…a gum & teeth check occurs.  I don’t complete any forms or exercise my brain or make any statements about neutering or no-kill shelters or puppy mills…I don’t have to know that the cardinal is my state bird or that the tiger swallowtail butterfly is my state’s insect… I do annually live up to the social norms associated with me…we comply…so I live legally as a licensed domesticated dog within the great Commonwealth of Virginia.  Interesting that each state has its rules and regulations to abide by regarding licensing dogs.  I heart VA.

So… my vetting keeps me and others safe and I’m legal…Can’t comment of Mr. T’s.

A succulent blooms

Published on by Lucas Pam9 Comments

Quiet after the rain

Fleshy plant blooms in morning

Embracing the sun

Haiku Poem by PamelaWLucas 8/16/16

Photo by PamelaWLucas 8/16/16

Autumn sneaks up

Published on by Lucas Pam10 Comments

Moon vine and green bug

Daylight and air whisper change

Linger little one

Haiku by PamelaWLucas 8/15/16

Photo by PamelaWLucas 8/15/15

Brodie admits his increasing golden incertitude

Published on by Lucas Pam7 Comments

Today became the “pay for play” topic by newspapers, Twitter, Facebook, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, BBC and the beat goes on..for the D Lady.  Today also became filled with reports of the Secret Service speaking about intentions to incite and encouragement of violence against the D presidential nominee…brought on by Mr. T.  Both sides strongly denied these accusations.  Time for some golden thoughts.

I have many play dates.  My humans arrange these fun times for me.  Some of these romps are impromptu, with neighbor dogs…sometimes I get to go to friends houses with fenced backyards and we dogs just run our guts out.  Other times, my people pay for my play…they arrange with my dog-sitters for me to play with other dogs…maybe dogs that I don’t know…but the humans set-up the romp based on our age, gender, habits and social skills…I have met some great dogs through “pay for play.”  I’m sure lucky that my caring humans have the money and the time to arrange these events.  I get that some dogs have no idea about these perks…they are lucky to get a safe walk and food.  My golden appreciative self wishes all dogs lived with my advantages…but I know that is only a dream in my dog mind.

In closing, I’m a golden who sees through lenses that are typically rosy and happy, so I can not even comment on this Mr. T stuff about encouraging violence…especially if intentional?!!  I can’t compare anything in my life that identifies with hurting others.  I’ll leave it…I know that works for me…when I have to leave it.

 

Brodie chews on the 3 ways to chase the Presidency

Published on by Lucas Pam4 Comments

Who? Who is this person? Mr. Mc is a “well-funded independent candidate …that is going to at least try to get on 20-30 state presidential ballots,” according to The Washington Post, 8/9/16. “They say,” whoever “They are” Mr. Mc just might qualify for the coming presidential debates…big R money backing Mc.
Well, my golden self says bring it on Mr. Mc. Why not be a spoiler for Mr. T, why not give the fed-up R folks a candidate…even though Mc will sprint in the race as an Independent.  The D lady probably welcomes Mr. Mc… cause every vote for Mc is a vote bye-bye for Mr. T.  Remember Mr. J for the Libertarian Party?  The Green Party???…Do you recall my write-in…the Christmas Par-ty???Let’s look at this process.

There are three ways a person can become president of the USA…1) person gets nominated to represent a political party at a national nominating convention 2) a person runs as an independent, get tons & tons, heaps of signatures to get on the ballot and 3) be a write-in person..lots and loads and reams of paper work with 34 states accepting this process.  So…”let the games begin,”…”Katie don’t bar the door” and “Get on the bus, Gus”…”Be the ball”…Can’t wait to see the ballot on November 8th…might remind you of the confusion you’ve faced when ordering ice cream… so many flavors…and of course, you wanted three scoops, each one being different, in a cup and not a cone…and at that point you just go for chocolate or vanilla…in a cone…#done

 

 

Brodie asks why the presidential process is what it is?

Brodie Yaps Out… A Green Secret?!?!

Published on by Lucas Pam6 Comments

Yeah…the Green Party had a Green Party Presidential Convention in Houston yesterday…and who knew?!?! I wish I had been up on that…I adore Houston…I bet they even had green balloons…maybe even some gluten-free, free-range egg cake with green icing, and super-cold, iced green tea.  So why did I not know about this?!?!

The plethora of information that swirls and runs full force daily for the D Party and the R Party is mind numbing…my golden brain can’t take but so much…I would have welcomed the press devoting more time to these “third-party” people as they sprint to the White House…not favored but in the hunt.  Now, additionally, I learn about this Mr. J…he’s the presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party and a former governor of New Mexico…where are the stories??…where is the coverage??…what day do they debate?!?…

So, I leave you with homework…retrieve time each day…read about these two parties that challenge the conventional and customary “two-party system.”  You just might end up at a party you never thought you’d attend.

Research Ralph Nader…third parties…nothing new.

 

Brodie Barks About Political Ducks in a Row

Published on by Lucas Pam11 Comments

We’re nearing three months until Election Day for the President of the United States… November 8th…and what’s going on out there?… Both parties, if you read the newspapers and listen to the pundits…both parties face daily challenges, daily accusations, daily polls…daily mud-slinging…it’s the game…it’s the “who’s got their clear message out there and who’s got “their ducks in a row.”   Now just what does that mean???

The retriever in me knows about ducks, about their unpredictable flying patterns and just how they like to make patterns both in the air and on the ground.  I like ducks.  Our fine feathered friends are survivors…they stick together, they understand a formation & who has the strength to leader…cause a dumb duck becomes a dead duck.

So…getting your political ducks in a row means, get organized and understand what’s the next step…stay focused…don’t fly off…stay together…be clear on where you’re going and follow your leader…have a clear message…pounce when necessary…exude strength…offer sincere humility…and show undying devotion to our great nation and its safety and… remember what happens to dumb ducks.

Duck quote:  When under pressure, it is wise to behave like a duck. Keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like heck underneath. Anonymous

 

 

Brodie grabs the back story…what is socialism?

Published on by Lucas Pam14 Comments

I’m mouthing and offering you some information regarding “what is socialism?” Yeah, I get confused with this…seems that others do as well.  So I did some research…
Webster’s defines socialism..”a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government rather than by individual people and companies.” Synonyms for a socialist government, according to Thesaurus.com are: collectivism, communism, Leninism, Marxism, with more options.  Antonyms for a socialist government are: capitalism and capitalist economy.  No bells and whistles, just definitions.

Now… I have been spending a great deal of my formative golden years becoming socialized.  It always sounds good to me and most of the time being socialized works…when all dogs get along…when all dogs get equal treatment…it works… but other times I feel pounced on…I feel I’m putting forth a greater effort…I feel intimated & don’t feel included… So, then I go back to my basic training to understand the fundamentals…Humans have a similar situation??? …in that socialism gives power to the government…and most of the time that can works?!?!?…

Seems that some humans and politicians (can be one in the same) don’t understand the definition of socialism, and until that epiphany arrives, expect divided playtimes…divided parties…confusion…

And…I’ll gladly provide you with my golden copy of Webster’s.

 

 

 

Brodie leaks insights into “Digging a Hole”

Published on by Lucas Pam12 Comments

Digging a hole has always given me extreme pleasure.  While I can’t speak for other breeds, I can offer that retrievers are excellent hole diggers. We dig holes sporadically.  I have yet to wake up in the morning and declare that I would dig a hole that day…it just happens… whenever…with little thought…without thinking of the associated consequences.  We dogs dig shallow holes, deep holes…we sling dirt and mud and don’t care where it flies.  We dig with our paws and for the pure joy of it all.  This present political race to the White House presents some hole digging insights.

Think about how you’ve seen these folks running for the Office of the President… you’ve seen both sides dig a hole so quickly and so deeply that they become trapped.  So there is a difference between dog holes and people holes.  Dogs digging a hole is simply a sublime moment of pleasure…for politicians its disaster…Dogs dig joyfully with their paws and public servants move the earth with their wagging tongues…Dogs never clean up or close their holes and if lucky the hole…the work of dog art goes unnoticed. Political folks have to fill in the hole, back track, side step, deny, re-state, deny, pivot, us words that are opposite of what brought them into the hole in the first place.  Adding clarity, the lady’s holes are usually drilled carefully with cherry picking skills interjected…the Mr. T’s shallow holes resemble a wide ditch…whatever the description…both sides seem to have a penchant for digging holes that won’t fill back up and disappear.

Bottom line:  Dogs deserve to dig a nice hole now and then…folks running for the presidency of the USA…not recommended…

 

 

 

 

Brodie out front with the next three months

Published on by Lucas Pam5 Comments

Political conventions ended…elephants & donkeys continued their bureaucratic journeys…spreading & speaking their political stuff as the media declares the next 99 days a “rocky road”; a blood-bath” and “incredibly nasty”.  Sound like something you want to follow?

My golden take says that these are unusual political times.  These are difficult times for many.  We have two parties, maybe a third (Mr. J. could be declared president of Utah as it stands now?!?!)…who will take every opportunity to say things that could harm or hurt each other, perhaps themselves.  There will be flying accusations, founded and unfounded.  Candidates pivoting techniques will leave questions or remarks unanswered…leading to further frustration for the public.  So, I dug up some quotes for you to ponder:

“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” James Madison

“When you think everything is someone else’s fault, you will suffer a lot.  When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.”  Dalai Lama

“We all do better when we work together. Our differences do matter, but our common humanity matters more.” ― Bill Clinton

“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight- it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower

“When they go low or high, you go golden.”  Golden Brodie… who retrieved what the present first lady said and made it golden.”

Go golden…