Magna Carter

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Pssst, Maddie was wrong. I was going to research secondary characters, but I realize I hadn't hit the family tree research in a while. I found a few more geneaology sites with message boards. In turn I discovered quite a bit of chatter about the Billingsley book and some of the ancestors. I don't have the documentation, but apparently a link has been established between John Billingsley as being a descendant of a Magna Carter signer, the Crusader Sayer de Quincy. In fact, other descendants of John Billingsley have successfully applied to the Magna Carter Society. Cool. I haven't calculated how many great, great's John B. is removed, but it does give me a thrill to have the connection. :) Carol

American Immigrants decended from Magna Charta Barons

Those Darn Cats

Monday, July 30, 2007

Maddie here again as Carol's decided to work on secondary characters tonight, whatever that means.

I have a cat problem. Little Darling and I have arrived at an uneasy alliance where we tolerate each other most of the time. Every once and awhile, the dog in me gives in to a bit of barking and tussling. But Stripes is a different matter.

She's been holed up in Carol's writing room since I've arrived. Up until recently, I've rarely gotten a good look at her. Now she's playing a very irritating game. While Carol's getting ready for work in the mornings, Stripes sits on the other side of the closed door to the writing room. I can smell her, but she sits just far enough away that I can't nip at her in the gap. I get so frustrated that I bark and Carol comes and picks me up, removing me from temptation.

But two can play the game. Today I sat far enough from the door so Stripes couldn't see me anymore. The stinker stuck her paw under the door and jiggled it open [I grudgingly have to give her credit for that trick]. The moment the door swung in, I was through it. What fun! I got to chase Stripes all around the room until the coward ran into the closet and backed into a corner. I barked my head off until Carol, still soaking wet from her shower, came running into the room to grab me. What a spoil sport she can be.

However, there's always tomorrow for another round with the cat. A dog can only dream. In the meantime, Carol made me pose with Little Darling. Sigh, Maddie

Bone to pick with my human

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Maddie here.

I have a major bone to pick with Carol. She's been doing this makeover project on the TV room. Now I have a special chair in that room with my own cushion. I lie there for hours, watching over Carol to make sure she's okay.

Well, this weekend, after she finished touching up the ceiling and ceiling trim, she decided the layout of the furniture didn't serve the work she does in the room so she moved things around...including my chair! And horrors of horrors, she said that eventually the chair will have to go because it's too big for the room. I was so mad that I wanted to nip her heel, but instead I put my favorite toy in the chair. I just know she wouldn't do a thing to the chair so long as my toy's there...or would she?

She did reassure me that it will be a while so my chair's safe for now, and I'll have to keep giving her kisses. Maddie

Thumb's up to Nike

Friday, July 27, 2007

Great news. Today Nike announced that it has suspended Michael Vick's contract without pay and will stop selling all Vick-related products at its stores. Something like 165,000 people protested against any continued sponsorship until the trial.

That's another step for animals. Carol

SYTYCD Eliminations

Thursday, July 26, 2007

As Nigel said tonight, one bad performance can cost a dancer elimination. The pairing of poor choreography and partner put the death knell on Jaime. Her extensions and leaps left me in awe.

And I'm not sure how Dominic is still in the competition; his mugging last night drove me nuts. Oh well, there's always next week to look forward to his elimination. :) Carol

SYTYCD

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I've so wanted a woman to win this year as the prior two winners were men. While one doesn't know how the popularity vote will go, out of the final ten dancers, I think overall the women are superior to the men. I adore Lacey, but I could be equally thrilled with Sabra, Jaime, or Sara [? I think that's her name] winning. The fifth female dancer hasn't really registered with me before so I don't know her name; however, she has had a good night.

The only bad note tonight was the choreography for the Viennese waltz...Spanish flavor?!? It really hurt the dancers and Jaime in particular. She's been spectacular up to now. Fingers crossed that she survives, but when it's down to so few, one bad dance could mean the end for her. Carol

Thumb's up to NFL Commissioner Goodell

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Thank God, Raven quarterback Vick has been temporarily 'benched'. Thumb's up to the NFL commissioner for taking such action. I just hope it's not an empty gesture to appease the 263,000 people who contacted the NFL, asking for Vick to be suspended.

Only time will tell whether the NFL will support right or the bottom-line $. The US Humane Society has now organized a campaign to email Vick's major sponsor, Nike. I joined in the campaign and sent an email to Nike because every day one hears stories of atheletes overcoming adversity who would beso much worthier role models than a dog murderer.

I was horrified by a local news story of a man arrested yesterday for cruelty to a whole pack of pit bulls he kept chained and starving in his backyard. Since it had been going on for some time before a neighbor finally called the police after hearing a dog screaming, I'm thinking that the Vick story may have had a small impact on people taking a stand and taking action. Unfortunately, a number of the dogs were in such bad shape they had to be destroyed, but others were saved and hopefully can be rehabilitated.

Carol