The KNS has an article on the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine’s “Fat Camp,” where owners send their pets to lose weight. According to one study, 6 out of 10 U.S. pets are overweight.
I’ve got a cute little overweight cat here, but I don’t think Fat Camp is in her future. I don’t think she’d fare too well on the underwater treadmill.

I hadn’t followed the case, but based on reading this article, I’m surprised that an amusement park operator was found criminally liable for the death of a woman who fell from a ride.
Based on the story, it doesn’t seem like the prosecution met the burden of showing the defendant acted in a manner which showed blatant disregard for the life of the customer. Of course I didn’t see the testimony.
At any rate, I guess the jury made a statement to all the tourist traps in Sevier County.

For sometime I’ve been thinking about upgrading my bike transportation system. No, not my vehicle–though that would nice–what I use to hold the bicycle. I’m currently using an inexpensive trunk rack, but with a new bike on the way, I’ve been yearning for something more secure and sporty.
So yesterday I finally bit the bullet and ordered a Yakima roof rack from Agee’s Bicycles. I got what I presume to be one of the better deals available: a 20% sale, free shipping, and no sales tax (which would be almost 10% locally). Nevertheless, I winced a bit when I hit “place order” because it’s still a nice chunk of change.
This won’t be news to anyone, but I’m struck by the difference in shipping services. Within a few hours of the order, Agee’s e-mailed me the tracking number so I can monitor the UPS delivery. at the UPS website, I can see that it has already left Richmond, VA, and is supposed to arrive here tomorrow.
This contrasts sharply with a recent order I made at Performance Bicycles. I ordered May 1, they allegedly shipped on May 3 (USPS), and I still haven’t received my goodies. Yes, 13 days and counting. I’m not sure where they are shipping from, but the headquarters is in North Carolina. What are they using, pony express? This punches a hole in that “world is getting smaller” theory, doesn’t it?
I sure hope I don’t have to return anything for an exchange; might be July before I see it.
UPDATE: The goods just arrived! No wonder it took so long; they came all the way from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Why it takes the USPS two weeks to move a couple boxes one state over is beyond me.

Last week when the White House and Capitol were evacuated thanks to the Cessna scare, I was willing to cut Mr. Bush a little slack for being out bicycling at the time. After all, I’m not one to fault a guy for being out cycling on a nice day. Granted, we’re talking about the supposed most powerful man in the world here, not your average Joe. But whatever.
But today I learn that our “Commander in Chief” wasn’t even aware that (1) 30,000 people in D.C. (including his wife) had been evacuated, (2) the continuity of government plan was initiated, and (3) fighter jets had been scrambled, until 36 minutes after the “all-clear” had given!
Despite the 9/11 Pet Goat fiasco (or more accurately, because of it) this is stunning. You’d think the White House handlers would have learned a lesson and at least attempted to portray the president as being “in charge.” But I guess if you’re in a situation where seconds count, there’s only time for the most essential tasks.
It’s nice to see that the Secret Service did their job and took care of the most essential elements in the Executive Branch during a potential crisis. You know, the people who are really in charge. Meanwhile, I’m sure Mr. Bush enjoyed a nice, peaceful bike ride.
UPDATE: Commenters at AMERICAblog are contending this only illustrates that the Cessna scare wasn’t a real emergency. Maybe so. At the time, I thought all the brouhaha was an overreaction to a high-flying Cessna, but I’m not a terrorism security expert. At any rate, if the Secret Service is evacuating people (warranted or not), the president should know what’s going on. It’s that simple.

I’m not an authority on parenting. And, sadly, don’t even possess a great deal of expertise on “courting.” But this whole mindset seems rather bizarre quaint to me:

I define courtship as the discovery of a life-partner for a daughter under the direct oversight of the father. Any man seeking to beg, borrow or steal a daughter’s hand without her father’s endorsement is seeking to gain, in unlawful ways, “property” not his own. Daughters are Daddy’s girls in the objective sense, and this particular daughter rejoices in that truth. I am owned by my father. If someone is interested in me, he should see him.

Suffice it to say, an awful lot of women have gotten themselves in bad situations by taking these beliefs too literally.
More commentary here and here.