Dogs and dolls and Doomsday, oh my

[cleolinda]

The hand is bad. Just red inflammation, but it's spreading, and I have an awful feeling that it's cellulitis. I'm going in to a clinic in the morning. More than anything, I'm pissed off that I said on Monday night, "Hey, I think I need to see a doctor about this," but because this has been the week from hell for everyone else (overtime at my mother's work, new classes for my sister, her brakes are out, Sam the pom is having messy stomach problems, my mother's having surgery on her own hand tomorrow...), they've spent the week trying to convince me that it'll go away on its own, even as I have 200 people in the previous two entries going "DOCTOR NOW." We actually had something approaching a fight over it this afternoon--my mother was like, "Are you sure it's not just people on the internet scaring you to death?," to which I ended up shouting, "NO, I'm SCARED TO DEATH because IT'S GETTING WORSE and IT HURTS." So I'm getting a clinic visit squeezed in before her surgery tomorrow morning. What kills me is that everyone's all sorry I got bitten in the first place, and they seem sympathetic to the general problem, to the point where they'll get me all the Advil or Neosporin I want, but it's like they have some mental block as far as the idea that it could actually be dangerous goes. I just can't understand why they won't believe that it's serious, because they can see my hand, and almost the entire back of it is red now. I'm sorry it's inconvenient, but your convenience doesn't really have any bearing on whether my hand falls off or not. TAKE ME TO A CLINIC.

Columnist Art Buchwald dies at age 81

Senators agree on Iraq war resolution. A group of senators including a Republican war critic announced agreement Wednesday on a resolution opposing President Bush's 21,500 troop build up in Iraq, setting their marker for a major clash between the White House and Congress over the unpopular war.

Bush won't reauthorize eavesdropping.

Most of U.S. shows economic growth.

Spain paper: Castro made surgery choices. Fidel Castro himself told surgeons not to perform a colostomy, opting instead for a course of surgery that produced a complication that left the Cuban leader in far worse condition, according to a newspaper report Wednesday.

Radio show pulled after woman's death; sheriff looks into water-drinking death.

Cheat on your spouse in Michigan and spend life in prison? "Nobody really expects prosecutors to go after cheating spouses. But the ruling has the local legal community twittering about its genuine intended target. One theory floating around the courthouse is that the judges were taking a jab at the state Supreme Court, which has decreed that judges must interpret statutory language adopted by the Legislature literally, whatever the consequences. Many other states allow judges to reject a literal interpretation if they believe it would lead to an absurd result. Judge Murphy wrote that he encouraged 'the Legislature to take a second look at the statutory language if they are troubled by our ruling.'"

Woman returns after 18 years in Cambodian jungle.

particle_person: Judith Regan's imprint to close after Simpson book debacle.

Deadly clue to 1918 Spanish flu virus uncovered.

Daughter: Sorvino pulled gun in dispute.

Climate change, nuclear threats push world towards Doomsday. Interestingly, this isn't even the closest to "Doomsday" that the clock has been.

Muslims laud 'Little Mosque on the Prairie.'

Group demands apology from 'Grey's' star.

Escaped chimp gets snack, cleans bathroom.

"Springer" bodyguard gets own talk show.

Lindsay Lohan checks into rehab.

Labradoodle awakens owner during fire. Coincidentally, we've been scoping out goldendoodles and labradoodles to possibly get a puppy or two (two, so they can grow up together) this spring. Unfortunately, the labradoodle we were able to find was $800, knocked down from the usual $2000. Really, we're just looking for a mid-to-small sized dog, 25 pounds or less, that will be happy in a small yard (but mostly indoors), healthy, sweet, smart, trainable, and doesn't shed a lot. The only reason we haven't gone to a shelter is because we have no way of controlling which dog my sister might fall in love with--she wants a larger dog, and the rest of us are trying to convince her to settle for a smaller one.

Dog rescued after being buried alive. They're not sure if it was buried on purpose or not, and are investigating it as a potential animal cruelty case. The dog is recovering from dehydration at an animal hospital.

ailaes: "I don't usually do this - but I was wondering if you would put up this. This is one of the worst fires in local history, and dozens of people are now homeless and in dire need of help. The local Red Cross is asking for monetary donations, and any help is appreciated."

You know how I was saying the other day that Robert Tonner may be putting out POTC and Narnia dolls? Well, here's the latest in the Harry Potter line: the Draco Malfoy doll. Heh. If they dialed up the sneer half a notch, it would be a perfect likeness. (AUGH DOBBY.)

(Also: Hardy Boys dolls. Be prepared to throw things.)

From Oscarwatch:

The Art Directors Guild nominees:

Primary category: Curse of the Golden Flower, Dreamgirls, Flags of Our Fathers, The Good Shepherd, The Prestige
Fantasy film: Children of Men [Wha? Here?], Pan's Labyrinth, Pirates of the Caribbean, Superman Returns, V for Vendetta
Contemporary film: Babel, Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code, The Departed, The Queen

Cinema Audio Society, honoring sound mixing (the MPSE, Motion Picture Sound Editors honor sound editing): Flags of Our Fathers, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Babel, Blood Diamond, Dreamgirls

George R.R. Martin confirms that A Song of Ice and Fire will become a miniseries on HBO.

telepresent got in touch with me today about a project he's doing--about "digitalism" (nice way of putting it) instead of postmodernism in theater--for his master's. "I'm signing up to several of these sites (all as Telepresent - Myspace, YouTube, Facebook and LiveJournal) basically as part of my research and search for stimuli. I want to see how people respond to the idea of this project, how they'll interact with me. I want to see how and why people spend their time on these sites. I'm going to be keeping blogs and vlogs on the progress of our piece, so please feel free to talk to me (or yell at me or flame me or outright ignore me), it'll all help me out, and might well end up being used in the performance." Personally, I feel like this ties into the Blood and Chocolate link from the other day--I think there are two separate components to the way people use journal and social sites. There's the mass communication element, in which interesting and particularized social mores develop (friending etiquette, the social consequences of plagiarism, the way people who've never met in real life bond over fandom), but then there's also individual innovation, the creative ways people find to use these sites: viral marketing, role-playing games, online novels, unfiction, the Dracula-reposted-in-real-time community, and so on.

Speaking of Dracula, something bizarrely awesome I found while Wiki-hopping today: You remember Mary Badham, the Alabama native who played Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird? I was looking her up because an episode of The Twilight Zone that she was in, "The Bewitchin' Pool," ran during the New Year's marathon on Sci-Fi, and it became increasingly obvious that her voice was badly dubbed over for some reason for about half the episode. Not only did she sound like Rocky the squirrel in all the outdoors scenes, it turns out that June Foray actually did the dubbing. So, you know: interesting. Then I found out that she has a brother: John Badham, who was born in the UK before the family moved to Alabama. Now, how you're sitting there in the UK and you suddenly go, "You know what? ALABAMA," I can't begin to imagine, but there you go. And it turns out that John Badham is actually a director I knew of in his own right--he did Saturday Night Fever, WarGames, Short Circuit, Stakeout, Nick of Time, and... the 1979 Dracula. Duuude.


ETA: POTC3 concept art from AICN, mostly awesome, but including the most ridiculous cleavage ever. "They painted it on" can't touch this. Caution: mild spoilers.

Comments

[thea-scooter.livejournal.com]

wow... whoever did the cleavage on keira's drawing was clearly dreaming.

[vintagevenus.livejournal.com]

Yikes. I'm glad that you've been able to finagle a clinic visit; I've had 'colds' that people have tried to brush off as finals stress that turned out to be pneumonia. I hope it's nothing serious.

That Badham story has me wondering...there's a girl who lives downstairs from me with the same surname, and she's from Alabama. Maybe I should ask if it's a relation.

[laurelin-kit.livejournal.com]

That Dobby doll is downright creepy.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

If I woke up and saw that on my shelf, I'd scream my frickin' head off.

[alpheratz.livejournal.com]

Oh god, how low have we gone that a super sekrit (but independent! Gonzales said so!) court handing out blanket warrants seems like such an improvement over illegal wiretapping? It is sad.

The PotC3 concept art is amazing, even if Keira doesn't actually have much of a rack. Can't wait for the movie.

[emisi.livejournal.com]

$2000 for a dog that is, in essence, a mutt? Not that I would spend that much on a purebred, but geez. I had a cockapoo (cocker spaniel-poodle) that we got for FREE when I was a kid. This whole doodle-dog trend has gotten waaaay out of hand.

[cran.livejournal.com]

Heh, I tried to post the same thing, but LJ ate my comment. I can't stand designer dogs (http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/labradoodles.html), either -- my local pet store sells "cockapoos" and "terripoos" and whatnot for hundreds of dollars, and it makes me angry every time I see their stupid newspaper ads.

[princessstarr.livejournal.com]

My cousin just bought a golden doodle puppy, for about...I wanna say $60. But only because the breeders were trying to get rid of the litters.

CUTEST thing I've laid eyes on.

[ladyvoldything.livejournal.com]

I also once saw a "Goldendoodle" that looked somewhat like a curly hairball. The kind that comes from cats.

Hybrids are a total crapshoot- the only thing they all have in common is hybrid vigor.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Uh... I'm sorry I didn't see the bit about the cat bite earlier, and without reading all 200 previous comments I'm sure this has been said before, but on the very off chance that it hasn't:

Cat bites get infected. Every time.[1] If it breaks the skin, you're going down with a very serious infection. When a cat threatens to bite at my veterinarian's, they immediately back off, call the owner, and do the whole "we're sedating your cat, here are the risks, here are the costs, do you agree? If you don't agree we'll stop treating it and you can pick it up and take it to a different vet" routine[2], because a vet who gets bitten by a cat is usually down for a good two days recovering.

So yeah. Get your hand to a doctor.[3] It sucks that you live in a third-world country where medical care is generally incompetent and actually costs money, but it is much, much better than nothing.

PS: The first three hits on google for "cat bite" provide these wonderful inspiring sites:
http://familydoctor.org/203.xml
http://familydoctor.org/024.xml
http://www.ehow.com/how_2360_treat-cat-bite.html
NB the comments on the last one, again second-hand from vets, saying that "40%" is way too low on the odds of a cat bite getting infected.

[1]: The cases where it doesn't infect are usually where the bite only barely breaks the skin. Deep punctures that don't infect are rare enough that "always" is, in fact, the best term to use, since it's within a rounding error of being correct.

[2]: If you argue about it, they will often give the cat a few hours to calm down and try again very carefully, and if you break down crying about how you can't afford it they're quite accomodating in letting you pay them later or even, rarely, writing off the fees. They're not jerks about it.

[3]: For the record: I am not a doctor, nor am I a veterinarian. I've just paid a lot of attention to doctors and vets, especially in the realm of cat-related injuries, over the year.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

It sucks that you live in a third-world country where medical care is generally incompetent and actually costs money, but it is much, much better than nothing.

... Alabama?

Doctor

[mamapduck.livejournal.com]

So not okay. You need to see a doctor and a swift kick to anyone who tells you it's no big deal. If you can't get a ride, call a cab and I will send you $20 to cover it if money's tight. Noone should be without the care they need.

Re: Doctor

[sigma7.livejournal.com]

Dude, if I was living fewer than three states away, I'd play chauffeur. (Or if I was still unemployed. Damned yokes of capitalist oppressors!)

Yes, get you there before you get worse. Do not be afraid to ask anything of your legions of damned undead happy little minions. We want you hale and healthy and relatively intact and as happy as humanly possible given the circumstances.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

I hope the hospital gives your mom whatfor tomorrow about the delay in taking you in. Your family must belong to the "walk it off" school of pharmacology.

In other news, my stepsister just had her baby, which makes me a stuncle. Unfortunately, the baby is two months early and it's just 3 pounds, 5 ounces. For the moment, it's okay, though. *holds breath*

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Best wishes for the stiece/stephew!

[lafemmezilla.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness your poor hand. Ow. I'm glad you are getting it looked at tomorrow! Take care. :)

[honorh.livejournal.com]

Damn it, you know you're a Whovian when all you can think of is Rose and the Doctor's heartbreaking goodbye at the end of S2 when you see the word "Doomsday."

[newsong.livejournal.com]

The Hardy Boys don't look much like boys at all. Ew.

[sucrelefey.livejournal.com]

Silly question, are you allergic to cat as well?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I don't have any pet allergies that I know of.

[sandelwood]

DO NOT get a doodle of any kind. Goldendoodles and labradoodles DO shed, require regular grooming/trimming (and I personally charge at least $75 every 6 weeks for this), and they are VERY difficult to train. Anyone who has told you otherwise, including breeders, are lying through there teeth. Goldendoodles in particular have the nastiest hair I've ever dealt with. They mat in minutes, and I have yet to meet one that isn't a serious training problem, whether its pulling or biting or just being stupid and knocking people over. And crossbreeds typically get bigger than both of their parents. I groom several that are well over 80lbs and will have serious joint problems when they get old.

On top of that, no one should ever pay the ridiculous amount they charge for a crossbreed and will never breed true or be accepted to a national registry. They aren't a "breed" and never will be show dogs. These are fads I deal with every damn day as a groomer in a high class neighborhood, because every rich idiot has to have to cool new mutt. If you want a mutt, go to a humane society and get the heinz variety of mutt, and save your money. If you want a"breed", research and find one that fits your lifestyle, and doesn't come with health problems.

Yes, I'm adamant about this. The more people fall for the lies breeders tell about Doodles, the more they'll continue to breed, and I don't need any more of the fucking retarded things in my shop.

[mrsaudio.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you. I work in an Emergency Vet Clinic and we see some of these stupidly named cross breeds. We had one in not too long ago that was a "Puggle". A Pug-Beagle mix. Why? Why would anyone want that? A dog that howls like a beagle and snores like a pug. Oh yeah, that's a great mixture.

[mautakh.livejournal.com]

Good luck with your cat bite, I'm sure you'll be fine. I got bit by a cat over the summer and thought for sure I had rabies but it worked out just fine. The scientist in my just knows too much.

If you family really wants a poodle mix there are lots in pounds and rescues because they aren't the perfect shedless dogs they are sold as. That and all puppies are insane. You might get the best of both breeds or possibly the worst. There's a whole site just for poodle mix rescues here you might want to check out: http://www.poomixrescue.com/dog_types.html

about cellphones and telemarketers

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

FYI from Lowen Kruse, our dear senator who bothers to emails us about
issues in Nebraska:

>P.S. Come the first of February, tele marketers can start calling
lists of cell phone numbers. The feds have offered to block your
number, if you choose, but you must call in soon. Now would be good.
You must call on the cell phone with that number, then follow the
prompts: 888.382.1222

[agatha-mandrake.livejournal.com]

Little Mosque on the Prairie! Word up, CBC!
(It's a cute show. A litte forced at times, but hell, it's the CBC)

One of my cousins got a labradoodle (most unfortunate breed name ever), and it was so well behaved. The little guy just slept all Christmas Day. And omgsosoft.

[lissa-quon.livejournal.com]

Nah, I have to say the most unfortunate breed name would have to be 'Pikapoo' or a 'Maltypoo'. I don't understand who names these things.

[rockgeisha.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah--the dance floor in Saturday Night Fever was inspired by the dance floor at The Club on Red Mountain.

[agatha-mandrake.livejournal.com]

And now I really want those ballet dolls.

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Oh my GOD that cleavage is ridiculous. It's like, twice the size of Keira Knightley herself.

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Also, I hope your hand gets better very soon. And that it gets evil before it gets worse because there's nothing better than a good evil hand story.

[ter369.livejournal.com]

Cleo, I hope all goes well with getting your hand treated and with your mom's surgery.

[sorchar.livejournal.com]

Dude, the hair on the Draco doll is scary.

I'm glad you're getting your hand seen to. Infection spreads so easily.

[trash-addict.livejournal.com]

In relation to viral marketing and sponsored communites talk: I'm actually doing my Honours project this year on the way the entertainment industry is utilising the internet and online communities to market their products, from sites like MySpace to more subtle means like sponsored communities. Keep the links coming if you find anything of interest on the subject!

[r-a-black.livejournal.com]

"NO, I'm SCARED TO DEATH because IT'S GETTING WORSE and IT HURTS."

Shit, normal scratches hurt, and if that was happening to your hand and they were arguing over it, then someone needs a Reality Bat to smack certain other people around with.

Dude, the Dobby Doll made me burst out laughing. He looks crazed/slightly disgruntled. It's like the corner of his mouth will twitch the second I look away.


And also, I feel like a dork proud to say that I am stoked (and my boyfriend will be too, especially) about the Song of Ice and Fire mini-series, however long it'll take them to actually get it up and running.

[purpleivey.livejournal.com]

I just wanna know how they're gonna do it without cutting out half the characters, cutting out half the action (especially some of the stuff that really is too graphic for even HBO), upsetting the fundies, and all that. I can see a lot of people who haven't read the books sitting there scratching their heads going "and she's related to who, now?"

I'd watch it, though : ) I'd kill to see costume concept sketches!