GeorgeGlass

In most peoples books, human lives take precedence over animal lives. But not all, and I really don’t think there’s something wrong with that. I can’t tell you to see human lives and dachsund lives as similar, and you can’t tell me not to. We favour humans because we are humans, so there’s that obligatory loyalty there, and most of us have been taught that we as a species are superior. If you relate more with humans of course you’re going to value their lives more. That doesn’t mean their lives have more value. Unless you define value as in how they contribute to human society. 

For example, I believe life is valuable and that belief isn’t conditional to how I relate to other species or how those species can contribute to human society. But if there was a dog or a potted plant in a burning building, I wouldn’t save the potted plant over the dog. I don’t relate to a potted plant. I don’t understand how their suffering functions the same way I understand a dog. But a child vs a dog would be a much tougher choice to me, because I understand both. I’d probably choose the child, but I would not be able to live with myself – that dog’s death would haunt me. 
I do see my pets as my children. I don’t think they’re the same as human children, of course human children grow up into human adults, and trumps or cosbys so there’s a smidge more responsibility involved in shaping their minds and teaching them respect, and if they bite somebody, the neighbours can’t have them immediately executed. But I love them unconditionally. I value them. I am responsible for their lives, their happiness, and I am the only loving, nurturing authority they know. And I work at a shelter so I see what abandonment does every single day. I worry often about what will happen to them if something happened to me. 

As you can tell by my rant, I feel very strongly about this.

No, “save this human or that human” is not similar to “save this human or that dachshund.” I’m sorry, but in my book, human lives take precedence over animal lives. 
Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. In a burning building, I would choose to save one of my cats over, say, Larry Nassar. But then, I’d probably choose to save my toaster oven over Larry Nassar, so...

If it were my upstairs neighbor’s son? To be brutally honest, I’d rescue the Pizza Rat first, although the fault lies more with the parents than with the little miscreant.
I’ve been through a lot with my wee corgi lass already. We’ve seen her through some pretty severe epileptic seizures, sat with her in hospital, and my iPod is set with alarms for her medication schedule. I couldn’t leave her behind, not after all we’ve been through. Granted, I’d get my mother and the kids out first, but I’d go back for her. She’s worth it.

Thank you, George  

Happy birthday, Willow!

Happy birthday, Willow!

Not only is there all that BS, but there’s also the massive variation in what works for whom. I recently went to a panel discussion in which 5 writers talked about, among other things, hashing out story ideas. Some of them absolutely needed someone to discuss ideas with; some just needed to say them out loud, even to a rubber ducky; and one said that articulating his ideas made him lose all interest in them. 

Not only is there all that BS, but there’s also the massive variation in what works for whom. I recently went to a panel discussion in which 5 writers talked about, among other things, hashing out story ideas. Some of them absolutely needed someone to discuss ideas with; some just needed to say them out loud, even to a rubber ducky; and one said that articulating his ideas made him lose all interest in them. 

Oh crud, I’m so sorry.    I get that feeling a lot for a super tech-savvy old friend who passed away just as Wikipedia and YouTube were becoming real things, so often while watching or reading about tech stuff I think of how much he’d have loved all of it. The fact that I get to think about him at random once in a while like that makes me happy, and it will be the same for you. Best wishes to you and the family.

My condolences, George.  

Those sneak up on you. I won’t say it gets easier, but it doesn’t get harder.

I’m sorry for your loss. My condolences.

Sad to hear that your father is gone. Peace be with you always.

Enjoy! *hides kagome's car keys in houseplant*

Enjoy! *hides kagome's car keys in houseplant*

Scootely dooteley doo waaaAAAAAAH! *slides into tree*

*bursts into chorus of “Cheeseburger in Paradise”*

He should have gone with “Jimmy Buffet’s Buffet.” 10% off your order if you pronounce the name of the restaurant correctly.

He should have gone with “Jimmy Buffet’s Buffet.” 10% off your order if you pronounce the name of the restaurant correctly.

I used to have Superbowl barbeques when I had my garden apartment in Manhattan. It was awesome.
@GeorgeGlass That song makes me think of going to Jimmy Buffet’s restaurant in Negril, and quite literally having a cheeseburger in what sure felt like Paradise…

*bursts into chorus of “Cheeseburger in Paradise”*

Yeah, 2017 made 2016 look like 2015.

Hope you had a good one, CL!

Now that’s how it’s done!

Now that’s how it’s done!