Coffee and Provocation

Oppose California's Mandatory Sterilization Law:
California Assembly Bill 1634 would require the mandatory sterilization of most working dogs in California. Hard to believe, but true. If you live in California and have a working terrier, a lurcher, a bandog, or any type of breed not recognized by the AKC or the UKC, then the State is going to require that your dog be sterilized by the age of four months.

• To read the legislation
  
  
• To read about the legislation
  
  
• To take action to stop this terrible and poorly thought out legislation
  
  

• Overbreeding: Beware of Simple Answers -- Why I oppose mandatory spay-neuter laws, and why I hope you will too.

Deben Mark III for Sale:
A fellow in New Mexico is selling a Deben Mark III locator set for $150 (original cost was $300). It was used for ferreting, and is very good condition. Email Clint at >> cchisler@unm.edu to inquire and/or work out the details.

Jon and Roseann Hanson's New Magazine:
Jon and Roseann Hanson have come out with a new magazine called Overland Journal, which is dedicated to vehicle-centered expedition travel and exploration in North America and around the world. The premier issue features over 100 pages of expedition vehicles, travel stories, equipment reviews, and conservation news, and has a crack-shot group of writers and editors associated with it. All good and long may it prosper! A hat tip to Steve Bodio for pointing me to this one.

The End of Playboy Bunnies?
Hugh Hefner's bunnies are under threat. No, not the dim-brained silicon-injected automatons that Hugh Hefner shares his mansion with, but the real marsh rabbits that live on Big Pine Key in Florida and that were named after Hefner by a couple of scientists with a sense of humor. It seems feral cats on the island and a nearby airforce base threaten to make Sylvilagus palustris hefneri extinct. >> To read more

A Good Read on Canine Diet:
I'm tired of reading about dog food, but this essay was well-worth the time >> Are Dogs Carnivores? A hat tip to Teddy Moritz for this one!

The Monks of New Skete Use Choke Collars:
A while back I wrote a piece about television dog trainers who work with problem dogs, and that most use chain slip collars to teach basic commands. While watching Divine Canine, the new dog show about the dog trainers at the New Skete monastery, I noticed the use of chain skip collars once again. Of course they use choke collars. Why change what works?