Claws

Daniel cut the claws of the Poodles and the Affenpinscher tonight. They whined about it and was generally quite silly. Having the claws cut is no big deal. It also feels better when it is done, with shorter, more convenient claws.

Then Daniel wanted to cut my claws. I do not know why. I did not have long claws. Naturally, I protested against this injustice? Why did Daniel have to pick me? This was reallyunnecessary and uncalled for.

Rain

It was raining in the morning. We did not need to care. Daniel had the day off from work, so we all slept until late.

It is nice to be able to sleep until late now and then. As a dog, I am lucky enough not to have a job away from home. This means that I can often go back to sleep after the morning walk. It is still even better to postpone the morning walk until later in the morning. I cherished this today.

Colombian Bicycle Victory

For the very first time, a competitor from Colombia, Egan Bernal, has won the prestigious bicycle competition Tour de France.

I usually do not follow bicycle competitions. Tour de France is well known to me, anyway. When a competitor from Paula’s country of birth wins, I believe it is worth noting. I wish to congratulate Egan Bernal and his fans for the victory.

Pictures from Apollo 11

The fifty year anniversary of Apollo 11 has passed, but it is still a great feat which can very well be commemorated some more. Here is a page with some beautiful and iconic photographs from the journey.

I wonder when people will walk on the Moon again. It will probably not happen in my lifetime.

Open Window

It is a warm night and we sleep with the window open in the bedroom. The advantage is that the temperature and air is better. The downside is that there are more noise coming in from outside. A loud motor cycle at a distance would not have bothered me with the window closed, but I heard more of it with the window open. There was no need to bark, of course, but it was a bit annoying.

No matter how great a thing is, like sleeping withan open window, there are always some downsides to it. This is because the world is sich a wonderfully complex place. Life would be boring, if everything just got better in every way.

Progress as Fewer People Eat Dogs

I was not sure about writing on this subject. It makes me sick to think of dogs being eaten, and humans eating dogs. However, there are good news. The demand for dog meat to be eaten is diminishing in South Korea. This is due to new values and the increase in having pet dogs. People who have bred dogs for the purpose of being eaten get support to find other livelihoods. This is great. Humans are taking better care of their best friend. Dogs will always take good care of their humans, when treated decently.

Visiting Paula

Our Poodle friend Momoko got to go with Daniel today, to visit Paula by the hospital. (Dogs are not allowed inside, for some reason, but Paula came outside.) Momoko was so happy, when she came back home, even though she felt the visit did not last long enough. I can understand her. I am also envious of Momoko, but I know Momoko has a certain bond with Paula and she certainly needed this visit. We all wish that Paula will come home soon.

Washing and Ironing

Daniel spent some time this evening ironing shirts. These were recently washed shirts that had to be ironed to look good enough to wear.

I am glad I have a Shiba coat that looks good almost the year round. It is just when I shed, that it may look a bit bad.

Washing is still nice. Daniel also changed the sheets in the bed tonight. It is always nice to lie down in a bed with cleaner sheets.

Indian Moon Mission

India has launched a rocket with a payload which is destined for the Moon.

I hope this mission will succeed. The Indian space agency recently aborted a mission before take off. Earlier this year, an Israeli probe failed just before it was about to land on the Moon.

When it is this difficult to land on the Moon now, the feat to land a manned mission on the Moon fifty years ago stands out even brighter. Apollo 11 will be remembered for a very long time.

Painting the Roof?

An uninvited handy-man stopped by our house this afternoon. He asked if we wanted to have our roof painted.

Daniel, who had not even considered painting the roof, thanked him for the offer, but turned it down.

I must say I have also never considered that we would paint the roof. The walls and window frames, yes, but not the roof. Perhaps it would be a good thing to do, but I have no clue that it would be. I guess we can just let it be.

Cancelled Trip

Daniel often go and see Paula at the hospital. He went Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week. He reports back to us, of course. He was supposed to go today as well, but the trip got cancelled, since Paula was busy getting taken care of by the hospital staff. We are glad she is taken good care of, but it was a disappointment that Daniel’s visit had to be cancelled.

We all wish that she will get so well soon that she can come home. We all miss her.

Landing on the Moon

Today, fifty years ago, the Lunar lander nick named Eagle landed on the Moon. It was piloted by Neil Armstrong and Edwin ”Buzz” Aldrin. Meanwhile, the command module was still in Lunar orbit, piloted by Michael Collins.

The Apollo project, with its six successful landings on the Moon, was a stunning scientific feat. The rocks brought back from the Moon are still being analysed. The project is still awe inspiring, which is also a benefit.

Still, I cannot help but consider how much of the space crafts were just going to waste. Three rocket stages were ditched when taking off from Earth. Half of the Lunar lander was left on the Moon, the other half in Lunar orbit. The final rocket stage, for the return flight to Earth, was also ditched in space. A small capsule without engines was finally landed with parachutes on Earth. The astronauts and their load of rocks came back, of course, but not much more.

It is as if Christopher Columbus would have asked Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain for ships to go across the Atlantic Ocean to India, but saying he would return in a row boat.

The next time humans go to the Moon, I believe the project must take better care of the equipment. It would be too expensive otherwise.

I do like the Apollo project. It was ahead of its time, but perhaps too ahead of its time, which made it so wasteful, because it was the way it could be done with the technology at paw at the time.

RIP, My Dear Brother Jiro

My dear little brother Jiro, the last born in our litter of three, has passed away today after a few days of illness.

Jiro was always the calm one – a nice, friendly, and intelligent Shiba male.

Jiro was the very first dog with the Aangemaam prefix who became champion. We were both at the same dog show in Sundsvall shortly after our second birthday in September 2007, both with the required number of certificates from before this birthday. Jiro won a certificate and became champion, I did not. I had to wait until the next dog show season to win my Swedish Show Champion title.

We met now and then, mostly at dog shows, in our adult life. It was always a happy reunion. I will miss the opportunities to meet Jiro again, this side of the gate into Heaven. If I get to Heaven, I am sure I will meet Jiro there.

Requiescat in pace, my dear brother!

Arson Attack at Japanese Film Studio

An animated film studio in Kyoto, Japan, has been set on fire by an arsonist. The studio is known as Kyoto Animation, or KyoAni. At least 33 humans have died in the fire.

The reason for the attack is yet unclear. It seems like the arsonist was angry with the studio, for reasons still unknown.

I am so sorry for all the victims, their families, dogs, and friends. It seems like such a waste.

On the Way

Fifty years ago, the first humans to land on the Moon were on their way there. They sat inside a little space craft, all three of them, most of the journey.

I wonder what a dog would have done, if she would have followed the humans on the trip. There was no place to go out to do what you would have to do once in a while. In the future, when dogs will follow human colonists to other celestial bodies, this problem must be taken care of.

Lift Off

Fifty years ago today, the Saturn V rocket of the Apollo 11 project started its journey from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the USA. The small lunar lander would eventually land on the Moon.

The Moon landing occured on the 20th of July 1969. History was made then. The journey started a few days earlier.

I almost wish I could have been around back then, to follow the reports. On the other paw, I am quite content with living in the present. It is fantastic to follow the anniversary, however.

Bad Timing

Hello, Karstuhl here!

Daniel came home in the afternoon, just as the rain was pouring down more than ever this day. He fed us and let us out, all in the heavy rainfall. The rain was over just a little while later.

This is what I would call bad timing. Daniel could have waited for a while. There is no use saying the rain could have held up for a little while, because the weather never does what you ask it to do. We need rain, just not when we go outside. Rain is a bad outdoor companion.

Thunder

We had thunder this afternoon and a short but intense rain fell.

Thunder is an interesting weather phenomenon. I like the occasional thunder, as long as it does not disturb me when I sleep.

There are often a lot of echoes going around, when there is thunder. If I understand correctly, from reading on line, this is due to the vacuum and changes in air pressure by lightning, which causes the sound of thunder. It is fascinating. I wish I could understand it better.

Upcoming Anniversary

It is just a few days away, the fifty years’ anniversary of the first Moon landing. On the 20 July 1969, humans set foot on the Moon for the very first time.

There are plenty of things to say about this. I suggest you read this article, it is a good start.

No Dog Show

Hello, Li`l Gertrud here!

I was supposed to go to dog shows today, tomorrow, and on Sunday. Unfortunately, we had to cancel my attendance. As long as Paula is not well, but stays at the hospital, we do not want to venture too far away from home. Even though I was eager to compete at the dog shows, it is more important to stay close to Paula. I believe I can do well on dog shows in the future instead.

Vacation

Daniel has taken the day off from work. This means he is at home more. I like this. Daniel and I spent   a lot of the afternoon just relaxing on the bed. This is something I can often do, but he cannot. I guess I could give him i spiration on how to relax.

Stolen Dog

English football player Daniel Sturridge, who lives in Hollywood, California, has had his house broken into and his dog stolen. He offers a huge reward for the return of his dog.

I cannot understand why someone would steal a dog. It is mean to both the dog and the dog’s human. You can never get the same connection to a stolen dog, as you get if you buy a pup.

Hopefully, the dog will returnhome soon and the burglars will go to prison.

Just Another Day

There are days when I feellike there is nothing special going on. Nothing special happens in our own lives, no special news are published in mass media. This is one of those days. Daniel says there are often a smaller number of interesting items in the news in the middle of the summer. I tend to agree. The summer itself is also not special this year. It is not hot, nor cold. It is not dry, nor very humid or rainy. I think I must ask you to visit my blog tomorrow instead, I think there will be something more interesting to read about then.

Dogs of Chernobyl

There are occasions when I do not want to watch certain videos. This is one such video. It is about dogs who are decendants of those pet dogs whom humans had to leave behind, when they were evacuated from the nuclear power station disaster in 1986. These dogs have lived in the area contaminated by nuclear waste from the disaster. They are now taken care of by veterinarians.

The Chernobyl disaster was created by experiments in an unsafe Soviet Union nuclear power station. This would never have happened in most other countries with nuclear power stations, such as Sweden. The communist regime did not care enough about safety. The fate of the dogs left behind, show us how long the horrible consequences of communism last, even though the regime fell in 1991.

Gold

The USA won the FIFA Ladies’ football World Cup. It was an exciting final game versus the Netherlands. While the Netherlands’ players did play well, it was fair that the Americans won. The US team played better over all. I am not just saying this, because I rooted for the USA, as the home country of Mum. I am saying this because I really think this was the case. The USA won 2-0, which is a convincing result in football. I congratulate the American players and all of the fans of this team to a great performance throughout the tournament. It was not self evident that the USA would win, even though they were favourites. They lived up to the expectations, which is good, not every favourite has done so before.

Bronze

Sweden won its final game in the World Cup, the bronze game. The Swedes beat England, 2-1.

I am very happy about this result. Those who are remembered are the medalists.

Of course, I would rather have seen Sweden in the true final tomorrow, but you cannot have it all. Now I can root for Mum’s home country, the USA, wholeheartedly. Calvin, who was born in the USA, just like Mum, will join me in rooting for the American team.

Heavy Rains in Japan

There have been heavy rains in Japan. Landslides have occurred, among other bad causes of the pouring water.

There were heavy rains last season in Japan as well. The difference, from my pointof view, was that we had a terrible draught here in Scandinavia in the same summer. This year has had more average amounts of rain here, where we live. I wish more rain could fall in the deserts of Central Asia, instead.

Can More Trees Be the Answer?

A new scientific report says that planting a lot of trees may come a long way at reducing the excess amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere put there by humans burning fossil fuels.

Other scientists say this sounds too good to be true, ”probably because it is”, and say cutting emissions is paramount.

I believe you can do both. There cannot be any harm in planting more trees, can there?

Extra Time

The semifinal between Sweden and the Netherlands will have to be decided in extra time or by penalties. The result is 0-0 after full time. Both teams have been close to score, but have failed to do so.

It was an exciting game. Unfortunately, the Netherlands managed to score in extra time, which Sweden did not. Now we have to hope for a Swedish bronze medal on Saturday.

Mum Would Have Been Pleased

The USA won the semi final versus England in the World Cup. Mum would have been pleased, an American patriot as she were, since she was born and raised there. As I am half American myself, through Mum, I also rooted for the USA.

Daniel said he rooted for England. He usually roots for European teams, when they face non-European teams. I am glad the team I rooted for won, nevertheless.

There Could Have Been Rain

The forecast said it could be rain today. There was no rain, however.

With the draught last year, we need much more rain, even though we have had a fair share of rain in May and June. We will have to see if July will be as rainy. I hope there will be a lot of rain during the nights, while the Sun may shine in the days.