I had some giggles coming up with a title for this post—big balls, green balls (ewww), etc.. Clearly, I’m channeling my inner 12 y. old boy.
DIY: Cardboard Catnip Castle For Your Wall
I think this happens every Fall. The days start getting shorter and somehow my I’ve-Got-To-Make-Something! button gets pushed. Here’s the first DIY post in a long time—how to make a cardboard cat “tower” that hangs on your wall.
This is a great idea, since it doesn’t take up floor space, doubles as a cat scratcher, doesn’t cost much to make, can be customized, and can double as art. How cool is that?! You can use cardboard you have or you you can buy sheets of it. I would treat the “face” of the cardboard (the part that faces the room) so that it’s more aesthetically pleasing by painting it or by applying wallpaper, decorative paper, or fabric. This tutorial shows how to make your cat a happy camper!
You’ll need:
- jigsaw
- glue gun
- Corrugated cardboard pads measuring 36″×48″ (The tutorial notes these are available in bundles of 50 from http://www.uline.com/.) Or you can use what you have on hand as long as you have enough to make your piece 35 sheets thick. You may have to adjust the shapes you make depending on what you have.
- hand saw or reciprocating saw
- 3/8″ and 9/32″ wood drill bits, 6″ or longer
- power drill
- (4)–3/8″ washers, 2″ diameter
- ratchet with 1/2″ socket
- (4)–8″×3/8″ lag bolts
- pencil
- carpenter’s glue
- paint brush
- wallpaper brush
- trim guide
- sharp utility/camping knife
- level
- 48″ ruler
- heavy objects to weigh down glued boards
OK Go Has New Video With Dog Friends
These guys are awesome—so creative. (Remember the treadmill video?) OK Go has a new video for their song, White Knuckles. This is also a single-take video, which is amazing. They used dogs from Talented Animals, in Corvallis, OR. One dog, Bunny, belongs to lead singer, Damian Kulash. Bunny got a training crash course so she could be in the video. She’s the small, brown dog with a black nose. This is a great article on the shooting of the video. One of the things that’s neat about the video is the dogs act like dogs, which it turns out was intentional. All professional dog trainers are in the business of getting something to happen once very sharply. We wanted them to act like dogs, Damian Kulash said
New Book On Michael Vick’s Dogs
Jim Gorant from Sports Illustrated has a new book that follows 49 surviving dogs seized from Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennel. (You can read about the history of this case on the Michael Vick archive page.) Gorant says:
As odd as it may seem, Michael Vick may be the best thing that ever happened to the pit bull. He gave the forum to discuss this and make it possible to get the message out there that these dogs are not what they’ve been made out to be in the headlines, that they really are just sort of dogs. And a lot varies from each one to another and then how they’re raised and socialized and all of these issues that go around them. You can find the sweetest, most loving pitbulls in the world and you can find other dogs that are as mean as you want.
Listen to the interview with the author. It was first thought that most of the dogs seized would be euthanized, happily this hasn’t been the case. Four dogs have even become therapy dogs.
The Michigan State University College of Law has a very informative page on dog fighting that covers the history, the training, the culture, the societal cost, the criminal links, laws and legal issues, and evidence, including less obvious things such as the drugs/vitamins/medical supplies used. You can also find out about the signs of dog fighting. And the Humane Society of the United States has a FAQ on dog fighting. (Note: None of the these pages have gruesome photos of dogs showing the barbarism of dog fighting. They do have a wealth of information.)
Friday Fun: Polly + Hermione = Best Friends
Polly the Boston Terrier and Hermione the cat are best friends. I love Polly’s expressions!