The Jackie and Angel Webcam Trial

I have been thinking for a while now about setting up a webcam so that I could check in on Jackie and Angel during the day. They are such trouble makers a webcam from which I could monitor their daily activities made some sense. I also thought it would be a lot of fun.

Like a lot of things in my life, I procrastinated getting a webcam because I am cheap. Even at $29.95 I balked at buying one, but the real reason wasn't really because of the cost, the real reason was because I would have to spend valuable television time figuring out how a webcam works. But, when I happened across a cheapo webcam at Big Lots, formerly Pic-&-Save, I figured someone was trying to tell me something, so I tossed it in my cart.

First, I think I should tell you that cheap, no-name computer peripherals are NOT the way to go. The supporting software is usually written by some out of work computer science major, and upgrades com from some 486 sitting in a shack in south China some place. You usually spend more time trying to get the damn thing to work than is worth the five bucks you saved in the first place, but I view such shoddy hardware as a challenge, and so I skipped the premier of The Two Coreys the other night, and gave setting up my new webcam a go.

As was expected, getting the camera to work with the supplied software was a night mare. As soon as it was installed, it crashed, and so I went to the website printed on the outside of the box and I found a link where I could download a patch that allegedly allowed the already installed software to play nice with Microsoft Vista. I updated the software with the patch, rebooted my machine, and viola! It worked. I was stunned.

I found a little webcam hosting service called eyespyfx, and using their software I was able to broadcast from my humble little webcam. Before I left work the next morning I slung the webcam cable over the patio light mounted the webcam out back so that it over looked our patio, started the software, and went to work. When I arrived at my office I went to the website, and lo and behold, there was my back patio. The camera worked all day long, but even though our back patio is covered, and no direct sunlight ever hits the cement in the webcam target area, by 11:30am the picture was so washed the only thing I could really make out was Jackie when she would walk across the patio every now and again.

There had to be a better way.

Then it hit me. When the webcam software asked me to select a webcam from a drop down menu, it not only listed my USB webcam, but it also included my ATI X600 All-in-Wonder card, which is a video capture card as well as a graphics card. (I use it to transfer old VHS tapes onto my computer so that I can make DVD's out of them.) That gave me an idea.

I busted out the video camera I bought at the thrift store some time ago, popped it onto my tripod, plugged it into my video card, and viola! Instant, high quality webcam.

I have been fiddling around with both cameras, and have both working quite well with PY Software Active Webcam. It's the same software Laurence Simon uses for his world famous IFOC Catcams. You know if Laurence uses it, it's gotta be good.

So now I have all that I need so that I can keep an eye on those two precocious precious little roustabouts, Jackie and Angel. And, because they have such a following I thought it would be fun to publish the address so that you, too, can enjoy the antics of Jackie and Angel. However, be aware that the camera will only be on while the two dogs are in the backyard, which is typically between 6am through 4pm every weekday. I have the camera on right now for testing purposes, and I might leave it on through the night just to see if it will crash or not.

In any case, click here to access the camera. If you have any difficulties, please share them with me in the comments. I really want to see how well it works out. If it works out well, I might even make it a permanent feature!

Thalia Face Down in the New House

It has been a while since I have posted a picture of Thalia in the pose that made her famous, so this week I thought I would feature our favorite Siamese doing what she does best, defying all logic by breathing through a sheepskin throw...

Jacqueline and Angel are on vacation this week, but look for them next week in a whole new adventure! (OK, not really an adventure of sorts, but rather a few silly pictures.)

Until next week, please head over to Mickey's for the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and don't forget the Friday Ark at The Modulator for even more animals of all persuasions. And lastly, please remember to hit up the Carnival of the Cats this Sunday.

Jackie and Angel Cause Big Trouble: Part II

I inadvertently deleted this entry while cleaning up some comment spam. I was able to retrieve it, but had to post it as a new entry, Now it appears under the categories, "The Adventures of Angel and Jackie", and "Athenamama: The Lost Entries".

We now resume with our regular blog....

When my wife and I returned home Saturday afternoon after a morning of shopping, we found a notice on our door from the Ventura County Animal Regulations Department.

At first I thought it was our disgruntled neighbor finding new and inventive ways to express their displeasure of our dog's barking. (Angel.) But a phone call this morning to the animal control people put those fears to rest. Apparently the department is out drumming up funding enforcing the licensing laws around this town, and they targeted our house because the last owner had a dog, and they were following up on that dog's license status. Since they found an unlicensed dog on the premises, I got a citation notice to license my dog(s).

Around here, the real role of a license is to ensure current rabies shots. You cannot renew your license unless you can show proof of current rabies shots. It's a yearly affair, and I would get the feeling the level of conformance is pretty low for dogs, and probably almost nonexistent for cats.

In any case, it is the law, so I ordered up Jackie and Angel's proof of spay and neuter respectively from the wonderful place that performed that service. Now I have to contact our vet and get copies of their shot histories. (I am really lousy at keeping my own records straight.)

I am mostly relieved, however, that it wasn't a call from our neighbors that brought out animal control. That would be the last thing I need.

Bath Day For Jacqueline

Jackie is much better about taking a bath than Angel is. If Papa so much as hears the water dripping in the bath tub he crawls so far under the bed we have to get a flashlight just to see his beady little eyes.

But Jackie is much better about the whole affair. When I start the water in the tub Jackie will only hide under the coffee table in the living room, and coaxing her out isn't very hard to do. In fact, just saying the word "cookie" usually does the trick. I usually have to lasso Papa to get him out of hiding.

Anyway, let's check in on Jackie in the bath tub...

Another week, and another exciting chapter in the lives of Jacqueline and Angel. Until next week, please check out the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings, and don't forget the Friday Ark at The Modulator for even a greater variety of animals, and don't forget the Carnival of the Cats this Sunday.

Bob

I want to forgo today's post about Jackie and Angel, and instead write about a story that I saw in yesterday's paper.

The other day some "person" stole a turtle named Bob right out of his owner's front yard. What the "person" did to Bob was so horrible, so brutal, that it is hard to comprehend what sort of "person" is capable of such violence. From what I read in the story, the "person" who stole Bob slashed his legs and neck, and stabbed and punctured his shell with an ice-pick like instrument. Evidently they were trying to remove Bob's shell, which of course would have killed him, but much worse was the torture they put this poor creature through.

Having failed at trying to remove Bob's shell, the coward(s) fled, and left Bob presumably to die in an alley. The owners finally found their pet, but he was so badly hurt that the animal hospital they took Bob too wasn't sure if he would survive the attack.

That is the Reader's Digest version of the story. The whole story can be found here. (Subscription required.).

The good news is, Bob is quite the survivor. The paper reported today that he is doing better, despite the fact that he was so badly hurt that he has been fitted with a feeding tube which pumps food and meds into his stomach. Bob's family, however, is devastated.

Bob is more than a pet turtle to his family, he is family. The family includes an autistic child that has a special bond with Bob, and before the attack the two shared a very close relationship. Bob was very playful, according to the family, before the attack. Yesterday, however, the family, including their son, spent two hours with Bob at the animal hospital in Santa Barbara, but Bob spent most of that time withdrawn into his shell. Hopefully Bob will recover not only physically, but emotionally as well, and will come to once again trust his human family.

What sort of "person" could do such a thing to a helpless creature? I wouldn't even call the wretch that did this an "animal", because I am not so sure even an animal would intentionally torture another animal. I understand that predators eat prey all the time, and sometimes when they catch their prey some animals might "play" with a catch before they kill it, but what this "person" did is way beyond that.

There is a reason I sometimes think people should not hold the apparent "value" of their life over that of any other living creature. The person who did this to Bob, in my opinion, is not a very "valuable" person, if even a person at all.

Anyone wishing to donate to help with Bob's medical costs can send money to Washington Mutual, P.O. Box 877, Ventura, CA 93002. Checks should be made out to William Sullivan in care of Bob, Account No. 492-105108-5. Wire transfer can be routed to Account No. 322271627.

Don't forget the Friday Ark at The Modulator

Charles Lane

You may not recognize his name, but how can you not recognize his face?

The man was in so many television shows and movies it's hard to count them all. Still, I bet you didn't even know his name until today.

His son Tom said, "He was lying in bed with his eyes real wide open. Then, he closed his eyes, and stopped breathing."

We should all go that way.

4th of JulyPast and Present

Well, another 4th of July has come and gone, and now it is all downhill to Halloween.

When I was a kid my parents would take my brother, sister and me to this house in Azusa...

That is my grandparent's old house, which they moved out of way back in 1972. My wife and I drove out to Azusa one Saturday afternoon in 2004 to take a look at the old place. It was an amazing experience for me because so many memories came flooding back to me when I got out of the car, and walked along the sidewalk in front of the house. Even this depression in the cement made by something way back when the sidewalk was poured brought back memories of my cousins and me riding our skateboards up and down this sidewalk, and of my granddad, my dad, and us kids lighting fireworks on the Forth of July.

I am not sure about today, but back in the late 1960s and early 1970s you could buy and set off fireworks in Azusa. My dad would buy a big package of the stuff,and we would light them off right there on the side walk. We couldn't wait for it to get dark outside on the Forth, and I can still smell that acrid stench of spent fireworks soaking in a large bucket of water. It's a horrible smell, but I love it.

My mother and grandmother would sit on that porch and watch the whole show. I can still see them sitting there smiling, and drinking iced-tea.

Fast-Forward July 4, 2007...

Angel and Jackie do not share my affinity for fireworks. I think over the course of their lives, having lived no where else other than the condo, they simply had no idea what a Forth of July celebration in the suburban streets of California can be like. Although it is nothing like it was when I was a kid at my grandparent's house in Azusa, people still light off fireworks on the streets around here. Back at the condo there are so many people around you didn't dare light so much as a sparkler for fear of being hit with an immediate $100.00 fine by the, (gag,) homeowner's association. At our new home the risk is considerably smaller that a person might get caught with illegal fireworks, and while I did not engage in any illegal festivities, I could see that other residents of our neighborhood were. The lights and sounds of those small explosives, combined with the resonance of the greater firework exhibits that were booming around the county sent Jackie and Angel into a tizzy. I kept them as calm as I could, but they still weren't feeling the excitement of the holiday. At least from the point of view as the rest of us.

Ah well, it is over and forgotten as far as they are concerned, and save for the obnoxious BAM! we heard last night when one of the neighbors discovered an errant firecracker they had evidently misplaced the night before, we can all rest easy knowing there will be no more explosions of this sort to scare the poor doggies. At least until the New Year.

So we conclude yet another exciting chapter in the lives of Jacqueline and Angel. Until next week, please stop by the Carnival of the Dogs at Mickey's Musings for more interesting dogs, and don't forget the Friday Ark at The Modulator which is just filled to the rafters with all sorts of animals.