The Official Jackie and Angel Cam Is Back (Sort Of)

A while back I set up a webcam so I could keep an eye on our two favorite pups, Angel and Jackie. I was using an old VHS video camera for the camera aspect of the webcam, and it worked very well, that is right up until I added a video capture device to my system that really screwed with my video capture graphics card.

The VHS camera won't work with my webcam software anymore, and I am too lazy to figure out a work-around, so for now I have set up the really crappy webcam I bought at a discount store over the summer. The upside to this is that the webcam works, and you can see Angel and Jackie in their natural habitat from time to time. The downside is that by mid-day, even though the camera is pointed out to a section of the yard that is under a covered patio, the sun is bright enough to almost completely wash out the picture.

In any case, if you like, check in on Jackie and Angel and see them sleep, drink, sleep some more, chase the occasional bird, sleep some more, and sleep.

All you have to do, is click here .

As before, I have found the Java applet to be the most reliable as far as Microsoft Vista is concerned. The ActiveX software provided by the company that I bought the webcam software from works quite well on Internet Explorer in Windows XP, but it won't load on Firefox, or on Vista. As usual, Media Player is almost completely useless.

If you run into any problems, leave me a message in the comments. It is still sort of back in the experimental stages, so any input would be helpful, and appreciated.

Sometimes the webcam connection gets dropped, and if it does you will see a rainbow test pattern. Sometimes the IP changes since I don't have a static IP at home. If that happens your computer also won't connect to the webcam server. I try to keep the IP current in the link, and as of this morning it was correct.

Good luck.

Jackie Makes a Kill

A hapless giraffe somehow found it's way into our living room this past week, but I am afraid he didn't make it very far before he was taken down by one of the most prolific hunters in our household.

Jackie and Angel constantly monitor the living room and hall for any moving object. Most often it is Angel that first spots a trespasser, and his usual course of action is to start barking. However, it depends on what the moving object is that dictates how Angel reacts. For instance, any flying stuffed animal, or other such toy, causes Papa to race after the object, grab it, and then present it to me for a rousing game of tug-o-war. Jackie, on the other hand, plays for keeps, so when she finds a toy she takes it back to her lair, and God help you should you try to take it from her.

Jackie with her fresh kill. She first scans the horizon for scavengers and other predators. She will guard that giraffe with her life if need be.

Jackie goes straight for the good stuff, the guts of the giraffe. All great hunters do this in the wild. The gut contains the tastiest, and most nutritional value of the kill.

Of course, a drumstick is also pretty good.

Turns out this particular giraffe was pretty tough, and didn't make for good eatin'. In fact, I think the giraffe was playing possum because in the end Jackie and the giraffe became good friends, and ended the day by taking a nap together. This made the giraffe very happy, as you can see by the smile on his little face.

So there ya have it, another exciting chapter in the lives of Jacqueline and Angel. Well, at least Jackie. Until next week, please see more dogs and other critters over at the Friday Ark at The Modulator.

Back To Blue

Well, what with Halloween over and all, I decided to go back to the normal Athenamama colors. Even though Fall still has a lot of life left in it I kinda missed the blue tones around here, so until next year, we are back to normal. So to speak.