The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: torture

  • Have I Been Torturing My Dog?

    A friend of mine told me about this article on the Mother Nature Network about why dogs don’t like to be hugged. Basically, many of them see this as a form of aggression, and it makes them nervous. It does go on to say, though, that not all dogs are alike. But it gives you…

  • Score One for the Good Guys

    Hi, I’m Devo, Barb’s dog. I asked to write this one because I wanted to tell you about an exciting new development. Besides, she needs a break now and then. So here goes… Animal abusers, we are watching you. 70 percent of violent criminals started off by hurting animals. Finally, the feds are taking this…

  • The Right to Breathe

    When I was about 11 years old, a guy that had a crush on my sister went swimming with us. He was about 18, and his hormones were such that I’m sure he viewed me as a nuisance, just another obstacle blocking his path to the Promised Land. At one point my sister went off…

  • Gay Conversion Therapy? Seriously?

    Just when you thought the Republicans couldn’t get any further out of touch with reality, the Texas GOP is now endorsing Reparative Therapy. This therapy, which some people call “Praying the Gay Away,” purports to be able to get rid of homosexual tendencies. Oh, where to begin. First of all, any therapy that wants you…

  • A Dog’s Worst Nightmare

    Hi! I’m Devo! Mom let my brother Blue write a blog entry once, Blue Explains Why You Should Support Rescue Orgs, and I’ve been hounding her to give me a turn ever since. Being a dog, that’s something I’m rather good at. Hounding. Get it? Mom says I have a great sense of humor, and…

  • Free Maheinour el-Masry

    Here’s what’s sad. I’m willing to bet that 99 Americans out of 100 have never heard of Mehinour el-Masry, a brave human rights protester who has been jailed by the Egyptian government for exercising what we would consider to be her basic human right to free speech. I only heard of her the other day…

  • The Best Museum I’ve Ever Seen

    Walking down Andrassy Street in Budapest at high noon can be a chilling experience regardless of the temperature. It’s a beautiful historic boulevard with gorgeous architecture, and you have enjoyed every bit of your Budapest experience up to this point. The food, the people, everything about Budapest is lovely. And then a shadow crosses your…

  • Poor Kitty

    I once knew a lady who decided to name her daughter Kittyn. Of course, she had every right to name her child whatever she wanted, but it would be a rare person who didn’t groan inwardly and pity the child upon hearing this news. As far as I’m concerned, some names constitute child abuse. That…

  • Messed up by Tommy

    The other day I was at the public library perusing the DVDs, and came across the movie Tommy. This unexpected encounter produced a visceral reaction in me. I hadn’t thought about this film in decades, and yet it still made me sick to my stomach. “This is madness,” I thought. “How can you still be…