Rob's Blog

I've got a bone to pick with you....

Our new puppy, Rosie, and dog, Beauty, spar over a chew stick.

Portuguese Water Dog Puppy Tug of War!

Yes, we have the now famous breed in our home, a 9-week old puppy, Rosie. Our "house" dog, a Boxer-Great Dane(?) mix has been extremely tolerant, and in fact enjoys exasperating her younger sibling.

Dog Days

It's a miserable, cold, rainy day here in New Jersey. And my back hurts. Dogs must have Buddha in them, because they always seem to demonstrate the path to enlightenment, or at least being comfortable in the moment. They're also good at finding food.

When Communism meets Capitalism

The East German Ampelmännchen, or "little traffic light man"

Ampelmännchen and more conventional form

There has been almost a comic controversy going on between two businessmen, one from East Germany and one from West Germany about the use of the Ampelmännchen, or "little traffic light man" (Ampelmannchen), an iconic symbol, orginating in the East. So what used to be idealogical differences transformed itself into patent litigation about who has the commercial rights to the symbol. It's no small matter, as related memorabilia sales generated almost $3 million in annual revenue as of 2005. I couldn't find any udates on sales figures or the status of the litigation. Actually, the use of the Ampelmännchen represents the cultural and political divide that obviously still exists between the two, now united, Germany's. Whereas the West used a skinnier, more traditional version traffic symbol, or the typical red light/green light, East Germany utilized the more prosaic one. There was actually quite an uproar upon reunification when the West Germans wanted to impose their version. A committee was formed, protesting the decision and now you see traffic lights with either the West German version, the East German version, or both. Those wacky Germans!

A brief encounter!

Going on the assumption (maybe wrong?) that people never tire of pictures of dogs, here are a few that I thought were pretty good. Beauty with "accessories", and Casey, just being cute.

The talking Chimp Video

Watch the video

The "talking" chimp from Sharper Image. My older brother collects these strange things which are a treat for the kids. I'm not sure what my 62 year-old brother gets out of it, but each to his own!

Talking Chimp

Among other things, this weekend we visited my brother Jim, and sister-in-law Nora, up in Narrowsburg, NY at their beautiful home on the Delaware. No flooding, but it did rain a bit. Inisde the kids were entranced by a "talking" chimp, a prized posession of my genius 62 year-old brother, who seems to have interests more along the lines of a 12 year-old! In fact Jimmy wasn't even there. He was at a Buddhist retreat somewhere. The chimp was pretty funny though.

NARROWSBURG, NEW YORK

THE TALKING CHIMP

Herbert Hamrol, b-roll!

Herbert at home

I'm only Sleeping

An early morning excursion. 

Play early morning video

Juggling to Abbey Road

This is truly amazing feat of juggling to music!