PSoTD

It seems to me that when a tragedy in a foreign country occurs that kills someone, when there is conflicting news about the story initially but eventually it is cleared up to show that it was a horrible accident not possibly foreseeable by the victim, that any blogger that posted such event as a "Darwin Award Winner" would have the common sense - and decency - to remove the post, as it adds nothing to anything.

But apparently this "blogger" isn't up to that standard...

In a few weeks, the 6-year-old and I will be on our own for a few days, and I was looking at places to take him during that time. I was looking at the National Historic Site in Scranton as a possibility (and also the Houdini Museum there). Have you been to Steamtown? If so, what did you think of it?

Dogs have been in the national spotlight due to football player Michael Vick but there was a local animal treatment story in the Harrisburg paper yesterday. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office fined The Humane Society of Harrisburg $2,025 for violating state charity, nonprofit and consumer protection laws.

According to the agreement, the attorney general believes the Humane Society violated the law by:

- Using the terms "no kill," "unadoptable," "unhealthy" and "untreatable" in solicitation and promotional materials in a way that was "confusing or misleading."

- Saying it didn't turn away animals but failed to disclose that it charged a fee for accepting strays from municipalities that don't have a contract with the organization.

- Failing to keep accurate books and records.

The attorney general's office began investigating the Humane Society after two former volunteers — Annette Reiff and Felicity Fox — lodged a complaint in April 2005.

Reiff and Fox accused former management of falsely advertising the Humane Society as "no-kill" and of using temperament testing to label some dogs aggressive so they could be euthanized.

They noted that the Humane Society's 2005 annual report indicated that 40 percent of the 7,433 animals taken in were euthanized, a rate they said was too high to allow a "no-kill" designation.

I had always assumed "no-kill" meant exactly that but apparently shelters can euthanize some percentage of animals and maintain a no-kill designation. The situation has been resolved amicably. The group may have been well-intentioned but lacking the resources to live up to the letter of their billing. The Harrisburg Humane Society is under new management now that no longer claims the shelter is no-kill but says they are moving in that direction.

Jayk the Beagle says please spay and neuter your dogs and cats!!

(The first of what may - or may not - be a continuing series.)

Liquid-centered chewing gums have been around for decades going back to the days of Freshen-up and Chewels. But never before have they been done as well as Peppermint Vanilla Trident Splash! (I'm not as big on the Strawberry Lime and Apple Raspberry hybrids)

Trident advertises Splash as a "three-textured chewing experience" consisting of a "thin, crisp flavored shell", "soft and smooth gum layer" and, of course, "a liquid-filled center". You get nine pieces in a pack for about a buck and a quarter. Oh yeah, it's also sugar-free.

Marketing twaddle aside, Peppermint Vanilla Splash really does have a killer smooth mint taste that lasts forever - well, at least a half hour. Trident has recently come out with a Summer Watermelon Spearmint variation of Splash that is also pretty good.

On a side note, many of you may remember the not-so-nice nickname for those seminal goo-filled gums. Is it my debauched imagination or does this Seventies Freshen-up commercial wink and nod in that direction? What the hell is that girl doing to that piece of gum? Here it comes ... the gum that goes squirt!

They're having a little celebration next week in honor of the 50th anniversary of the filming of the movie classic in Phoenixville, PA. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the release of the film.

Check out the nurse's reaction to "The Blob". Doesn't it remind you of some conservative bloggers?