Save our Wolves

A message from the Wolf, with special thanks to Caitlín R. Kiernan for the alert and commentary (not in italics):

This from National Resources Defense Council:

The gray wolf's extraordinary comeback from extinction in Greater Yellowstone is one of America's greatest environmental success stories. But the Bush Administration is now pushing a proposal that would authorize the killing of some 700 wolves — more than half of the current population in the northern Rockies. Speak out now for wolf protection and help shield the wolves of Wyoming and Idaho from the coming crossfire.

We must stop the Bush Administration's plan to declare open season on the wolves of Greater Yellowstone and central Idaho. Once approved, Wyoming and Idaho intend to begin exterminating up to half their gray wolves — by aerial gunning and other cruel methods — as early as this fall.

Submit your Official Citizen Comment, opposing this disastrous plan, before August 6.

Is it even necessary to justify an objection to this crazy, sick shit? Please, take a moment to read and sign the comment that's being sent Ed Bangs, Western Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator. You may find it here.

The statement is as follows:

I strongly oppose your recent wolf management proposal — the 10J rule — that would give states a license to kill wolves in areas where big game populations are below objective, possibly leading to the extermination of up to 700 wolves in Wyoming and Idaho combined. This would reverse the welcome gains in recovery of this magnificent species in the Greater Yellowstone and central Idaho regions.

I am especially outraged that your proposal would empower states to begin slaughtering wolves as early as this fall — even before wolves are taken off the Endangered Species list. It is scandalous that you are circumventing your agency's own process for delisting a species.

Wolves once thrived in much of the lower 48 states. Today, they reside in only five percent of their former range. If there is one place in this country where they should be allowed to flourish, it is in and around Yellowstone — our nation's oldest park — and the remote Selway Bitterroot ecosystem in central Idaho.

I urge you not to decimate a wolf population that has only recently sprung back to life and is world-renowned as a symbol of the American West.

I call on you to withdraw your proposal to allow the massive killing of wolves in the northern Rockies.

Please. And thank you.

Today, I'm Hayes Fanboi

There's no point to this post. Except to pimp out the wondermous new Darren Hayes video, "On The Verge of Something Wonderful". Enjoy.

Ranger Zeus at the Fairy Grove

Yesterday was our dog Zeus' last day on Earth. This morning, after a three month battle with cancer, he was finally allowed to rest and put to sleep. It still hasn't really sunk in. I kept expecting him to be on the couch when we got home. I had a fleeting thought as we pulled up to the house that I needed to get out of the back seat quick and let the dog get out. I knew full well he wasn't there.

I'm not going to let this become a maudlin post. We're all sad, but it's really for the best. He was in too much pain. However, knowing that today was going to be the day, yesterday afternoon we took him to his favourite place in the whole wide world. I took my camera phone, and I'd like to share those pictures with you, as well as some video. I want this to be the way we all remember him. Happy, curious about the world.

He was a bit subdued yesterday. He no longer had any energy, and he was in pain and obviously had trouble breathing, but he managed to run around a couple of times, and Dad even managed to coax him into an old game of theirs, 'Chase Daddy Around the Tree'.



Rob and his girlfriend Megan also came along. I was quite far when I took this picture, so you can barely see Zeus' ass on the left.



He's sniffing... Hmm, maybe this is a good place to take a leak. Or maybe there's a critter by that tree. Anything can happen in the Fairy Grove.



Splash splash splash in the creek! Oh look, a fishy!



Even as sick as he is, still the prettiest.



The entire family came along. I regret not having gotten a picture of Mum, but I was focusing on Zeus, and really, just happened to catch the others when they were around him. I'm glad we went. It was Dad's idea, and a brilliant one at that. We knew today was going to be the day, and what better thing to do than to take him to his favourite place one more time?

Back in September, I uploaded this to my website:



Zeus on the Appalachian Trail (September 2006)

Still the Prettiest. Yup.

I was planning on adding the videos, but YouTube was not cooperating, so I will add those later. I just wanted to post this today so it has the right date on it.

Calling all Zelenkistas

To the new Klub Zelenka forum!

Immortalis Site

Check out the new site for Immortalis, the new improved version of Apollo Rising.

People More Interesting Than Myself

Added David Hewlett's blog to the feeds here. Good stuff. I tried adding his sister Kate, whose blog I adore, but none of the dates come up as links. So I don't know what to do. For now I'll just add a simple link to ther main page. How's that?

Wine and Spirits

New fiction!

This one is set in the D&D world of Brez, my family's ongoing campaign setting. The characters and situations in this short piece are all mine, though.

Enjoy.