Boffins create zombie dogs

MB just informed me that scientists are re-animating deceased dogs now. Nick Buchan of NEWS.com.au (an Australian newspaper) says:

Scientists have created eerie zombie dogs, reanimating the canines after several hours of clinical death in attempts to develop suspended animation for humans. US scientists have succeeded in reviving the dogs after three hours of clinical death, paving the way for trials on humans within years. Pittsburgh's Safar Centre for Resuscitation Research has developed a technique in which subject's veins are drained of blood and filled with an ice-cold salt solution.

First of all, I am not sure why MB decided to draw this particular news article to my attention. She says it has something to do with a comment by her blog buddy SJ about "Zombie Touille", and that consequently the term "zombie dogs" just struck her as fascinating. I myself am not sure what a zombie dog would have to do with my life as an eating, sleeping, walking, licking, living, loving companion dog to MB. But since blogging is one of my hobbies now, I guess this scientific experiment can be commented upon by me. However, I am not familiar with the term "boffins"; nor is MB. Perhaps it is an Aussie word. I have previously come upon the Aussie word for throwing up, which is "chunder". I like that word; it sounds like what it means. Perhaps someone from Australia can enlighten me about the meaning of "boffins".

Since MB got her new camera, she seems not to have as much time to type my blog entries. She's fallen behind on her own blog as well. But she does have some rather nice new photos of me now.





- Touille, a very photogenic dog if I do say so myself

Cheese Class (from St. Louis rocks)

Cheese Class by frippy on Flickr.

This sounds like the kind of class that I would like to attend. I would hope that morsels of the cheese would hit the ground so that I could munch on them.

This photo was taken by frippy and is part of the Rock St. Louis photo set. Because St. Louis rocks! It really does.

- Touille, a rockin', cheese eatin' dog

corner of Magnolia Avenue and Tennessee Place

corner of Magnolia Avenue and Tennessee Place
Originally uploaded by MBK.

Here is one of the things MB decide to take a photo of. We see these buildings every day. I don't know why MB thought that taking a photo was so urgently needed. But since she went to all that trouble, I may as well put it on this blog. So if you're in this neighborhood, you may see me (along with MB) walking down the street. Feel free to stop and say hello.

- Touille, a reasonably friendly dog who is not too likely to growl or bite if approached

Here we are on our morning walk...

walk touille alley redshoe
Originally uploaded by MBK.

behind our building in the alley. That red shoe belongs to MB. I am wearing my stylish purple leash and collar. It's a beautiful day, and it's too bad that MB keeps pulling me back so that she can stop and take more photos.

- Touille, to whom a walk means "keep on moving"

Felix: soul 2

soul 2
Originally uploaded by bluetriangle.
From the Who Let The Dogs Out photo pool

Touille in the car

Touille in the car
Originally uploaded by MBK.

Now here I am getting ready to go for a ride in the car. This photo was taken by MB with her new digital camera, given to her by my friend Nutty's person, Beth, who now has a new better camera. But MB is just wild about this camera. She's been trying to take all kinds of photos of me and of things in the apartment. I think that I am more photogenic than a bunch of stuff on the walls.

- Touille, a fine looking dog if I do say so myself!

Summer Solstice

[Summer Solstice photo no longer available, and the photographer only has 10 public photos on Flickr now in 2019. Originally uploaded by lildude.]

It is the longest day of the year, and the hottest so far here in St. Louis, Missouri. I am glad that MB has the air conditioning on. We are chillin' in the apartment.

- Touille, a small dog who prefers to nap in a cool room

"it's time to go for a walk"

walk? by zonepress.

MB has been sitting in front of the computer for hours lately. She says it's important stuff and we can go for a walk later. I truly can identify with this little dog's feeling that a walk is needed, no matter what human things need to be done.

- Touille, whose 'ready to go outside' barks have been going unheeded in recent days

Pigeons on number 1

Pigeons on number 1 by Pedro on Flickr.

The photographer calls 'em pigeons; I call this photo "Bewinged Rats Roosting."

- Touille, to whom a rat and a pigeon are both alike

Squirrels in and on the feeder

squirrels by Sharon.


MB tells me that nobody puts feeders out for squirrels, that the food was intended for birds. Humans like to attract birds but squirrels come instead. To a dog like me, a bird is just a variety of flying rodent-like creature, so that a squirrel is equally of interest. A squirrel may be like a rat with a bushy tail, but what is a bird but a rat with feathers? I understand that they all "taste like chicken".

- Touille, who maintains that they're all prey to a small "rat terrier"

[added bonus photo of cute dogs by the same photographer]

catching soap bubbles (original photo no longer available)

[Original photo is no longer available]
This dog has leapt really high to get a soap bubble. I myself have been known to leap, but I would more likely be in search of a tasty piece of cheese, chicken, sausage, or something of that ilk.

- Touille, a leaping dog when leaping is called for

lieveheersbeestjes (ladybugs)

lieveheersbeestjes by rob20.

There are many little beetles, possibly a sort of ladybug, in my apartment. MB thinks they may have hatched inside the living room. Or they might have flown right inside when MB leaves the door open to the balcony area. Either way, the beetles in the apartment are small and yellowish, not red, but they do have the black spots and the general shape of a small ladybug. There doesn't seem to be enough of the right kind of food for them, or perhaps they just have an extremely short lifespan, because their tiny dead bodies are turning up in odd places, such as the top of a plastic CD container, and in my water bowl.

- Touille, a dog who is not opposed to bugs in the house, as long as they do not leave their deceased remains in my dish of clean drinking water

heading north

heading north by DeeperSea on Flickr.

Geese and swans need to fly north now to get out of the heat. They do this every year! I like being able to stay in the same territory.

- Touille, a dog who has become accustomed to the territory surrounding her South Saint Louis neighborhood

Is anyone out there?

Is anyone out there? on Flickr.
Originally uploaded by Fishcentric.
See the archived post on the Wayback Machine. 

MB tells me that this is a sort of fish. I hope it's not part of her dinner plans. I would not care to have my dinner gaze at me so intently.

- Touille, a smallish dog with biggish eyes who prefers to look at her food, not to have it look at her

Did he say "BATH"?? (Dingo)

Photo: Did he say BATH?
Did he say "BATH"?? by Velvet G on Flickr.


The photographer, Adrian, says:

Did he say "BATH"??

"The American Dingo, forgetting that he needs to be a domesticated dog now, quickly realized mud + dad's car = big trouble... and a bath."

Dingo "Seven" and His Dog Buddies photo set (album) on Flickr.

There are lots of fine looking dogs in this photo album of Seven's pals. I think Seven is an interesting name for a dog. He is as fine looking a dog as Seven of Nine is a Borg/Human mongrel.


- Touille, who is aware that MB is a fan of Seven of Nine

(MB typed it for Touille, and adds: I guess he looks pretty snazzy for a canine! But not quite as snazzy as Seven of Nine! - MB)

Ducks in the water

Originally uploaded by chalkdog.

("If Jack Russells Could Talk" blog is still up, but not lately updated)

The blogmeister over at If these dogs could talk has decided that her Jack Russell Terriers look awfully cute in their new costumes. Human readers may agree with this assessment. But as a small dog who has frequently been subjected to MB's strange ideas of what constitutes proper doggie attire, I must protest. Dressing up like a chicken, a bird whose fried or roasted parts I have frequently consumed, seems somehow undignified for a dog. We humor you when you try to put antlers on us at the Christmas holidays, and endure Halloween costumes and Mardi Gras beads, but we would not choose to dress in this manner.


People, do we dogs try to convince you members of the human species to dress in this ridiculous fashion?

- Touille, a small dog who wishes to campaign for canine dignity

more squirrel shenanigans: "I want a peanut now!"

I think this creature ought to be thrown a peanut before he comes right on in to the house to get it himself.

- Touille, always on guard

UPDATE by MB in 2019: The original photo and photographer are no longer available on Flickr, so we've replaced it with two other photos.

too close to a Tree Wasp

Face ~Tree Wasp~
Originally uploaded by frog head!?.

Very interesting photo. But I don't wish to get this close to a stinging insect.

- Touille, once bitten - twice shy

Rodents' Talk Isn't Just 'Cheep' (animal language)

Imagine a device that would let you "talk" with your dog or cat. One that could help you ask a cow a question or converse with a dolphin.

Two Arizona scientists say computers may someday bridge the language gap between humans and other animals. 

"You could have this little thing hooked to your belt and you could speak and it could be translated into animal language," says John Placer, a computer scientist at Northern Arizona University.
It sounds like pure science fiction, and at this point it still is.

I am sure that this theoretical device will not be available during my lifetime, but perhaps there is hope for the future communication between humans and other creatures.

[2019 UPDATE: The original link to the article could not be found, but here is a much more recent article about the research on prairie dog language.]

- Touille, a dog who tries to communicate with the human species as well as she can, but who is frequently baffled by the process

Henry (a peaceful Chihuahua)

henry
Originally uploaded by noahstone.

Many people think of the Chihuahua breed as yippy and high strung. Here's a photo by noahstone showing a very contemplative Chihuahua.

More dog photos by this photographer.

More Chihuahua photos.

- Touille, who is only part Chihuahua, but who is sometimes peaceful, sometimes yippy, and always a little feisty

Giant Nana & Uyanga!

We are taller than the buildings!
Giant Nana & Uyanga ! by Corgiflore (Flo) on Flickr.

"We are taller than the buildings!"

More photos of these fine dogs here.

- Touille, a small dog with a large helping of attitude

Toronto Dog/People Gathering

Toronto Dog/People Gathering by shadowplay on Flickr.

Best Friends album by shadowplay (Hans)

I wonder what these people have in that bag. And why they have dressed the dog in that silly -looking bonnet.

My guess is that they are carrying food in the bag. They somehow seem to be the sort of people who would always have food.

- Touille, a curious dog who is not too crazy about that bonnet, but who is a big fan of food

I Know There's Something Here

I Know There's Something Here
Originally uploaded by Just Jo.

Lucky dog! All that sand to dig in!

- Touille, a terrier mix whose breeding disposes her to dig, but who must make do with blankets and suchlike

What's In Here??

What's In Here?? by Just Jo.

Just Jo's album of "My Pets"

I'm all agog!

- Touille, who loves putting her nose in places she (perhaps) shouldn't

A Flying, Frisbee-catching Dog on Flickr

145_4529 by jnathanj.

This is a great photo by our buddy J Nathan. He seems to have snapped the picture when the dog was completely airborne.

See more of the dog in this album.

- Touille, a dog who has never been "into" the sport of trying to catch large disc-like objects in her mouth, but can admire the talent it takes to accomplish this task

Peeking

Photo: Nuts to You by Lans on Flickr.

This little squirrel has found a nice place to hide out.

- Touille, who used to chase creatures like this in her younger days, but now is willing to live and let live

This way to the dog pound

Champ Clark Motel in Pike County MO by bfelice on Flickr.

I think I would rather stay at the motel. I hear that these dog pounds are not places that a dog would wish to stay for a long time. There may be nice dogs and people at the pound, but there is no place like home.

Readers, you may want to visit a dog pound and bring a nice dog friend home with you.

- Touille, a dog who was rescued from a pound herself (though it was so many years ago that she has blotted it from her memory)

Chiquita's Got a Brand New Bag

Chiquita's Got a Brand New Bag by Liz Valentine.

I see that this dog's person has made a bag for the dog to be carried around in. It's actually kind of cute in a human sort of way. But I bet Chiquita wants to jump out of the bag and into a pile of something and just roll around. At least that's what I would be ready to do after the novelty of riding around in a bag wore off.

- Touille, who doesn't mind riding around for a bit, but who prefers to get a little exercise

Dottie smells the roses (photo is no longer on Flickr)

The lost photo of Dottie was originally uploaded by awestricken.

I am sure that the roses smell fine, but most dogs I know prefer smelling something more pungent, like a deceased bird for example. But Dottie and the roses make a nice photo.

2019 UPDATE: We no longer can find any photos of Dottie on Awestricken's Flickr photos.  Instead, we are linking to the photographer's Zoo Photos. And as a bonus Public Service Announcement, we offer a website which shows you which plants and flower are safe for dogs and which are dangerous.

- Touille, a dog whose nose just goes to the more interesting smells, but who might sniff at a flower once in awhile

Matilda

rmh24
Originally uploaded by rockymountainhigh.

I have never met this dog, Matilda, but she looks like a very happy, healthy dog with a great personality.

- Touille, a happy and healthy dog

It's mine... no, it's mine!!

It's mine... no, it's mine!!
Originally uploaded by schulze-.

Gulliver and Oliver are trying to decide who should be the owner of this plastic green item. I shall let them have it; I'd much prefer a slice of cheese.

- Touille, whose idea of a desirable toy is something that can be munched upon

This dog wishes to participate in the paella party

Paella party
Originally uploaded by toyohara.

Now that's what I'm talking about.

- Touille, a dog who is available any time to help with the eating of foods

I missed out on the food festivities

mustard 1
Originally uploaded by nikaboyce.

The Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, and MB did not bring me any grilled or roasted meats. Not even a hot dog. She instead kept leaving the house at odd hours to go to her "job" to earn extra money, she says. Therefore, she fell behind on her job of typing things for this blog. She also missed her family barbecue gathering, so that she and I were deprived of some of their leavings. I guess it is necessary to earn money to keep the household bills paid, but it ought not to be at the expense of those who really matter in the household, namely myself.

- Touille, a dog whose usual holiday routine is to pig out a bit, but who missed the meat products usually associated with Memorial Day