To those of you who think that feeding your pets raw foods is "nature's way", I say you're way off! We live on a farm. You want to know what our two Border Collies like the best? Live chickens! Yeeee haaaaaw! A good romp followed by a warm, squishy, crunchy, portable meal. If you are really serious about giving Fido what he wants, let a live chicken go in your living room, and let him stalk it. It works on soooo many levels. It improves his agility, eyesight, nutrition (bones, feathers, guts and all), not to mention improving that natural "predator instinct" he was born with.

Before you start calling me a monster, let me say, we do not encourage our dogs to eat our chickens (they are actually supposed to ward of other predators), but sometimes (when the chickies get too close to our dogs territory) these things happen. To them, the chickens are marshmallows on wheels. By the way, you want to know what part of the chickens they like best? The guts! It has long been known that muscle flesh is not as nutritious as giblets, and the dogs know this as well.

Seriously though, your dogs are not wild, and you should not try to treat them as such. I say try, because unless you are giving them the whole animal, they are not getting what they would in the wild. We feed our dogs dry dog food, and enhance the flavor by adding about 1 cup of cooked chicken giblets and rice.

Here's what I would ask of those people suggesting that they are doing it "nature's way": How many square miles of range are you giving your predator animal? Are you more concerned with giving your pet what he might find in the wild than providing some wilderness for him. We did not get dogs until we secured some acreage to let them roam on. I understand that not all dogs need this, but I am seriously at odds with those who keep high energy animals cooped up in tiny back yards, or worse, apartments. Do your prospective pet a favor, and don't get him unless you can provide the space he needs, or get one that does not need space. I feel sorry for those breeds (retrievers, setters, hunting dogs in general, and others) that are forced to become slovenly and sedentary, just to satisfy some human emotional need. Cats, on the other hand, are perfect for this situation.

Best,

Poco

I am a mentalist.

Please send cash to:

Poco

P.O. Box 834

New York, NY 83210

if you would like to fund a mentalist.

Our dog ate an all natural toad once, then puked all over our oriental carpet, and foamed for about an hour. It was pretty funny. Was he trying to tell us something?

Poco

It's late...

It must be a slow news day. Salon is really scratching at the bottom of the barrel to satisfy the Bush haters today. I don't recall Salon reporting on Ted Kennedy's membership in the "horrifically discriminating" all male club (to whom he stroked a $100 check last year). Of course, we enilightened types know this is news because there are no corrupt democrat judges. How 'bout another dog food story. That one had 100+ responses by the end of the day.

Poco

I don't begrudge Mr. Jeffries his success. He is obviously quite a brilliant marketer, giving a large portion of our society exactly what it wants. That is not to say that I don't find his methods repugnant, just predictable and perfectly acceptable by today's amoral standards.

I enjoy a good laugh, so thanks for the posts (some of you). I am over forty, and I can guarantee you that (for even more laughs) the next time I am in the vicinity of an A&F store, I am going to hike my pants up to my armpits and start some serious shopping. I will insist that the salespeople help me pick out the "grooviest" clothes in the store. I will keep saying "groovy" until at least one head explodes. I may even recruit some other "old people" to help me. Wouldn't it be funny if A&F really did become the brand ol' farts like best? I mean, if the A&F "lifestyle" can turn a normal 60 something person like Jeffries into superfreak (I'll bet he has an alien living inside him that gives him super strength and stamina), why not me?

Best,

Poco

is that on him, the clothes make him look like he sleeps in a cardboard box in an alley in San Francisco.

I have an idea for a new brand (based on the image that so many of todays styles invoke): Village Idiot

The local (I say the local because he is so far above his competition) talk radio personality in our area put it succinctly. He said "OK, for those of you who are still living in fantasy land, change the station you are listening to right.... Now. (slight pause) The truth of the matter is that [all] politicians are just whores in a whore house". He was dead serious. I was surprised first of all that he would say that on the radio, i.e. publicly (he has many local and national politicians on his show). Secondly I was glad to hear someone of some stature (if only locally - although we are a major, conservative market) put it so succinctly and accurately.

Please, it's time we stopped treating one group of politicians as though they are any different or better than another. We need a political revolution in this country, but that won't happen if so many of us remain fooled that there are actually "good guys" vs. "bads guys" in power. They are all on the same team, playing the game for our amusement and their political longevity.

Cheers,

Poco

P.S. I am not a republican. I am not a democrat. I am a conservative. Not a lying, cheating, thieving conservative, a real conservative.