Thoughtful Thursday

Hi everyone! Puddleglum here! Dad really wants to do this Thoughtful Thursday, so I guess I'll let him...

So, this is Puddleglum's Dad! Today is September 11, 2008, and a very tragic thing happened seven years ago. I was at college in Indiana that morning, and got up to go to class and noticed on the way that there were an inordinate amount of people in the lobby crowded around the TV. I stopped in and realized that one plane had hit the tower. It felt surreal, but not quite devastating yet.

I was watching as the second plane hit. First of all, it was supremely disturbing to see how closely it mirrored the “fake” explosions in Hollywood movies. It made the real thing more fake and the fake thing more real, at the same time. That was when it all sunk in for me. By the time I saw footage of people jumping from the burning towers, I was shaking.

When they collapsed, there was total silence in the room for about 30 minutes. Then the rush started to get gas, food supplies, and other necessities. I’ll never forget that feeling of being at war, and having “worst-case scenario” be frighteningly possible.

We should never forget, but we should never exploit this experience either. It's probably pretty obvious where my political/philosophical inclinations lie, so I won't reiterate them now. I will say most fervently that both sides of the political aisle are EQUALLY to blame, in my opinion, for the travesty we find ourselves in now-- both domestically and abroad. It is my fervent hope that we will learn from this situation the depths to which we all can sink, and aim to be better than we are in the future.

Also, as a brief Thoughtful Thursday update, I am taking down the "Join the Boycott" banner at the top of my right-hand column, because there is now a notice clearly posted on the Four Paws website warning customers of the danger inherent in the toy. Chai's owner still thinks he was treated rather shabbily by the company, and I won't try to have an opinion on that apart from noting that there are always two sides to every story. That being said, it is crucial if we are to effect change that we reward it when it happens. So, I am no longer advocating a boycott of Four Paws. Hopefully they have learned their lesson.

Finally, on to the real Thoughtful Thursday! I steal all my ideas, and this one came from Poley and Ruki. Their mom noticed the super-long book meme/list that was going around the blogosphere, and decided to shorten it to the "Five Most Important Books" in her life. I like it, so I'm stealing it.

5. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I have a very snarky, sly, and slightly askew sense of humor. This was the book that started it all for me. I read it first in 8th grade and found it hilarious, but somewhat frivolous. I rediscovered it my sophomore year of college (when I started taking Philosophy courses) and have since re-read it well over 5 or 6 times. Every time, its twisted genius sinks in more and more both into my brain and my expression of my personality. This was also the beginning of my lifelong obsession with all things English, to be consummated by #1 on this list.
(side note): The movie was good, but not up to the standards I expected for such a brilliant book. I would recommend it to people of the above-mentioned disposition who have not read the book already.

4. Paradise Lost
This one I discovered relatively late (after graduating college), but was nonetheless hugely significant and inspiring. I was raised a Christian by my parents, and still am one, although certainly not of the conservative evangelical type I was originally. Thus, the story of Satan's and Adam/Eve's fall is one that has deep roots in my own personal mythology, and to see it put to paper so vividly and uniquely was a treat for my imagination. The reason why this one is so formative to me is that it opened me up to meta-scholarship of literature. Until this point, my literary experiences were individual-- with this book, I began to be aware of the larger world of interpretation and analyzation. Understanding this has given me the chance to see literature through several "lenses": even ones I disagree with. This has sharpened and bettered my experience of reading immensely.

2 & 3. Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings
These two are essential and intertwined. I first read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" when I was very young-- I can't even remember how young. All I know is that this book sparked both my love of reading and of fantasy literature, something which survives even today (albeit in MUCH more discerning form). The Narnia books remain ones I would take with me on a desert island and have read countless times, and C. S. Lewis remains my favorite author. The Lord of the Rings gave me a glimpse of what adult fantasy fare could be like, and allowed me to further refine my taste for fantasy after gorging on more dime-store-quality offerings than I care to remember.
(side note): The LOTR movies were superb in virtually every way. I highly recommend that everyone see them, and try to watch them for more than just thrilling entertainment (although they are that). The Narnia movies I am less thrilled with, but still recommend as high-quality entertaining treats. If only they weren't done by Walden/Disney...

1. Pride and Prejudice
This has to be #1, simply because it is the most enjoyable and most developmentally crucial book I have ever read. Jane Austen is a close second to C. S. Lewis in my author list. The sharp, witty dialogue, the subtle comedy of manners, the English pastoral landscape, the refined and not-so-refined characters, and the unforgettable leads are all excellent reasons to regard this book so highly. Beyond that, ever since I first read it (freshman year of college), this book has brought to full flowering bloom a rabid and all-consuming passion for anything English. I am an unrepentant Anglophile, and this book is to blame.
(side note): If you don't own the A & E film version with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, go out to your nearest Best Buy and get it. Now. The recent (2005) adaptation with Kiera Knightly was also very good, but not quite as delicious. The former has amusing detours, slow-simmering romance, and comical performances. The latter is quicker, sharper, and more intense-- which is great, but less in keeping with the tone of the book.

Well, that's this week's Thoughful Thursday. I hope you've enjoyed it, and sorry about the length!

Boycott of Four Paws Toy Company

This is Puddleglum's dad.

I ran across a story on Olive's blog, and feel compelled to take action and share it with everyone.

The original story can be found at The Chai Story, and is heartbreaking. WARNING! Some of the pictures/videos are incredibly difficult and graphic. I do not know if this woman's story is altogether true; there are obviously always two sides. However, the behavior she describes of the company-- Four Paws-- is not at all uncommon or unbelievable. In any case, I believe the story she tells of her dog and the pictures she provides. The company claims that they have enacted a voluntary recall, but my local pet store still carries the product (and has no recall warning posted). In addition, as of today (Thursday August 21, 2008), the toy is still listed on the company's website.


**Edit** I initially called for a boycott of this company's products, but I have since contacted the company and they told me that they sent out the information to their distributors yesterday, which would give little time for the information to appear today. I also suggested to her that while the products are not available on the website for purchase, there should be a notification listed on the website of the unsafe toy and the progress being made toward its rectification. The lady was very open to this idea and promised that this would occur. **End Edit**

This is scary to me because I remember that our Scottish Terrier my family had when I was in high school played with a toy very similar to this one (I don't know if the company was the same one). I remember a few times where he had minor difficulty getting it out of his mouth, which I attributed at the time as being of the same variety as eating his own poop and vomit-- silly, odd behavior (I was in high school, remember?). Fortunately, nothing serious happened, and as this link shows, not all encounters end up as poorly as Chai's did. However, the potential is there, and everyone should IMMEDIATELY throw away this toy if they have it in their dog's stash.

Until evidence can be provided that this problem has been solved, I encourage everyone to write a letter of solidarity and avoid all Four Paws products. There are plenty of better toys and better companies out there. I enclose at the end a copy of the letter I sent to the CEO, who can be contacted via email at hbirk[at]fourpaws[dot]com, or by phone at (631) 434-1100.

Mr. Allen Simon,

I recently read of the injury sustained by several dogs while playing with a toy your company manufactures-- Pimple Ball with Bell (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9). This toy is unsafe in its design and should be recalled from toy shelves. I am personally enacting a boycott of your entire product line. Furthermore, I am encouraging this boycott of all your products to all whom I can contact via the blogosphere, the Internet, in stores, or interpersonally. This will be in effect until you physically recall the unsafe toy and issue a written warning on your website.

Sincerely,

G. Spencer Owen