Soliciting help from my UK pals.

[nolawitch58]

Please go here and see what some filthy swine did to some animals. If you could scrounge up some computer parts and such like or plan a geeking session to build a Frankensystem for this beleagered animal shelter during the impending UFie meet, I would personally be grateful. I would also be able to send some smaller parts your way if necessary and the shipping doesn't cost too much. Everyone who contributes would have a place to stay with me and food to eat if you ever come to visit New Orleans and that offer would stand in perpetuity or until I die, whichever comes first. Really, the animals in that particular rescue could really use some help to watch over them and either keep them safe or get their tormenter(s) prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I'm very close to submitting one of my short stories to a magazine. I've been through two critique edits and have two more to go. At this rate, I'll be done by tomorrow morning, will print it out and stick it in the mail on my way to coffee (hopefully) with mysticknight.

I smashed my thumb at the nailbed in my mother-in-law's driveway gate yesterday. It is a rather lurid shade of purple and hurts like hell. Spacebar use is only possible with the other thumb.

In other news, I've been getting hangup calls from my depressed friend. I'm wondering if I should call her or email her to see if she meant to call me or just hit the wrong button on her phone. She may have not scrolled enough or too much. I'm semi-surprised she hasn't taken me off her cell phone list yet. I know it's her because I *69 when I get hangup calls.

Thanks for any help you can provide to keep any additional animals from being killed.

Comments

Orignal message has been edited.

[jeff-uk.livejournal.com]

I get the general Idea, but details really would help if we're to do anything...

Jeff...

Re: Orignal message has been edited.

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

They don't have a computer system. If they did, they could hook up some cameras and feed them to the hard drive for evidence in case of another slaughter. Or, if any of you have an extra VCR lying around unused, that could also help. Maybe I'm just seeing the solution as a computer because that's my geeky tendency and that's what I'd do for them if I were in their vicinity.

But But But ...

[(Anonymous)]

I'm a little confused... can you paraphrase what happened; who they are, _where_ they are, what they need a system for (be it PC based or other,) etc.

Jeff...

Re: But But But ...

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

Sorry, an animal rescue in Loftus, UK was broken into last night and three wallabies were killed by beheading. A local teen is suspected and the police claim they can't do anything about it without eyewitnesses. Apparently, the teen had threatened to burn the place down and other nasty stuff as retribution for being found unfit to adopt one of the animals he wanted.

The police aren't lifting a finger to investigate and the animal rescue is unprotected. They could use some sort of surveillance equipment to provide evidence in case of another attack or as deterrence for any further attacks. I don't know how far Loftus is from London. I've requested the original poster to contact me with some additional details.

Re: But But But ...

[goddessmusings.livejournal.com]

Have they contacted the media? Contact animals rights groups there and on this side of the pond. They should contact any and all media outlets they can think of to a)cover the story and the police lack of interest in investigating and b)to seek donations from the public.

I'm not fond of the media most days, but I'll use them when need be...besides, the old phrase "if it bleeds, it leads" is double when it involved animals.

Re: But But But ...

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

That's been suggested and the poster is working on it. I'm going to followup and see what comes of it all.

Re: Orignal message has been edited.

[solitary4now.livejournal.com]

If they have a computer system already in use there (even if they had to borrow one) they could set up a webcam...those things are really cheap and if it is monitored by volunteers it would be very affordable.

[goddessmusings.livejournal.com]

A VCR and a few 24 hour tapes would work...well, they would with a few cameras. If nothing happens, they can just re-use the tape, if something does, well, they'll have the evidence and extra tapes for the next 24 hour period. That's how we taped everything on air in TV.

[goddessmusings.livejournal.com]

I can check and see what "spare parts" are lurking around my office too if you tell me what, in particular, you might need. The Asshat would happily give up a few things in the name of helping animals.

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

The animal rescue is in the UK. Anything we could send would have to be small or the shipping would be hellishly expensive. Besides, there's the issue of the different current output and scan rates that their electronics use over there.

[goddessmusings.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll e-mail drgndancer too...I think he has several techie buddies in the UK. Maybe they can help build a Frankensystem for them or something.

A mixed bag of emotions for you:

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

Horror and disgust at the prick who killed the animals. There was something that happened in our area (popcorn park zoo in brick nj I think) and the cops caught the 2 or 3 teens who killed the animals there, and they were convicted - the sentencing wasn't as brutal as I'd have liked (animal murder doesn't count for a whole lot in the justice system), but it cost them several thousands of dollars and a lot of hours of community service. I hope they can arrest and convict the perp.

Jealousy and joy: for your story submission! Kudos to you! If you need another set of eyes to look at it, I'd love to volunteer (but I have absolutely no time at the moment to do it :{ )

sympathy and healing vibes: for your smashed thumb

Don't call your depressed friend unless you're willing to get back into it with her again. Consider adding "call block" to your suite of phone services.

Re: A mixed bag of emotions for you:

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

I wish you did have time to read my story. It's already been through the half a dozen members of my writers' group several times. I think they've been extremely thorough, but I'd still like one last opinion of it. I won't impose on you though.

I'm not calling my friend. I'm going to assume that her hangup calls were oopses and she didn't mean to be calling me. If she had, why did she hang up when I answered?

The UK has a particular problem

[slamlander.livejournal.com]

wrt crime. They get confused between victims and perpetrators. One could think that they get their lawmakers from the shallow end of the gene pool. You really ought to read their justification for jailing some old lady for defending herself from and attacke that went through her front door with an axe. All she did was toss black pepper in his face in order to slow him down enough for her to get away. She went to jail and the perp walked.

Re: The UK has a particular problem

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

Ah shit! That totally sucks hind tit on a badger. Is it that bad all over the UK or is the idiocy limited to certain areas?

Bear in mind who's posting,

[lionsphil.livejournal.com]

and what his reputation is for accuracy.

Sadly, however, the gist is closer to the truth than I'd like. But at least we don't cater to knee-jerk American-style "you scratched my car so I'm going to lock you in my basement and stick rusty nails through your balls" victims-can-do-no-wrong philosophy either.

Re: The UK has a particular problem

[lab-rattus.livejournal.com]

No freaking way! So I macing guys that try to hurt/rob you is a no-no as well. What is wrong with these dipshits? I keep a loaded revolver in my night table. We have a "shoot the burglar" law.

Re: The UK has a particular problem

[slamlander.livejournal.com]

In the UK, if you shoot the burglar;

You go to jail for a lot longer than he does.

he gets free medical benefits and compensation

not to mention rehab

and jobloss benefits

You'll be luck to see the poor disadvantaged sod do any time at all.

Oh and don 't even think about macing the poor little innocent 18 year old that trying to mug an rape you. After all, if you resist and fail to give them everything they want then you are severely disadvantaging them. They might even get angry and hurt you more than intended and that would be your own fault. Hell you might even do jail time for it.

I actually heard a UK Psychologist say something similar to this, in a special program on BBC Prime. As near as I can tell, the entire UK strategy towards crime is one of appeasement.

I'm waiting for the first case of jailing the rape victim for getting pregnant from the rapist.

Re: The UK has a particular problem

[lab-rattus.livejournal.com]

That just makes no sense. So why don't the people in the UK do something, or do they like it that way. What is the point of appeasing the criminals? At least here if I fight back I gain almost heroine status. I clean up nice, am on the petite side. If I blew a carjackers brains out the police and DA would say "nice job".

Re: The UK has a particular problem

[slamlander.livejournal.com]

In the UK, you'd be up before the executioner, only they don't have Death Penalty. But, life imprisonment really means about 20 years.

[thenewt.livejournal.com]

I feel like practicing some beheading myself, but I wouldn't do it on poor defenseless animals.

*Grabs axe and looks for a plane to england*

I felt the same way.

[(Anonymous)]

I've got a nice custom-made, bat-shaped labyris that hasn't seen any action.

[lab-rattus.livejournal.com]

*grabs sirupati* I've got your back!