Dogs On Trains!

The Financial Times has an AWESOME story about the dogs who live--and travel on--the Moscow Metro. Some just live in the stations while others actually take the train and travel to different stations, often on a regular schedule. A Russian biologist is studying how, in the last 30 years, the dogs have begun to develop their own unique doggie culture, noting that as dogs grow more wild they still lack aggression while remaining socialized to humans, uninterested in affection but willing to coexist and understanding how to use humans for food (ie, using their big brown eyes.) And, as it turns out, our pack has something in common with the Russian dogs!

A pack of dogs, however, can hold a dominant position over other packs and their leader will often “patrol” the other packs by moving in and out of them. His observations have led Poyarkov to conclude that this leader is not necessarily the strongest or most dominant dog, but the most intelligent – and is acknowledged as such. The pack depends on him for its survival.

I am most impressed with these dogs, who now have their own site, Metrodog, where people post pictures and videos of the dogs they come across. I have decided that I need to get out and see the world myself so I am going to learn to ride the train. I plan to enlist the help of my local stray/ train enthusiast and ride the rails:

But before I start my life as a rambling dog, I think I'm due for a nap. The world can wait.

Sign of the Times

My GranNE is back from London! She sent me this picture that she took in London.

I could not agree more.

London Calling!

I have been wanting to talk to my GranNE but my ma ape says she is in faraway lands. This is an artistic rendering of my GranNE:

I believe she may have gone in search of one of my ma ape's favorite book characters, marmalade connesieur, Paddington Bear (Pssst--I would start at Paddington Station):



I hope my GranNE does not forget me. Here I am looking forlorn, GranNE. Have you forsaken me?


I have made a list of things I would like her to bring me back from Londontown:

1. Marmalade
2. Scones
3. Wellies
4. Corgis
5. The queen's jewels
6. Blood pudding
7. Marvin the Scotsman Poet
8. Fish AND Chips
9. Amy Winehouse's beehive
10. A pint

Come back to me soon, GranNE!

Bon Voyage, Granny & Gramps!

My Granny N for Nebraska is soon going to be Grassy, for Granny in Sweden!



This is the Christmas Goat in Gavle where my Grassy Granny is going. It has its own Wikipedia entry so it must be important, right?

My auntie Ira is going to defend her diss-hurt-ation. I offered to help defend it with my teeth but my granny opted for duty-free liquor instead of me as her carry-on. Remember to cry a lot and Auntie Ira will feed you some pastrami. That's what I did. And also please tell Onkel Eric that I am not spoiled.

So you don't forget me while you're being Grassy, here's some pictures to remember me by. here I am being adorable, using my sissy's bum as a pillow:


And here is one of my best handsome roaching faces.


Have a good trip Granny and Gramps! If you visit I'll EAT a goat which is much cooler (literally and figuratively).

On My Way to China!

I recently learned that my ma ape's friend Alice, who is in Beijing doing research, cannot read my blog! Now this is probably just because blogger is blocked by censors but I'd prefer that while the U.S. Government is blissfully ignorant of my plans for world domination (and if you're reading this Alberto, don't you have firing to do? memos subverting the constitution to write?) the Chinese government is on to my plan and hopes to cease any covert communication between me and the pandas (who will surely be an indispensible element in my anti-naked ape arsenal as their cuteness disarms the naked apes!).

Anyway, I miss Alice and I hate to think of how hard it must be for her to not be able to see me on a regular basis. When I first moved to the east coast I used to visit her and amuse her by napping in her yard. She also cooks ginormous and delicious meals loaded with meaty goodness. So I decided to try to dig my way to China!


My NORMAL legs and low undercarriage do prove an obstacle as the dirt piles up under my belly which is solely due to my legs and not at all due to the robustness of my belly. As you can see here I try a sneaky side arm technique.


It's also hard work in the heat.

I'll just take a short rest here in the hole that I've dug.


Can't you just fly back, Alice?