I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL THIS PIECE BUT I LIKED IT

Let Freedom Ring with Arnold Schwarzenegger

“PITY THE NATION” A POEM FROM 1958 FOR THE AGE OF TRUMP

Pity the nation that knows

No other language but its own And no other culture but its own

Pity the nation whose breath is money And sleeps the sleep of the too well fed

Pity the nation oh pity the people who allow their rights to erode and their freedoms to be washed away

My country, tears of thee Sweet land of liberty!

copyright Lawrence Ferlingetti
Excerpted from his first collection of poems "A Coney Island of the Mind (1958)

18 Minutes

If you love dogs, this is for you. If you are interested in the Bouvier Des Flanders, this short documentary is definitely for you. Same to anyone who is considering adding a Bouvieer Des Flanders to their household. 

Researching any breed is the responsible thing to do.  Next, find a reputable breeder who offers testing records  for the parents as well as the puppies (if they are of age). If the breeder cannot show you medical records & instead, proffers some excuse, run -- don't walk -- to your car & make a quick escape. Bouviers are supposed to be black, grey. If someone tells you that white or fawn ones are really special, they are but in the wrong way. These Bouvier are probably fine individuals but they are not standard.  

Imagine if you were able to select a child to add to your family. Getting a Bouvier is definitely a good comparison for the first few years, Training, grooming, being firm and consistent with your expectations and training is a must. Above all, being kind & respectful of your Bouvier. It is a very intelligent and responsible, protective  breed. They are a large and strong. They don't mature until 2-5 years of age and they have the intelligence of a three year old. 

They love working. Give them any task: gathering up dirty laundry from the floor, and bringing it to you or dropping it in front of the washing machine, fetching the newspaper, herding (definitely your kids & smaller dogs). This is how they protect "the herd:" More than anything, they MUST be civilized and trained. Their first inclination is NOT to bite but stupid is what stupid does. They will warn you or herd you into a corner (if inside) until someone explains the "situation" ......to the dog.

Once we left our house open for the plumber to come by.  He did and was promptly herded into shower where he was forced to wait until we got home. No growling, no teeth. 

I've lived with this breed for about 50 yrs. During that time. I adopted three: Stella, rescued from a puppy mill who died quietly one week before her 17th birthday;, Sabrina, who was totally deaf; Sophie, a run-away from a bad situation and was feral for ~ 6 months before she was caught. The rest of my Bouvier family were Bogart, Ruben, and Truman, all different personalities, etc.  I used to publish funny stories about their quirks, their jokes and some of my many adventures with them.

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