I’m concentrating most of my fiction energies on the novel, but Garth Hallberg somehow thought I was an apposite fellow to write a story set around this photo. You can find the result here, along with short shorts from other contributors.

A spam email I received:

To: ed@edrants.com
Subject: Dogs Are Dying In 6 Hours

Friends, especially dog lovers,

There’s an epidemic that has been extremely prevalent in these states:AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, KS, MS, OH, NC, PA, SC, TN, and TX; however, many other states and some countries such as Australia, Canada, England and others are experiencing a marked increase in the number of Canine Parvovirus cases.

Parvo is normally an aggressive virus that attacks the gastro-intestinal lining in dogs and if left untreated can kill a dog in 24 to 72 hours more than 80% of the time.

However, there’s a new much more virulent mutation that is killing dogs in as little as six (6) hours after symptoms (i.e. yellow frothy vomit, diarrhea/bloody diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.) first show.

Instead of symptoms taking days, with this new version the symptoms only take a few hours to fully develop. This newer mutation is like Parvo on crack.This is why dogs dehydrate and die in as little as six (6) hours.

This Parvo killing machine is called 2c (aka F-Strain).There has been a staggering increase in the number of Parvo cases this year with the 2c Strain because: VACCINATED dogs (both puppies and adults) are still becoming infected.Many of the current Parvo vaccinations cannot counter
2c.

And if your dog does become infected, you must be prepared and know all of your options.The typical cost to treat your dog at the vet’s clinic will be anywhere from $500 to over $6000 per dog and your vet will probably give you only a 50:50 chance at a full recovery.

The everyday common things you do with your dog could get him infected: if you take your dog for a walk, go to the park, visit a neighbor’s house, etc. because all he needs to do is step in contaminated feces, vomit, saliva (yes even nose-to-nose contact) can spread the Parvo virus.

Today, Maud makes her LATBR debut, reviewing Alan Bennett’s The Uncommon Reader. I believe that now makes six bloggers who have appeared in the LATBR, rivaled only by the Philly Inquirer.

Tod Goldberg as Parade Editor-in-Chief? Well, Mr. Goldberg is certainly the dark horse candidate. But if it means more “fucktards” in Parade, as opposed to garden-variety fucktards writing for the magazine, then what will it take to make this happen?

Seattle Weekly: “But for the moment, Susan Lindauer’s strange story remains incomplete. She is confined to a federal mental facility in Texas, perhaps never to get her day in court, according to friends, officials, and public records. Mostly unnoticed, a New York federal judge has found her incompetent to stand trial and ordered further evaluation. She is being held past her scheduled release date, which had been sometime early this month, and, she tells friends, might be forcibly medicated as part of her treatment.”