Scout Simon Cheezit Slattery, 2012ish - 2025

Scout came into our lives on January 4, 2014 after we met him at an adoption event. While he very quickly settled in to life with Raven and the household humans, he was never fully comfortable with outsiders. Similarly, among his canine peers he got along fine, although he had his favorites and, on the flip side, was not big on puppies or younger, more rambunctious dogs.

For most of his time with us Scout was the self-deputized head of yard security, patrolling the perimeter while Raven waited patiently on the patio to see if anything would pop out of the bushes he was working. One of his favorite spots was a clump of tiger lilies from which he could survey the neighbors' yard and our driveway.

What are the neighbors up to

A few years ago we discovered Scout had heart disease as well as a growth on one of his heart valves, with the vets advising us that this could cause trouble at almost any time. Scout held up well during this, although he recently joined Raven in being essentially deaf; like Raven, though, he did not seem to mind. Finally, a few weeks ago, we had to take Scout to the ER and were told we didn't have much time left with him. Even then he seemed to recover pretty well until this past week, when the dreaded phrase Quality of Life could no longer be ignored.

Scout began the next leg of his journey at home on Saturday, March 28, 2025, following a hearty meal of burger and chicken nuggets. The end was peaceful release from his suffering.

Scout Slattery runs free across endless grass. He was and is a Good Dog.

Setting Sons and Daughters

In the early days of the blog, when the world was young and the GW Bush Administration was stumbling in the aftermath of the Katrina/Schiavo Two-Step, JJV would find obituaries of (usually) British soldiers, diplomats, soldier-diplomats etc and either post them or (before I gave him the keys) send them to me. I am pleased to report a revival of the tradition although these are a bit late out of the gate.

First, the female journalist who broke the news of the German invasion of Poland via a British diplomatic car, and went on to further adventures from there.

Next, the Irish bureaucrat who seems to have created modern Ireland, however anonymously. I'd love to meet him in the afterlife although I suspect I'd get an earful for including him amongst the oppressor.

Requiescat in pace.

Hell Announces Its Latest Middle Management Hires

Islam Karimov died just before this past weekend. To date he is the worst person with whom I have ever shaken hands, but at least I got to keep all my fingers, and unboiled into the bargain. Would that he had accorded the same to the country and people he lorded over for a quarter century.

Phyllis Schlafly also has died. I was in the same room with her once when she spoke at Hamilton. I do not regret not shaking her hand, not that the opportunity arose. She sued a brewery run by her nephew to try and get her surname off of their products; her son, taking time off from curating the performance art tour de force that is Conservapedia to provide legal representation, asserted that "alcohol has a connotation that is the opposite of conservative values." That butthead's for you, JJV.

May they be granted the kind of rest they sought for others in this life.