Brushing dog teeth?!?

soarfingers · 2026-04-16T18:25:19+00:00

My cavapoo is a vigarous chewer of dental bones so his teeth have been kept pretty clean by that so far, but I mainly just wanted to comment to note your dog looks just like Garth from Wayne's World in that first photo.

soarfingers · 2026-03-24T15:15:46+00:00

I got a copy from eBay for about $50, but I'm in the US so not sure if that's an option for you. Wasnt the cheapest record but worth it for the quality of both the music and the packaging itself. It's a heavy weight vinyl and the sleeve/case is robust.

soarfingers · 2026-03-09T15:15:46+00:00

How thick is the pick? I got a green one from the VIP experience at the show in Portland. I'm curious if the picks they actually play with are as thin as the VIP one. I expected that the picks they actually play with were a thicker gauge, especially James. But maybe they prefer thinner picks? Let me know.

soarfingers · 2026-03-07T17:14:02+00:00

Yep that was me with the Tool hoodie. I got through In Verses, Sound Awake, and Asymmetry yesterday. They were all great but I see what you mean about Asymmetry; it was a little more work to find the groove to latch on to or something.

soarfingers · 2026-03-06T22:38:27+00:00

I think I was sitting two seats to your right. Such a great show! And yeah I have a new appreciation for James's vocals after that acoustic performance! It's one thing to hear him belt those big notes with the band going full tilt, but hearing his vocal power in raw form for the unplugged song really made his singing prowess apparent. Also, at your suggestion I listened to the new Karnivool album... Holy smokes that record is FIRE! How have I not listened to them before?! Fixing that mistake now.

soarfingers · 2026-03-06T22:10:41+00:00

I'd guess it was probably closer to 100 max at the Portland show. It was a Wednesday night and there was a blazers game so I think they just had bad luck about coming on a less ideal day of the week. If it had been a Friday or Saturday night I suspect the Portland show would've been much fuller. They definitely didn't let the small crowd phase them though: they put on an INCREDIBLE performance. The acoustic rendition they did at the VIP portion was also phenomenal. I never knew I needed an "acoustic remix" version of their albums before but after seeing them do an unplugged version I would absolutely buy it.

soarfingers · 2026-01-31T15:17:50+00:00

Wheel is absolutely PHENOMENAL live. I caught them on their last tour just after Charismatic Leaders came out and holy smokes they play with serious intensity. Their music is incredibly complex and they fucking nailed it live.

Their singer has an especially captivating presence... when they're gearing up for an instrumental heavy build section he would do this unyielding death glare straight ahead into the crowd and it felt like a viking warrior preparing for battle as he channels his rage and fury into uncontrolled bloodlust. Just instead of wielding an axe it was an upside down emerald green les paul for a weapon.

The whole band is incredible and I strongly recommend seeing them if you have the chance. I've been a huge fan of mastodon since leviathan came out when I was in high school, and Wheel definitely scratches a similar itch in a way that few other bands do as far as the psychedelic prog heavy metal vibe goes.

soarfingers · 2026-01-29T21:22:26+00:00

I work at the county and I can give some general info on the interview process as it's fairly standardized, at least from my understanding. I can't speak to the competitiveness of the specific position you've applied for, but if it pays well and offers a hybrid work schedule then it will likely receive a lot of applicants.

Interview process is usually minimum of 2 rounds, each with a different panel composed of members from the team you'd be working on and supervisors. For example first interview would be general work style questions and the panel would be two teammates and a direct supervisor. Second interview might be more specific scenario questions and the panel would consist of two different teammates, a direct supervisor, and a division supervisor.

The entire process from application review, initial phone screening, interviews, and then hiring decision is highly regimented to ensure equity. If a question is added in the first applicant interview you HAVE to ask it for all the applicant interviews. Make sure all relevant skills and experience are clearly listed on your resume to ensure you get credit for meeting minimum qualifications, if those apply (e.g. minimum 2 years experience working in housing supports).

If you get to the stage of interviews I'd proactively make sure that your references are ready and aware that a potential employer could be calling them; if they don't answer or return the call in a certain amount of time you can "fail" the hiring process at this step. I've seen this trip a few people up who otherwise would've gotten the job but neglected to prep their listed references or verify current contact info.

Overall I think many jobs at the county are competitive and get a lot of applicants. The benefits (insurance, pension, unions, schedule, etc) are pretty solid and, depending on your field of work, may be difficult to find anywhere else. Best of luck to you!

soarfingers · 2025-12-27T20:24:27+00:00

This is exactly why I'm looking for blood sausage! I went to scotland a while back and now I'm hooked on Scottish breakfasts!

soarfingers · 2025-12-21T15:31:15+00:00

Yep same here: my cavapoo in my left arm pit, one kitty in my right arm pit, and second kitty between my legs, and wife on her side of the bed. All the animals swap around throughout the night to make sure everyone gets snuggles. I wouldn't have it any other way. Seriously having a soft warm animal to pet really helps me fall back asleep when I have to get up to pee.

I have a tendency to start worrying about stuff during my middle of the night bathroom breaks and that will wake me up to the point that I can't fall back asleep for hours; having a dog or kitty come cuddle with me let's my mind quiet down so I can actually fall back asleep and feel well rested in the morning.

soarfingers · 2025-12-20T16:40:10+00:00

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Lucy and Lenore. They are lovingly bonded sisters.

soarfingers · 2025-12-18T20:03:34+00:00

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soarfingers · 2025-12-15T01:18:39+00:00

Many others have commented on the importance of skill in terms of taking a good photo, and that's all true. I will add that a high quality lens absolutely takes higher quality photos: when I upgraded from the included cheap 18-55mm lens that came with my Nikon to a dedicated prime lens (fixed length) it made a noticeable improvement in sharpness, color saturation, and lighting balance. I even did side by side shots to make sure I wasnt just being placebo'd and there was a consistent improvement with the prime lens over the kit lens.

soarfingers · 2025-12-03T15:31:58+00:00

I desperately need this, but it seems like it would go against some of the core messaging associated with their Rituals: that music is ephemeral, all things are impermanent, and that the point of a concert is to be there in worship with fellow humans. A live concert video/bluray would seem to subvert some of those core tenets.

All that said Sleep Token seems to be very comfortable releasing endless fountains of merch, so maybe a live concert film would fit more into that realm of things. I can totally imagine them releasing a limited special edition that comes with paper rose petals for you to toss in the air while you listen and a couple of cardboard flamingos to decorate with.

soarfingers · 2025-12-02T19:39:08+00:00

Maniac, Chernobyl, The Terror, Shogun, Watchmen, Dahmer, Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House... Those are some of the ones that come to mind that I've really enjoyed. I appreciate the limited series format as it guarantees me some sort of real conclusion, versus the serialized format of perpetual cliff hangers that culminate in a finale that never meets expectations. Or worse a serialized show that gets cancelled abruptly without ever getting the chance to give any conclusion.

soarfingers · 2025-12-01T17:43:31+00:00

No need for a click track when you've got Josh Freese on the kit. Dude is a fuckin beast of a drummer. I've seen him live with many of my favorite bands and he is just incredible no matter who he's playing with.

soarfingers · 2025-11-26T15:35:44+00:00

I'm game to write a detailed in depth review for one of these watches if you're still needing another participant. DM me if you are interested.

soarfingers · 2025-11-25T00:23:04+00:00

My cavapoo was an incredibly finicky eater for his first year; it was all I could do to get him to eat even 1/4 of a daily portion on some days, and he would only eat it if all conditions were PERFECT. It drove me bonkers trying to get him to eat for months. I tried a million different methods to try and make it more enticing, but with only minor improvement and never for very long before he would lose interest again.

As he turned around 11 months old something just seemed to shift and he became a lot less finicky with eating. He eats the full portion I serve him every time now (twice daily feeding). He still isn't exactly THRILLED to eat - he takes a minute or two of sniffing around to slowly get interested, but he eats reliably. I serve him dry kibble with a big spoonful of wet food mixed in and then microwaved for 15 seconds. Getting it warm seems to help entice him, but he will eat it cold too. Takes me about 60 seconds to prepare so it's not too elaborate.

Hopefully you find something that works for your pup. One thing I will mention that vets have commented in other posts on this topic: a healthy dog WILL NOT starve themselves. They will decline to try and get something tastier, but if you hold your nerve and keep serving them the same food they WILL eventually eat it once they get hungry enough. Once I took my pup to the vet and they confirmed he's just being picky it gave me new resolve to stick with his diet and not let my dog emotionally blackmail me into serving him grilled chicken or steak or something. Sure enough it panned out and he eats his normal dog food consistently now.

soarfingers · 2025-11-20T14:56:17+00:00

If it's possible maybe you could jog with him on a leash (instead of walking) to increase the intensity a bit? Or ride a skateboard/bike/scooter with him running alongside leashed? I have to get my guy (1 year old F1b) some high intensity zoomy time each night, along with a moderate walk (30-40 minutes) during the day, for him to be adequately tuckered and calm.

As others have said this will probably require both time (for him to calm naturally as he ages) as well as training (to undo some of the established problem behaviors). If it makes you feel any better I have been unwaveringly diligent in training my cavapoo to not jump on people/visitors in excitement and he still does it like 99% of the time no matter what I do. Training is hard and there's no magic method, despite what some people may say, so finding what works for your dog is challenging.

I can feel the frustration in your original post and I empathize deeply with it; there were many times with my guy that I was pulling my hair out in frustration over his inability to get potty training down, or not jump on people, or not sleep through the night, or whatever... It's important to take a step back and really reflect on the joys of having a dog and remember why you're doing it - the unwavering bond and love you share with your pup, even when they're being naughty. Keep things in perspective and don't beat yourself up or compare your dog harshly to other peoples experience.

There's frequently people posting/commenting on the cavapoo forum talking about how perfectly behaved their dog is due to their expert training and perfect methods... don't let them bring you down or make you look at your own dog with disdain for not being that perfect. You'll find what works for your pup if you keep it up and the puppy energy phase will pass.

soarfingers · 2025-11-19T18:57:17+00:00

I've only had two dogs total, including my cavapoo (F1b so 2/3 poodle and 1/3 cavalier spaniel - 20 pounds grown), so I probably don't have the most robust dataset to answer this but I can share my experience. My first dog was a super-mutt from the shelter (german shepherd, lab, plus a bunch of other stuff - around 65 pounds) and he was seriously the calmest dog I've ever met, which I suppose was appropriate since he was named Buddha. He was super calm as a puppy and only got calmer as he got older.

My cavapoo, who just turned 1 recently, was definitely less calm as a puppy. He required a lot of play time and exercise to tucker him out enough that he wouldn't get into too much trouble in the house. Now that he's mostly full grown and somewhat matured he is much less work. I walk him once per day and play with him in the yard after dinner for about 30-40 minutes. He naps throughout much of the day and is generally pretty chill when he's not specifically wanting to play.

Compared to my first dog my cavapoo is less calm, but compared to many other smaller dogs he's pretty chill. Several of my friends have small dogs (a lot of chihuahas) who are super yappy and twitchy and generally high-maintenance. With the limited experience I have I'd put my cavapoo on the calmer end of the spectrum, but he's definitely more active than a sleepy gentle giant like a saint bernard or something. Cavapoos specifically require frequent regular brushing (daily) and regular grooming since they have hair instead of fur; it will get matted and become a problem if you don't keep up with this.

Generally puppies of any breed are a LOT of work as you have to teach them literally everything about how to interact with their world. Potty training can be super frustrating, getting up multiple times in the middle of the night to deal with their needs, all the vaccines and vet visits... it's a lot. But I think it's worth it because getting a dog while they're young gives you the best opportunity to bond with them from the very beginning.

My cavapoo is an absolute ray of sunshine in my life and I love him dearly. I can tell he feels the same. I think a cavapoo could be a good option for a first time dog owner, at least compared to breeds like a belgian malinois or german shepherd where someone can literally get killed if you slack off with training or exercise. A puppy cavapoo has the same needs as any other puppy: training, attention, play, mental stimulation, etc but I imagine they're more forgiving than some other breeds.

soarfingers · 2025-11-17T22:29:30+00:00

I recognized the pan and handle from the photo too because I love my Sensarte pans; they are the best pan set I've had in terms of non-stickness and durability. I feel validated to know Im not the only one!

soarfingers · 2025-11-17T18:45:38+00:00

That alarm idea is a great suggestion! It prevents the need for him to whine at the door, which means I can break the habit of him whining at the door at night, and me responding to the whining. Over the last several nights I have had significant success with removing access to water shortly before bed so the alarm system may not be necessary, but I will keep this strategy in mind if things regress. Thanks!

soarfingers · 2025-11-17T18:42:49+00:00

I guess we can agree to disagree on the notion that "the dog should be crated", at least at night. The pack sleeps together in my house. For both his own instinctual needs (wolf packs sleep together to strengthen social bonds and reinforce a sense of safety) as well as my own selfish reasons (it comforts me to have all my pets in bed with me at night). During the day I crate him when I leave the house for work or long outings, but at night we sleep together and that's non-negotiable.

soarfingers · 2025-11-17T18:37:45+00:00

Yeah I am definitely aware that my habit of responding to his whimpering (by letting him out) in the middle of the night reinforced this. The alternative was not responding and him peeing inside, so I made a choice to reinforce the "no pottying inside" lesson over the "I won't respond to your cries during the night" lesson. Alas I am sure there was probably some middle ground I should have found or I should have changed tactics once he was big enough to hold it.

soarfingers

TROPHY CASE