My friend Milo

I am very sad to hear that my friend Milo of San Jose has died.

Milo was a big inspiration to me. Years ago, before I used the Internet frequently, I discovered Milo's page on Catster. The following are some things I remember about Milo from way back in the day, years ago when I first met him.

Milo was:
• The very first cat I corralled on Catster. I was very impressed with his page. Truthfully, I wanted to be like him.
• One of my first friends on Catster. He welcomed me and my sisters to the Internet world.
• How I persuaded the Investor to sign me up and devote time to my Catster page. She was equally as impressed with Milo's page, and she supported my efforts to be as cool as Milo.
• A big supporter of my Catster page. When I thought I wasn't doing a good job, he told me I was doing great!

Milo, you will be greatly missed. Purrs to your family in this difficult time.

A birthday!

Monday, April 16, is my birthday. Read more about it here: http://themorningscratch.blogspot.com

Obituary: Fish, 2002-2007

**Click here to go to the Morning Scratch blog - with photos! **

Three goldfish and a suckerfish, all of California and at least four years old, died within the last few days in their tank they've called home since 2002. They lived happy, long lives, moving several times with the family, sometimes as far as several hundred miles. The most recent move several weeks ago proved to weigh on them too heavily physically, the family said.
The family tried using antibiotics to clear them of medical conditions they had developed but were unsuccessful.
"I will miss them," said Kat 3, a 3-year-old member of the family. "I would sit on top of their tank and watch over them, sometimes spending so many hours there with them that I would fall asleep sitting up."
Funeral services were held in the backyard.

Not-so-slick oil thief arrested for causing massive mess

**Check out the new Morning Scratch blog, with photos! at themorningscratch.blogspot.com**

A Cat of the Household isn't as slick as the oil he tried to pilfer.

Police arrived at the House on a recent night to find a glass bottle of olive oil in pieces on the floor, with oil spread about the kitchen and dining area. It didn't take long to determine a suspect.

Police Mom and Dad followed the trail of oily and slightly bloody paw prints throughout the House to find the suspect sleeping at the top of the stairs in a snuggle sack. He was arrested on suspicion of doing catlike things and making a mess and was taken to Garage Jail.

At jail, doctor Mom assessed the prisoner's injuries, finding small cuts on paw pads, according to police reports. The 24-hour emergency animal hospital was contacted but declined to take the prisoner because officials there determined the injuries to not be of a serious nature, a hospital spokesman said.

Police also apprehended two other Cats of the Household, Kat 3 and Sara, for questioning. It was determined they were not involved in the crime, but both received medical attention while being held at Garage Jail. Doctor Mom did remove some pieces of glass between toes but found no injuries. Both Kat 3 and Sara declined to be interviewed.

All three cats were taken to the veterinarian the following morning, and all three returned to the House that afternoon, with only the primary suspect having received a bath and put on an antibiotic regimen.

Police believe they have a solid case against the suspect, which at this point I, as a journalist with integrity, should disclose is me, Bogdan. Police say the suspect's favorite toy — a catnip pillow made by Scooter — was found at the scene of the crime. Also, they say, the primary suspect was covered in oil, which investigators say is the principal evidence linking the male cat to the crime. Forensic investigator Dad also matched paw prints found at the scene to the suspect's, according to the police report.

The suspect has entered a not guilty plea in Household circuit court. Police are expected to drop the charges, however, because the suspect's good behavior has been noted while in custody.

Since the incident, the suspect's paw pads have healed nicely, doctors say. He's also mostly removed most of the oily residue-look from his fur.

Unexpected delays

A note to readers: The Morning Scratch is experiencing facility problems, which have delayed the relaunch of the paper. I have, however, been working on a variety of articles and projects when there's been time (and there's been little of that lately... and where are my cat trees?).
In the near future look for:
• An explanation of the olive oil incident
• A Morning Scratch special report: Scoopable litter vs. pellet litter
• Kat 3's column "Everything's Yummy" - cheese edition
• And other stories of the antics of the Cats of the Household

Best,
Bogdan, Editor, The Morning Scratch

Update: As you can see from the post above, I worked through my nap break and posted a story. I hope to post more often, but that all depends on how things move along with the new facility. Thanks for reading.

For Keiser

Dear Keiser,
I will miss joking with you, particularly about our favorite media mogul, Rupert Murdoch (I'll never sell!).
I will miss learning from you.
I will miss your wit and your amazing stories.
I will - simply - miss you.

I will have with me always the journalistic inspiration you have given.
Thanks, dear friend, for always pushing me to wake up and report! I will never forget you.

Your faithful reader and admirer,
Bogdan

New Morning Scratch offices

The move to the new offices has begun. Stay tuned.

Extra! Extra!

The Morning Scratch is well on its way to relaunching.

Just last week, the Catster-based newspaper received its new printing press. The editor, me, Bogdan, is pleased with the new MacBook Pro that will serve as his main device for spreading the news. The power cord on this machine is connected by a magnet - circumventing any attempts by this editor's legs to pull the computer off tables.

"Now if only my main investor and typist would leave her primary job and work solely for me," I, Bogdan, said. "I would pay her well - with plenty of lap-sittings by me, an activity she enjoys so much."

The Morning Scratch now has even bigger plans than a new printing press.

The Morning Scratch offices will most likely move to a new building in January, if all negotiations go as expected. This new facility has two stories and more rooms than the current location. It will provide the extra space a growing newspaper needs -- and more windows to gather story ideas. The editor, me, Bogdan, also expects new cat trees - at every single window - for brainstorming and relaxation. The main investor has been alerted to these cat-tree plans.

So, don't stray far, loyal readers.

The Morning Scratch will relaunch soon, and check here for updates on the new house, uhm, facility, and the cat trees.

Update: Morning Scratch printing press progress

Dear Morning Scratch readers:

I have procured several new investors, and I am well on my way to buying a new printing press. It helps, too, that I have allowed my first and formerly only investor, Mom, to work more hours than usual so that any overtime pay will be dedicated to my project. I hope to have a new press soon… by mid-December, if my calculations are correct.

Thank you, loyal readers.

The Morning Scratch shall return.

Bogdan, editor, The Morning Scratch

Printing press problems

Dear readers,
For now, The Morning Scratch will be on hiatus. My printing press was destroyed in a very unfortunate incident, and my investor (Mom) says she is in "no position" to buy me a new one. I hope to use other printing presses made available to me on an occasional basis.
-Bogdan, editor, The Morning Scratch

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From Bogdan's Mom: That little bugger destroyed my laptop. He took off across the house, catching a leg on the extension cord of my treasured Powerbook G4 .... the laptop took off from its "safe" place on the table, landing across the room, then was dragged a bit. It's not salvageable, and I am in mourning.
Bogdan is now officially the most expensive cat I've ever had.