Another compelling photo contributed by members of the elite HATSOL (Humor at the Speed of Life) surveillance team has arrived, providing evidence that 1) Canadians love sharing a laugh with their pets, and 2) Canadian pets aren’t as easily amused.
As always, we’ve gone to great lengths to protect the identity of the individuals in the photograph, utilizing the latest technology to ensure their privacy isn’t jeopardized. So don’t even bother asking me who it is because I won’t tell you. And definitely think twice before trying to trick me into revealing their identities with some clever device, such as pretending to ask an innocent question like, “Hey, isn’t that Whats-his-name and his dog So-and-so?”
Due to my years of training as an investigative journalist, my conditioned response will be a swift, “No, that isn’t Whats-his-name and his dog So-and-so, and I wouldn’t tell you it was Ross Murray and his dog Bella even if it was — so don’t even try.”
My thanks to another job well done by members of the elite HATSOL surveillance team. For anyone who has been undecided about sending a photo out of fear of public scrutiny, I hope this has assured you of our commitment to protecting your anonymity.
— Ned Anonymous
(Ned Hickson is a syndicated columnist with News Media Corporation. His first book, Humor at the Speed of Life, is available from Port Hole Publications, Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.)
Ned's Blog 
I’ve been scanning the skies over Sanford all day, hoping to see a HATSOL drone with a wee camera attached, swooping low over my house. I carried my copy of your book outdoors and posed in the driveway in a provocative manner for hours. Never saw a drone. I did meet a really nice officer of the law, though, who assured me my neighbors merely wanted to be certain I was feeling all right, and hadn’t been hitting the Geritol too heavily again. (Sadly, this is what passes for excitement in Sanford. Probably should have stayed in the Comfy Chair.)
Keep your eye out for a balsa wood drone with an iPhone taped to the underbelly. Either that or a 1987 camcorder taped to a guy named Biff with a potbelly. If you still don’t see anything matching that description, count yourself lucky and consider joining the HATSOL team with an anonymous self portrait. Preferably with a copy of the book. And remember this is a PG-rated site… 😉
You win! Laughing way too hard to think of anything clever to say. And after all, you have me outgunned, being the humorist and all. Me, I just write sappy love stories. But you…you ROCK, Ned Hickson! Going outside to look for Biff. At my age, you get your kicks where you can!
😉
Ha! 🙂
It’s good to know secrets are safe with you, Ned. I’m sure random Canadians such as Ross Murray and his dog Bella will agree with that.
WHA…?!?
HOW DID…?!?
Who told you their names?!? Never mind — I will find this mole MYSELF!
You don’t have to tell me anything for me to know who it is, why, he looks exactly like that guy … what’s his name? Oh yeah, Ross Murray and that dog looks an awful lot like Bella. I know everything, I’m practically genius.
I practically knew that.
It looks like you could identify him by his dental records.
I’m not sure who you are, but I don’t think the anonymous person in that photo would appreciate you talking about his anonymous dog that way.
— Anonymous blogger whose gravitar looks just like Ned
I said “his dental records.” Are you implying that that beautiful girl dog is a… dog?
Crap… how did you know it was me?
Is he laughing hysterically or just yawning profusely?
He’s Canadian, so it’s hard to know for sure.
*falling on the floor laughing*
This one is by far my favorite post. 🙂
I’ve been building toward this comedic climax for many years 😉
You are too funny…8-)
Pretty sure this should become the next meme and we should all submit our own twists on this photo…
Brilliant! I don’t think Ross would mind.
Bella… I’m not so sure about.
Waiting patiently by my mail box….. and a little impatiently by my email box!! 😉
Hey, Sue! Though I have no control over the mail box, I can tell you I’ll have the interview back to your email box this weekend. Thanks for being patient! (sort of… 😉 )
And thanks again for the chance to be a part of your Fellow Blogger Series. For those who might be reading this (How DARE you!) here’s the link to a terrific series of interviews by Suz over at her blog
http://suzjones.wordpress.com/category/fellow-blogger-series/
Check it out. Seriously. Or I’ll tell people stuff about you…
I look forward to receiving it my friend. I have saved a date at the end of the month for you 🙂
Thanks for the nice words. Unfortunately witty words are escaping me right now 😉
Looking forward to being on your blog, Suz — as long as I’m not required to be witty. I can’t take that kind of pressure 😉
I was somehow thinking Cal Worthington and his dog Spot.
You read my mind! Which is more than a little frightening. I’m just not sure which one of us should be more frightened…
I’m thinking you’d attract a more highbrow audience with a picture of a cat being amused by the book.
Probably just more finicky.
Good thing my alter ego doesn’t work with you!! lol
I’ll never tell… 😉