Category Archives: Open Letter

Open Letter to Our Human: The Case of the Dinner Delay

Dear Keeper of the Kibble,

We write this with heavy hearts and, frankly, empty stomachs. There has been an unforgivable delay in tonight’s dinner service, and as your loyal, ever-starving companions, we feel it our duty to address this grave oversight.

We’ve been nothing but patient. Well, mostly patient. Charlie even refrained from licking outlets, and Jadie kept sock consumption to one.

Yet here we are, the clock ticking past dinnertime, our bowls still somehow empty. We’ve tried to remind you — subtly, of course. Puppy eyes, intentional yawns, even pacing.

Still, you went about your business as if our plight didn’t exist. You folded laundry. You mopped, for some reason (as if we weren’t going to walk those floors). Then, to add insult to injury, you sat down to watch TV. We even had to endure you laughing at some show instead of addressing the situation at hand.

Now, we understand you may have had a long day. You might even claim you forgot what time it was. But let’s be honest: we know you checked your phone at least five times, so that pig isn’t going to fly.

Let us be clear: this is not revolt. We would never stage a mutiny. (Unless you run out of soft food. Then it’s Lord of The Flies.) This is simply a nudge from your devoted pack that dinner isn’t just a meal—it’s an event. A sacred ritual where we gather around bowls and pretend not to notice you sneaking people food we can smell from three rooms away.

So, please, put down the remote, step away from the laundry, and fulfill your most sacred duty: feeding us. We promise to greet the meal with the enthusiasm you’ve come to expect, even if it’s just kibble and beans. (Though we wouldn’t say no to some of that chicken you had earlier.)

Faithfully famished,

Jadie the Jealous

Charlie the Chaotic

P.S. Jadie says if this happens again, she’ll be forced to eat your wallet. Don’t test our resolve.

Open Letter to The U.S. Patent Office


 Open Letter to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Thanksgiving Day 2024

United States Patent and Trademark Office

600 Dulany Street

Alexandria, VA 22314


Dear Esteemed Members of the USPTO,

I am writing to formally submit a proposal for a new invention that has the potential to significantly enhance road safety: the Front Brake Light.

The existing brake light system on vehicles is limited to the rear of the vehicle. While effective for communicating deceleration to following drivers, it leaves other road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and oncoming traffic, in the dark—literally—about a vehicle’s intent to slow or stop. The Front Brake Light addresses this critical safety gap by providing clear, visual communication to all road users, not just those behind the vehicle.

Description of the Invention

The Front Brake Light is an auxiliary lighting system installed on the front of a vehicle. When the driver applies the brakes, a dedicated light fixture illuminates, signaling to pedestrians and oncoming traffic that the vehicle is actively decelerating.

The system can be integrated seamlessly into modern vehicle designs, potentially placed near the headlights or in a designated area on the front grille. Advanced models could incorporate adaptive LED technology, providing a brighter and more noticeable signal.

Justification and Safety Benefits

1. Improved Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrians crossing in front of a vehicle will have an immediate visual cue that the driver intends to stop, reducing the risk of misjudging the vehicle’s movement.

2. Increased Cyclist Awareness

Cyclists traveling against traffic often lack clear communication about a vehicle’s intentions. A front brake light can serve as a critical warning to prevent collisions.

3. Enhanced Oncoming Traffic Communication

Drivers in opposing lanes can better anticipate potential lane transitions or slowing traffic when approaching a vehicle equipped with a front brake light.

4. Proven Concept, Expanded Application

The rear brake light is universally acknowledged as a lifesaving innovation. Expanding its functionality to the front of vehicles builds on this proven concept, enhancing safety for all road users.

Innovation and Feasibility

This invention does not replace existing systems but augments them to create a more inclusive and communicative safety framework. Modern vehicles already incorporate sophisticated electrical systems, making the integration of a Front Brake Light both cost-effective and technically feasible.

Patent Request

I respectfully request the USPTO to recognize the Front Brake Light as a novel invention deserving of patent protection. The concept introduces a new dimension to vehicle safety, one that acknowledges the needs of all road users, not just those positioned behind the vehicle.

This invention aligns with global efforts to reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries, particularly among vulnerable populations like pedestrians and cyclists. By approving this patent, the USPTO can contribute to a significant advancement in public safety.

Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. I am happy to provide further details, technical specifications, or demonstrations as required. I look forward to your response and the opportunity to contribute to safer roads through this innovation.

Sincerely,

Scott Bowles

Open Letter to A Puppy: Richard Harris


My little ones,

I have some hard news. Richard Harris, Trouble’s dad, the mayor of the dog park and the first regular you ever met there, died in his sleep last night. He was 58.

He died after doing his second-favorite thing: cooking for friends. He made dinner in his new pizza oven, dined, laughed, shared his love, said good night and was gone by 4 a.m.

His favorite thing was Trouble, his 12-year-old rescue that taught him to love dogs. He used not to, but said that when he met Trouble, he knew he was in it, because he was head over heels.

From that moment, he became the smiling face of the Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash dog park. He walked dogs there for 20 years under the business name Sitters O’ Critters, and seemed to remember the name of every person and pup he ever met.

If you were a regular at the park, you knew Richard, along with his daily query: “Whatchu doin for lunch? I want something delicious.” A park regular called him “the Great Connector” of people at the park, who became a community — bound by his love of dogs, the park, and the palpable chemistry of that combination.

Born in Hawaii but raised in Pittsburgh, Richard was an eight-year military veteran and served in the Gulf War before civilian life. He could have lived a cubicle existence, and knew how to invest.

But he would say he could never give up a life with dogs, dog people, and the California sun. 

Every day, he’d show up in a crapped out Scooby Doo van with at least a dozen of his charges, each of which got their own crate for safe passage. You two would greet him daily, barking hellos to his squadron of fur and fang.

I can’t tell you what the park will feel like tomorrow. Surely empty. Some of your friends may not be back. I know one of mine won’t.

But Richard would never forgive us if we didn’t show up, didn’t love on the fur babies, didn’t marvel at the Cali weather and canine frenzy that brought us together in the first place.

So let’s try keep it together tomorrow. Better than dad did today. 

Afterwards, we’ll get something delicious.