One very annoying problem is that although we could hook both cameras up to one PC, and WebCam32 can see both cameras, and serve video from either of them, it cannot use both cameras simultaneously, nor can it cycle between them.  Don't get us wrong, WebCam32 has the *ability* to do these things (service two cameras on one PC, cycle between cameras), but it can only do those functions if the cameras use different base drivers.  Unfortunately for us, both the Kodak and the X10 are Microsoft WDM Image Capture devices, which means that WebCam32 (or any other software that we have tried or found) can't access them simultaneously nor can it cycle between the cameras, since they see them both only as 'settings' on the Microsoft WDM Driver, not as individual cameras themselves.  Hence, we have the two cameras hooked up to two different PCs.  If anyone can tell us how to get around this limitation we would be eternally grateful, and would give you righteous props on our web site.

On our front page, you will always see the latest image thumbnail from each webcam.  If you watch the homepage, you will see that the images update automatically every 30 seconds using javascript (a modified version of this script). 

A quick note on durability: the papasan cushion fabric is not meant for either dog claws nor the sawed- metal edges of a modified dog crate. After cushion #3 at roughly $60 apiece, we invested a little time and money in a custom cover sewn by us out of the toughest lycra denim that High Fashion Fabrics had to offer. The cover consists of a circle that makes the top of the cover and two half-moons of fabric that make the bottom of the cover. The bottom two pieces are joined in the middle by a large vinyl sleeping bag zipper, reinforced at either end with extra fabric. It's been a lifesaver , since it also means that we can remove it and wash it whenever we need.

The door has a lock on it, but anyone with any strength could simply still push the doors open.  It comes with a metal security plate, but the plate has to be screwed on with four screws, which makes it very, very inconvenient to use on a daily basis, but fine for if you're heading out of town for an extended period.  In order to provide security (the door is big enough for our 100lb Rottweiler/Beagle cross, so any sufficiently slender ne'er-do-well could also crawl through it), we fashioned a sliding wooden cover using two 22" drawer slides and a piece of solid wood to form a sliding cover.  You can see it in the indoor webcam shot.  If it's open, it'll be to the left of the dog door, if it's closed then it will obscure the dog door.  The drawer slides are screwed into wall studs, and the door has a latch on it to hold it closed, so it provides at least as much security as a wooden door when closed and latched.

We got up the next morning, put the collars on our dogs, and headed out for a walk down the boulevard.  We weren't sure what to expect, but what we got was two dogs who were transformed into manageable, well-behaved leash walkers.  Their ears and tails were up, and they were smiling the whole way, and did not appear to have any discomfort, even when a squirrel or bird enticed them to pull.  They simply pulled, then stopped, never flinching or demonstrating any adverse reaction.  They did not even appear to notice the collars, other than the fact that their pulling was reduced by 95%.  We are using the collars as a training aid to reinforce our verbal signals, and we don't jerk or pull the collars.  We plan to wean the snups from the prong collars over time.  We give these collars two enthusiastic thumbs-up, and encourage you to at least consider them as an option. 

We have a two-story house, and the downstairs is hardwood floors and short-nap area/throw rugs.  Our upstairs are completely carpeted, so that's where the vacuum lives most of the time, which meant that vacuuming downstairs was bookended by hauling the vacuum cleaner down then back up the stairs.  This added drudgery was often enough to de-motivate us from vacuuming.  We did not want to spend the money on another standard vacuum for downstairs, nor did we have the space to store it if we got it.  Our search for a possible solution led us to the Eureka 96B, which we recently purchased.  This vacuum is perfect for our needs.  It cleans the hardwood floors and rugs downstairs quickly, easily, and cleanly.  It's bagless and rechargeable, which makes it VERY convenient.  The wall mount bracket (which is also the charger) makes it easy to hang it up out of the way, and keeps it constantly charged.  Plus you can take the long handle off of it and use it as a hand-held vac, if you want.  We've used it nearly every day since we've got it, and we love it.