If it broke you up to say good-bye to the Shiba Inu litter whose “Puppy Cam” webcam broadcasts stole hearts through the holidays, fear not — a new pooch passion’s here. Once again, we’ve got a chance to watch fuzzy adorable pups of exotic breeding as they romp and snooze and rip apart toys in the nursery — awaiting the time of weaning and adoption — but this time it’s a litter of Thai Ridgeback puppies.

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If you’re still pining for the Shibas, however — and who wouldn’t? — you’ll be glad to know that the original Puppy Cam madness continues. Richard Gere and the Puppy Cam Shibas are teaming up in a remake of Hatchiko, the Japanese tale of a brave and faithful little dog…

I’ve not seen the Japanese film, but a dear friend with whom I shared the love of a Shiba for a number of years gave me a copy of a children’s book called Hachiko Waits that tells the dog’s story — and if you’re a dog lover, and if you’re lucky enough to come across a copy, I’d grab it. (And if I were a publisher, I’d be haggling for the reprint rights, before the Hatchiko movie is released!)

Captain Jack Sparrow may be the summer’s hottest box-office draw, but what’s it really like inside his bedroom?Watch out for the skull and crossbones hanging from the ceiling. Be careful not to trip over the gold dubloons spilling out of the old chest by the captain’s bed…

In conjunction with next week’s release of Pirates of the Caribbean III: At World’s End Home-and-Bedroom.com is sponsoring a pirate-themed essay contest. Just let your imagination run wild, and give them your 100-word vision of a truly swashbuckling bedroom!

“Beds and bedroom sets are our company’s specialty, so we thought it would be fun to ask : What exactly does a Pirate’s bedroom look like?” explains Ben Weissman, spokesperson for the online furniture retailer. “Whether it’s Captain Jack Sparrow, Barbosa or Davy Jones, they all have a certain ‘Pirate Style’ to their quarters. We want to know what people imagine that would be like.”

The best 100-word essay that the company receives between now and June 10, 2007 will win a Disney Pirates twin bed comforter set (retail value of $100). For more information on the contest, visit Home-and-Bedroom.com.