This article is particularly inane. Pets can apparently "wreck" relationships according to this survey of 200,000 people according to the Guardian.
Women were particularly unimpressed with men who owned spiders, with 48% admitting to being repelled at the prospect. Men were turned off by partners who pampered pets, spending more than £100 a week on accessories and upkeep. One in four men said they would not date a woman with two or more cats and a third of women said they would avoid men who let cats sleep on their pillows.
OK, so tough luck for all you spider owners (men only, as I'm sure guys would be impressed by women like this). And if you have more than one cat ladies, a full 25 percent of men won't date you! Jeepers! £100 ($201.00) per week on pet accessories? Are you kidding me?
Monday, August 13, 2007
Newsweek Covers Mountain Gorillas
Newsweek has made the plight of the mountain gorillas its cover story for the week. Here's hoping it brings some attention to this sickening situation. The picture you see on the first screen makes me mad as hell.
It's sad to go to the checkout line at Fred Meyer's and see Newsweek, with this important story, shoved to the bottom of the magazine rack. What's on top? That goofball Britney Spears and her pointless life.
And they say WE are the higher species?
It's sad to go to the checkout line at Fred Meyer's and see Newsweek, with this important story, shoved to the bottom of the magazine rack. What's on top? That goofball Britney Spears and her pointless life.
And they say WE are the higher species?
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Dogs in War
Here is a good article about dogs being used in the military in Iraq. If there is one bright side, vet care is far better than in previous wars.
When he came to, the Marine's arm hung lamely. It was broken by ball bearings hurled so hard from a suicide bomb that they also became embedded in his gun. Yet Brendan Poelaert's thoughts quickly turned to his patrol dog.
The powerful Belgian Malinois named Flapoor had served him as partner and protector for the past four months in Iraq. Now, the dog staggered a few steps along the Ramadi street, then stared blankly. Blood poured from his chest.
"I didn't care about my injuries, my arm," his handler says. "I'm telling the medic, 'I got to get my dog to the vet!"'
The dog's handlers seem to really care about them.
Here is a site dedicated to dog handlers and the dogs that served with them.
When he came to, the Marine's arm hung lamely. It was broken by ball bearings hurled so hard from a suicide bomb that they also became embedded in his gun. Yet Brendan Poelaert's thoughts quickly turned to his patrol dog.
The powerful Belgian Malinois named Flapoor had served him as partner and protector for the past four months in Iraq. Now, the dog staggered a few steps along the Ramadi street, then stared blankly. Blood poured from his chest.
"I didn't care about my injuries, my arm," his handler says. "I'm telling the medic, 'I got to get my dog to the vet!"'
The dog's handlers seem to really care about them.
Here is a site dedicated to dog handlers and the dogs that served with them.
Puget Sound Orca Population Down
After six years the population of Orcas has decreased by one.
FRIDAY HARBOR — The Center for Whale Research at Friday Harbor has counted 86 orcas in this year's census of killer whales.
FRIDAY HARBOR — The Center for Whale Research at Friday Harbor has counted 86 orcas in this year's census of killer whales.
Pygmy Elephants Losing Habitat
Pygmy elephants are losing their habitat in Malaysia.
Malaysia—Satellite tracking of pygmy elephants has found that the endangered animals—unique to Borneo island—are under threat due to logging and commercial plantations encroaching on their habitat, conservationists said Thursday.
A World Wildlife Fund study, based on two years of satellite tracking, found that pygmy elephants thrive best in forests on flat lowlands and in river valleys—the same terrain preferred by loggers and oil palm plantations.
About 40 percent of forest in the Malaysian state of Sabah, where most pygmy elephants live, has been lost to logging, conversion for plantations and human settlement over the last four decades, WWF said.
Malaysia—Satellite tracking of pygmy elephants has found that the endangered animals—unique to Borneo island—are under threat due to logging and commercial plantations encroaching on their habitat, conservationists said Thursday.
A World Wildlife Fund study, based on two years of satellite tracking, found that pygmy elephants thrive best in forests on flat lowlands and in river valleys—the same terrain preferred by loggers and oil palm plantations.
About 40 percent of forest in the Malaysian state of Sabah, where most pygmy elephants live, has been lost to logging, conversion for plantations and human settlement over the last four decades, WWF said.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Texas Town Starving Dogs to Death and Then Dumping Their Bodies in Ditches
This is unbelievable.
From the article:
Nestled in a ditch less than two-tenths of a mile east of the city maintenance shop here rests a lumpy, gray, plastic garbage bag.
Inside it is the fly-ridden, decomposing carcass of what was a black, medium-sized dog.
Municipal workers here have been starving dogs to death and irresponsibly tossing their carcasses in ditches inside and around the city limits for months, as ordered by the city manager, according to former city worker Abel Escovedo and Mayor Jose Calin Guzman.
Along with other city maintenance workers, Escovedo said he was ordered by City Manager Ernesto Ayala Jr. to pick up stray dogs in town and keep them at the maintenance shop for a week.
“We’ve been dumping dogs,” he said. “(Workers) went at least 10 times in the last two months.”
This is so disgusting I won't even bother commenting on it.
From the article:
Nestled in a ditch less than two-tenths of a mile east of the city maintenance shop here rests a lumpy, gray, plastic garbage bag.
Inside it is the fly-ridden, decomposing carcass of what was a black, medium-sized dog.
Municipal workers here have been starving dogs to death and irresponsibly tossing their carcasses in ditches inside and around the city limits for months, as ordered by the city manager, according to former city worker Abel Escovedo and Mayor Jose Calin Guzman.
Along with other city maintenance workers, Escovedo said he was ordered by City Manager Ernesto Ayala Jr. to pick up stray dogs in town and keep them at the maintenance shop for a week.
“We’ve been dumping dogs,” he said. “(Workers) went at least 10 times in the last two months.”
This is so disgusting I won't even bother commenting on it.
Snakes for the Stars
Looks like things made from snakes are popular with the vacuous $3000.00 handbag crowd.
J-Lo's passion was a metallic python number by Zagliani, an Italian company that injects its skins with Botox for that ultra-soft feel, while Ms Longoria, star of Desperate Housewives, prefers an exotic python tote by Prada. Meanwhile Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley have barely been seen out of their metallic python flats by Chanel.
Charming.
J-Lo's passion was a metallic python number by Zagliani, an Italian company that injects its skins with Botox for that ultra-soft feel, while Ms Longoria, star of Desperate Housewives, prefers an exotic python tote by Prada. Meanwhile Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley have barely been seen out of their metallic python flats by Chanel.
Charming.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Bone-Headed Activism
You know, there are some battles worth fighting. Protesting buggy rides isn't one of them.
This is what Friends of Animals is doing when not suing Chimp's Inc to return two apes that lived in (what had been) wretched conditions at Primarily Primates.
From the article:
"People generally think of horse-and-buggy rides as romantic and beautiful, but the bottom line is it is exploiting animals. It's forcing horses to pull people on the street. The horses wouldn't be doing it if they had the choice," said Nancy Rice, the group's outreach coordinator.
I suppose not. I'll bet these horses have better things to do as well. Exploiters!
My point is this. First of all, the chances of success are pretty small. Unless the animals are beaten or live in squalid conditions, people just aren't going to look at this as animal abuse.
Second, the average person looks at this and concludes that all animal activists are complete kooks who would grab those leather Nikes off their feet if given half a chance.
And finally, whether it's dog fighting, true animal abuse or exploitation, I think there are so many issues that demand attention and activism. If they need ideas, I can certainly come up with a long list. And it won't include buggy rides, ponies, or service dogs.
But if you really want to go after this activity, these are the worst offenders. And if you go to protest, I hear they make very nice furniture too.
This is what Friends of Animals is doing when not suing Chimp's Inc to return two apes that lived in (what had been) wretched conditions at Primarily Primates.
From the article:
"People generally think of horse-and-buggy rides as romantic and beautiful, but the bottom line is it is exploiting animals. It's forcing horses to pull people on the street. The horses wouldn't be doing it if they had the choice," said Nancy Rice, the group's outreach coordinator.
I suppose not. I'll bet these horses have better things to do as well. Exploiters!
My point is this. First of all, the chances of success are pretty small. Unless the animals are beaten or live in squalid conditions, people just aren't going to look at this as animal abuse.
Second, the average person looks at this and concludes that all animal activists are complete kooks who would grab those leather Nikes off their feet if given half a chance.
And finally, whether it's dog fighting, true animal abuse or exploitation, I think there are so many issues that demand attention and activism. If they need ideas, I can certainly come up with a long list. And it won't include buggy rides, ponies, or service dogs.
But if you really want to go after this activity, these are the worst offenders. And if you go to protest, I hear they make very nice furniture too.
Railroads for Dogs and Cats
This is interesting. The websites Catster and Dogster (think myspace for animal lovers) have forums where people will transport animals thousands of miles to be adopted out. Called the Catster and Dogster railroads, people volunteer to take the animals for different legs of the journey.
Here is a link to the Catster forum so you can get an idea of what it is.
Here is Dogster.
Here is a link to the Catster forum so you can get an idea of what it is.
Here is Dogster.
15th Annual Animal Law Conference
Someday, I'm going to go to this conference at Lewis and Clark. Portland is one of my favorites cities!
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Blood-Thirsty Portuguese Matador Guilty of Killing Bull
Unlike Spain, Portugal outlawed the killing of bulls in 1928. Pedrito de Portugal, their most famous matador, seems to really get off killing them. He was recently fined €100,000, or $137,000 for doing so.
"Bullfighting in Portugal is like a play with the ending missing," says the elegant, soft-spoken 32-year-old, whose father was also a bullfighter. "Killing the bull is an art, and the way we do it in Portugal deprives the bull of his dignity."
Pedrito, born in Lisbon as Alexandre Pedro Roque Silva, committed his notorious act in 2001 at a bullfight in Moita, a town south of Lisbon.
The crowd began waving white napkins and chanting, "Kill the bull! Kill the bull!" he recalled in an interview. Eager to satisfy, he pulled out his sword and stabbed the raging half-ton bull in its spinal cord. He received a standing ovation, was hoisted on the crowd's shoulders and paraded through the streets.
Hours later the police detained him and slapped him with a fine, but he was released after crowds of angry fans circled the police station. Amateur video footage showed the bull's ears and tail being cut off in the ring as a reward for his kill.
I wonder if he would feel dignified if someone stuck him with a sword. I can't say the people chanting "kill kill kill" are much better.
"Bullfighting in Portugal is like a play with the ending missing," says the elegant, soft-spoken 32-year-old, whose father was also a bullfighter. "Killing the bull is an art, and the way we do it in Portugal deprives the bull of his dignity."
Pedrito, born in Lisbon as Alexandre Pedro Roque Silva, committed his notorious act in 2001 at a bullfight in Moita, a town south of Lisbon.
The crowd began waving white napkins and chanting, "Kill the bull! Kill the bull!" he recalled in an interview. Eager to satisfy, he pulled out his sword and stabbed the raging half-ton bull in its spinal cord. He received a standing ovation, was hoisted on the crowd's shoulders and paraded through the streets.
Hours later the police detained him and slapped him with a fine, but he was released after crowds of angry fans circled the police station. Amateur video footage showed the bull's ears and tail being cut off in the ring as a reward for his kill.
I wonder if he would feel dignified if someone stuck him with a sword. I can't say the people chanting "kill kill kill" are much better.
Another Species Bites the Dust
This extinction is credited to our country of the week - China!
China's rapid industrialization has likely made extinct a species of fresh water dolphin that had been on Earth for over 20 million years, Chinese and British biologists said Wednesday.
Scientists from China, Japan, Britain and the United States failed to find the white dolphin, known as the baiji, during a six-week search of its natural habitat in the Yangtze river last year.
"This result means the baiji is likely extinct," Wang Ding, co-author of the survey and one of the world's leading experts on the species, told AFP.
The dolphin was a victim of devastating pollution, illegal fishing and heavy cargo traffic on the Yangtze, Wang said.
The findings mean the baiji is likely the first mammal to become extinct in more than 50 years. It is the cousin of the bottlenose dolphin, which is also on the critically endangered list.
What else will go extinct in our lifetime?
China's rapid industrialization has likely made extinct a species of fresh water dolphin that had been on Earth for over 20 million years, Chinese and British biologists said Wednesday.
Scientists from China, Japan, Britain and the United States failed to find the white dolphin, known as the baiji, during a six-week search of its natural habitat in the Yangtze river last year.
"This result means the baiji is likely extinct," Wang Ding, co-author of the survey and one of the world's leading experts on the species, told AFP.
The dolphin was a victim of devastating pollution, illegal fishing and heavy cargo traffic on the Yangtze, Wang said.
The findings mean the baiji is likely the first mammal to become extinct in more than 50 years. It is the cousin of the bottlenose dolphin, which is also on the critically endangered list.
What else will go extinct in our lifetime?
Economic Costs of Humane Treatment of Livestock
This is an interesting article on CNN Money about the costs of improving conditions for farm animals.
Much of the time it comes down to the money. Are consumers willing to pay more for more humane treatment? From the article:
The rhetoric by both sides clouds the issue. Animal activists demand that laws be passed to change the conditions under which livestock and poultry are raised. The livestock sector argues that the changes the activists want will increase production costs and that some of the alternative programs they want are inhumane as well.
The Humane Society of the United States is initiating a petition drive to put an initiative on the California ballot that would ban gestation crates for sows, battery cages for laying hens and veal crates for veal calves. A San Francisco Bay area group called East Bay Animal Advocates is an on-the-ground group working to aid in the effort.
Much of the time it comes down to the money. Are consumers willing to pay more for more humane treatment? From the article:
The rhetoric by both sides clouds the issue. Animal activists demand that laws be passed to change the conditions under which livestock and poultry are raised. The livestock sector argues that the changes the activists want will increase production costs and that some of the alternative programs they want are inhumane as well.
The Humane Society of the United States is initiating a petition drive to put an initiative on the California ballot that would ban gestation crates for sows, battery cages for laying hens and veal crates for veal calves. A San Francisco Bay area group called East Bay Animal Advocates is an on-the-ground group working to aid in the effort.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Animal Rights Extremism in Los Angeles
Here is an article in the LA Weekly about Alf, Elf and other assorted groups.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, which closely watches extremist groups of all kinds throughout the world, Los Angeles has become the capital of a more aggressive brand of animal-rights extremism in the United States — with UCLA as ground zero. “Los Angeles, for now, is the epicenter of this movement,” says Oren Segal, co-director of ADL’s Center on Extremism in New York City. “We’ve seen a lot of humans targeted overseas, and now it’s happening here.”
In the past, Segal notes, ragtag groups in the U.S. calling themselves such names as the Animal Liberation Front and the mostly fabled Earth Liberation Front freed animals from university research labs and firebombed empty buildings. The Animal Liberation Front, in fact, claimed to only target inanimate objects for its violent actions. But now, underground groups — perhaps just one or two enraged people, or perhaps organized networks — have no problem making bombs for killing or maiming their human marks. One of those is the Animal Liberation Front, which took responsibility for last year’s attempted Fairbanks bombing. “They have been very violent over the years,” says Segal, “so going after humans has been inevitable.”
According to the Anti-Defamation League, which closely watches extremist groups of all kinds throughout the world, Los Angeles has become the capital of a more aggressive brand of animal-rights extremism in the United States — with UCLA as ground zero. “Los Angeles, for now, is the epicenter of this movement,” says Oren Segal, co-director of ADL’s Center on Extremism in New York City. “We’ve seen a lot of humans targeted overseas, and now it’s happening here.”
In the past, Segal notes, ragtag groups in the U.S. calling themselves such names as the Animal Liberation Front and the mostly fabled Earth Liberation Front freed animals from university research labs and firebombed empty buildings. The Animal Liberation Front, in fact, claimed to only target inanimate objects for its violent actions. But now, underground groups — perhaps just one or two enraged people, or perhaps organized networks — have no problem making bombs for killing or maiming their human marks. One of those is the Animal Liberation Front, which took responsibility for last year’s attempted Fairbanks bombing. “They have been very violent over the years,” says Segal, “so going after humans has been inevitable.”
Foot and Mouth Disease in UK May Have Been Sabatoge
Authorities have traced the disease to a high security government lab, and are investigating whether it was deliberately spread. From the story:
The government's Health and Safety Executive said there was a "real possibility" the disease was spread by human movement, while the possibility it was transmitted by wind or floodwaters was negligible.
It said there were various potential routes for "accidental or deliberate transfer of material from the site."
The government's Health and Safety Executive said there was a "real possibility" the disease was spread by human movement, while the possibility it was transmitted by wind or floodwaters was negligible.
It said there were various potential routes for "accidental or deliberate transfer of material from the site."
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