Happy Birthday Captain Planet!

Captain Planet premiered on September 15th 1990.  Happy Birthday best super hero ever.  This was definitely one of my favorite cartoons growing up.. and they did an awesome job getting a message across.. super corny of course but that is why it is the best.

In Love With Peta Ads

While I don't always agree with the extremes that PETA takes to make a statement-  I do always agree with their awesome, mostly sexy and sometimes humorous ads.  Here are some of my favorites promoting vegetarianism, spaying and neutering, and boycotting fur.  Enjoy!  :)

Hug a Vegetarian Day is September 24th!!

September 24th is HUG A VEGETARIAN DAY!!  I better be receiving lots of hugs that day... in fact- I am expecting two hugs from each person since not only am I vegetarian... but even more extreme, now I am vegan. 

I haven't eaten meat in over five years, and I don't miss it one bit.  For those of you still eating the flesh (lol) you may want to check out these awesome reasons to pledge to go veg. 

1.  Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease
2.  Vegetarians are 40 percent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters.
3.  The consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products has also been strongly linked to osteoporosis,      Alzheimer's, asthma, and male impotence.
4.  Vegetarians and vegans live, on average, six to 10 years longer than meat-eaters.
5.  Save the Environment.  "Each year, the nation's factory farms, collectively produce 2 billion tons of manure, a substance that's rated by EPA as one of the country's top 10 pollutants.”
6.  Save the Animals!!!!  So many animals are abused and mistreated in the farming industry.  Boycott the factory farmers- or at the very least- buy local and organic. 

Hug A Vegetarian Day 2010

Harry Potter Theme Park?!?

OMG.  Universal Studios Orlando is opening a Harry Potter Theme Park inside their Islands of Adventure Park.  Finally the wizarding world is opening for us muggles, lol.   Not only will you be able to walk around Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, but you can eat at the Three Broomsticks and check out other Hogsmeade shops!  All my dreams are coming true!  The grand opening is scheduled for June 18th, 2010. 

Seriously, WTF! Woman set dogs on fire?

Disgusting, terrible, horrendous, evil.  Just some of the words that come to mind when thinking about the woman who set her dogs on fire.  A 36 year old woman, Katherine Brotherton, from Indiana admitted to police that she set her two dogs on fire, thinking it was the most humane way to destroy them.  She was angry with them for biting her (even though they look super sweet) so she put them in a plastic barrel, poured gasoline on them and set them on fire.  WTF!  That is some really messed up shit.  The dogs are recovering thank God.  Poor little lambs.  This is one miserable human being.  Do us all a favor Katherine- set yourself on fire bitch.

 

Elephant with Slippers Put Down :(

Carrying around so much weight really takes a toll on your feet.  Gay the elephant knew all about that burden.  I posted a story about her awhile back, and I thought it was awesome that the zookeepers cared for her so much to have custom made slippers for her sore feet.  Apparently, the slippers didn't help that much.  Gay was put down recently due to the uncontrollable absesses that developed on her feet.  After trying everything from consulting experts, seeking treatments and making her special shoes, the staff at the Paignton Zoo decided to end Gay's suffering.  Elephants are such beautiful creatures and I feel for the people and the animals that loved Gay for so many years.  Rest in Peace sweetie!  (photo courtesy of BBC)

The Cove Makes a Serious Splash. Save the Dolphins in Taiji.

Imagine going to your favorite local aquarium and instead of seeing dolphins jumping through hoops and dancing joyfully, you see them being slaughtered right in front of you.  You probably can't even imagine it.  That's because they would never show that to the general public.  I just watched the documentary The Cove, and realized with astonishment that something very fishy is going on.  While the dolphins in aquariums are well cared for by their trainers and adored by spectators, there is a mass slaughter going on behind the scenes.  Every year in Taiji, Japan thousands of wild dolphins are trapped and sold to aquariums and other dolphin experience establishments (for a whopping $150,000 each).  Unfortunatley the dolphins and porpoises that don't measure up for public display are brutally killed by the fisherman in Taiji.  23,000 dolphins are killed every year in this section of Japan.  Until The Cove documentary came out exposing this practice it was hidden from the public.  Hard to believe right?

So many of these intellectual mammals are being killed each year, and for what?  Meat!  They are selling dolphin meat to the people of Japan (who don't even really know what they are eating/ being "mislabeled" as whale meat).  Dolphin meat is loaded with mercury, and is completely unsafe to consume.  Anything to make a buck right?  These fisherman also consider their killing practices as a form of pest control.  How dare those wild dolphins eat the fish in the sea! 

The hero of the film is Ric O'Barry, a world renowned dolphin trainer (the Trainer of Flipper).  He regrets turning dolphins into a commercial attraction through the beloved television show Flipper and is on a mission to change the minds of people all over the world.  It is through his determination and love for the dolphins that this film has come alive, and shed light on such a dark issue. 

Do the world a favor, see the film.  It is beautifully made (it was even nominated for an Oscar) and I guarantee it will make an impact on you.  If you want to help save the dolphins you can text the word "dolphin" to 44144 or visit http://www.takepart.com/thecove or http://www.savejapandolphins.org/. 

You can also sign a petition to urge government officials to do something about the dolphin slaughter.  Just visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/724210624.

Meet Your Meat. Ugh.

Watch the video that made me try a Vegan diet.  I don't eat meat, but after watching this video I felt like I had to do something more.  I tried giving up dairy and eggs, but it was just too difficult for me since I am such a picky eater to begin with.  My alternative is to buy local farm fresh dairy as much as possible.  It feels good supporting the local farmers too, especially since most of them care for their animals, unlike the factory farmers who make me sick!  If you are interested in trying a vegetarian diet visit http://www.goveg.com/ for a starter kit and many good tips.  I hope this video makes you think twice about the food you are eating, and what the poor animals are going through just to feed you a drive through hamburger. 

A News Clip from The Onion! How to Put the Spark Back into Your Relationship With Your Cat!!

The Onion.  A funny, ridiculous and satirical American news organization.  They typically cover current event issues buzzing from the US and all over the world and spoof them.  Their stories are amusing to say the least.  I found this funny clip (poking fun at morning news shows like the Today Show) entitled "How to Put the Spark Back into Your Relationship With Your Cat".  Enjoy... it's very silly! 


How To Put The Spark Back Into Your Relationship With Your Cat

Cool Cat Find! Cat Stamps from Sweden!

I saw these stamps on moderncat.com and thought they were the cutest things ever!  According to Modern Cat "The stamps were designed by Swedish illustrator Carina Länk and they are a celebration of the ways in which cats communicate through their body language and sounds."  The stamps are so playful and I really love the use of color. 

I'm not exactly sure whether you can use these Swedish stamps here in the US or what.  I should probably brush up on my philately knowledge!  But in any case- if you want to buy these adorable postage stamps visit http://www.posten.se/m/shop. 

Shelter Animals Being Used for Experiments

Homeless dogs and cats all over the country are being abused. Some being killed inhumanely at shelters who have no room and some being bought as bait for the "sport" of dog fighting- or being trained to fight.

But in this case, adoptable animals are being used in cruel experiments at the University of Utah (and other Universities for that matter). I understand that scientists need to experiment, but on these pets who could make loving companions?? I would rather die from a disease than be saved knowing that hundreds of animals suffered and died. Now, if everyone would just spay and neuter their pets, maybe this overpopulation problem would go away, and our shelters wouldn't be so full.

Watch the video from http://www.peta2.com/ then leave me a comment, I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.


Betrayal of Trust: A PETA Exposé