Year: 2005

From none other than Chrenkoff.

According to academics attending the Compassion in World Farming Trust conference this past week, farm animals have feelings which should be respected and catered for. They believe animals should not be dismissed as simple automatons – cows take pleasure in solving problems and sheep can form deep friendships.

Professor Marc Bekoff, of the University of Colorado states,

“And what animals feel matters very much as they try to negotiate their lives in a human-dominated and often abusive world, in which they are mere pawns in our incessant and obsessive attempts to control their lives for our and not their benefit.”

HELLOOOO? I don’t want to be nice to my beef. I want to eat my beef. When it’s put on a plate in front of me, and it’s hot and juicy with a marble of fat running through it, I don’t care a wit for what it thinks of me. I couldn’t give a rip if it was nicely talked to nor do I shed a tear at the thought that it might have been whapped up side the head with a two-by-four.

In fact, right about now I’m ready to sink my teeth into one of these:

 

After reading about this, I immediately envisioned myself doing this.

Like a watermarked bill, a tattoo on the skin, a branding on a cow, red wine spilled on a wool fiber carpet, and a splotch of black permanent ink from a Sharpie on an $90 white shirt…

…this product is forever etched in my mind.

            The Popeil Pocket Fisherman

It’s number 92 on a list of the Top 100 Gadgets of All Time.

I don’t know what I liked better, the product or the infomercial selling the product. The Ronco commercials are classic, but this one was the greatest.

The “Compromise Bill” passed 203-58 in the House. Here’s the final vote roll call. At 10:28 PM PST, CNN reported that President Bush signed the bill.

Kevin McCullough submits his take on the performance from the Democrats tonight.

Here’s a link to the audio posted on The Drudge Report. According to Drudge, this recording captures a moment between Terri and her father during the time when her feeding tube was removed.

The Terry Schiavo matter took yet another turn today, with Congress performing acrobatic maneuvers to prolong her life. Both sides of the aisle took advantage of the moment while public opinion rides a roller coaster of emotion.

The Senate passed a bill that could prolong Terri Schiavo’s life while a federal court considers her case while House Republicans, stymied by Democrats, scrambled to bring enough lawmakers back to the Capitol for an emergency vote early Monday.

GOP leaders planned a House vote just past midnight, hours after the Senate approved the bill by voice vote. President Bush rushed back from Texas for a chance to sign the measure.

The plan had been for the House to act first and then the Senate to pass the House version. But with Democrats forcing a delay in the House, the Senate went ahead and passed its own, identical, version by unrecorded voice vote.

That means the House will be acting on the Senate-passed bill, still enabling the legislation to be hurried to Bush for signature into law. 

I have no doubt that some in Congress are taking this personally and their legislation is really about what’s good for Terri. But, if you think this is all about saving one woman’s life, think again. As I feared, it’s mostly politics as usual.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said the federal district court in Florida, which is open 24 hours a day, had already been informed that a petition would be filed as soon as the president signs the measure – with the presumption the judge will order that the tube be replaced.

“Time is not on Terri Schiavo’s side,” DeLay said. “The few remaining objecting House Democrats have so far cost Mrs.Schiavo two meals already today.”

I like Tom, and I think that he’s had to waste a lot of valuable time lately fighting ethics violation charges, but this comment is a bit over the top for my tastes.

Don’t think for a moment that the Democrats were white as snow either…

Democrats expressed sympathy for the severely brain-damaged Florida woman and for the plight of her family. But they also accused Republicans of ramming through constitutionally questionable legislation to satisfy the agenda of their conservative allies.

In a special session Sunday afternoon, Democrats refused to allow the bill to be passed without a roll call vote.

Petty, self centered politics.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., spoke of “the manifestation of a constitutional crisis” where Congress, for ideological reasons, was ignoring the separations of power written into the Constitution.

Republicans distanced themselves from a memo suggesting GOP lawmakers could use the case to appeal to Christian conservative voters and to force Democrats into a difficult vote.

“I hope we’re not … making this human tragedy a political issue,” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told ABC’s “This Week.” “We’ve got plenty of other issues that are political in nature for us to fight about.”

Yes you do. Too bad many of your colleagues don’t see it like you do.

The House reconvenes 7 minutes from now (3/20 – 5:53 PM PST). Bush cut short a trip so he could be ready to sign any legislation.

The end of this story is still a long way off.

I noticed a trackback on a post I wrote, and it lead me to this site. It’s obviously a fake blog, but what’s its purpose? The only thing I can come up with is that it must be probing blog sites in order to find ones that are most susceptible to comment/trackback SPAM.

Cripes, what a cheesy weasel.

We’ve just spent most of the day celebrating my daughters 9th birthday. In case you don’t remember when you turned 9, let me tell you that it’s quite an event. Last night, dinner out for everyone. Today, a trip to Walmart to buy a brand new bike and a helmet. This afternoon, a trip to the roller skating rink with 5 of her best girlfriends (yes, all 9 years old too), and cake, and presents, and soda. Skating under the disco ball, doing the limbo. More cake, more soda. Goodie bags and a trip home with all the gift “booty” in the van.

And I loved every minute of it.

Really.

The Witch Queen and the Imperial Wizard.

Hah.

Save Toby.