Vote for *moggit by 6/23 please!

My Canadian buddy, blogger extraordinaire, funny gal, mom to the adorable Wilbur, and ‘looks good all the time which really annoys’ gal, Joy, and her friend Janet, have created a  design eye candy blog *moggit , to tackle (in their own words) “fugly design and home decor”.  Their blog is in the running for a couple of SocialLuxe blog awards, in the categories of Funniest Blog and Guilty Pleasure Blog.  Mind you, I’m one of the last folks anyone would come to for design advice (trust me!), but the designs they post are always interesting, their comments are insightful and witty, and don’t tell anyone, but (shhhh) I’ve actually learned a thing or two!  Give *moggit a go for yourself, and most definitely hit up the SocialLuxe site to vote for them…thanks!

And since I’m in a great mood due to listening to 3 hours of Bob Marley on  “Brunch with Bob” on FM94.9 (KBZT in San Diego), figured I’d put you in a good mood by posting a photo of one of my favorite poochies (after my Rudy, of course!), Ms Joy’s very own Wilbur. Have a great Sunday, and go vote for *moggit!

San Diego Pride “Equality Torch Relay” today, then rally tonight 6/6/09 (video)

Meant to post about this earlier, but I never seem to get over here as much as I should.  Bad me, bad me.

San Diego Pride created the Equality Torch Relay to help raise awareness of the equality cause by bringing together all areas of the San Diego region.  The relay will simultaneously take place in the north county and the inland area, and from the south bay to the east county, with all torch bearers converging this evening at the San Diego County Administration Building for a 6PM rally, which everyone is invited to attend.

San Diego Pride "Equality Torch Relay" stop in Oceanside, CA

@SanDiegoPride was tweeting about it this morning, and I was bummed to read one that said it had just left my neck of the woods.  Happily the coastal relay ended up being at Oceanside City Hall a bit later, so as soon as I  saw the tweet I threw on some clothes and a baseball cap, grabbed Rudy and my camera, and flew over to City Hall.  The relay (including torch bearers, flag carriers, and several cars) was coming down Coast Highway as I arrived, so I honked my horn in support as did many others (yippee!), then parked and caught up with the group as they rallied in front of City Hall.  I took some pictures for some of them with their cameras, then a couple with my own (yes, the date is incorrect…I’m not taking pictures in the future…at least not yet!), as well as this short little video clip which is a wee bit wobbly since I had Rudy tugging on his leash as I was trying to tape.

If you’re in San Diego County and missed the Equality Torch Relay in your neighborhood (or are in Orange County or LA and want to drive down), you can still take part tonight in front of the County Administration Building at 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, 92101.  The rally begins at 6PM, but if you arrive at 5PM you can help carry the 300 foot rainbow flag as it circles the building. Click here for more info.

Kudos to San Diego Pride for putting the incredible community-building event together, but especially to all the folks that got up bright and early this morning to carry the torches, drive alongside marchers, and to those who offered their support along the way via horns, thumbs up, or through verbal affirmations.  After all is said and done, until there are equal rights for ALL of us, how can any of us be satisfied?

***ADDED 6/7/09, from SanDiegoPride.org:
Equality Torch Relay – 2009 Two thousand participants helped commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, during San Diego Pride’s Equality Torch Relay.  The LGBT community and our allies took the cause of equality to backyards in all 18 incorporated cities in San Diego County.

From sunrise to nearly sundown, we carried the message of equality to every city in San Diego County.  The need to raise awareness of homophobia and LGBT discrimination echoed through the community when one of the event organizers was attacked for carrying a Rainbow flag in Lemon Grove.

The Equality Torch set out to unite the San Diego Region and use the power of our neighborhoods standing arm-in-arm to inspire change.

The Relay inspired courage for many, and was the cause of reflection for those who haven’t considered how LGBT discrimination could affect someone they love.

“Queen of the Blues” Koko Taylor dies today (videos)

The incomparable “Queen of the Blues”, Koko Taylor, has passed today due to complications from a recent surgery to correct a gastrointestinal bleed, according to her website.  Any lover of the blues, such as myself, is most definitely suffering a serious case of the blues upon hearing this terribly sad news. If you do not have Koko in your musical library, do yourself a favor and include some, if not all, of her recordings.  This is a voice, and woman, who cannot be replaced and will most definitely be missed.  RIP Koko Taylor 1928-2009.

“Ernestine”

***ADDED 6/5/09***

From a Koko Taylor MySpace bulletin:

• Wake/Visitation (Lying in State)
  Thursday, June 11, 2009
  4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
  Rainbow Push Coalition National Headquarters
  930 East 50th Street at Drexel Blvd.
  Chicago, IL 60615
• Funeral Services
  Friday, June 12, 2009
  6:00 pm
  (4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Visitation)
  Rainbow Push Coalition National Headquarters
  930 East 50th Street at Drexel Blvd.
  Chicago, IL 60615

Meet in the Middle 4 Equality – Equality March Kick Off (video)

Here’s an extremely inspiring video of various religious, labor, and civil rights  leaders (including Eric Lee of SCLC) as well as those who worked so hard to put the powerful “Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” march and rally together (Robin McGehee) yesterday.  This video is from just prior to the 14 mile march from Selma, CA to the MITM4E rally in Fresno, CA.  Big thanks to Unite the Fight for these videos, as well as getting the live feed of the rally on ustream.

more about “Qik | UnitetheFight | Meet in the Mid…“, posted with vodpod

“Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” live stream @ 1PM PST 5/30 (links)

Unite the Fight will have a live feed from the “Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” rally in Fresno, CA, today at 1pm PST on USTREAM. You can also see videos from the 14 mile equality march from Selma, CA to Fresno, CA on Unite the Fight’s qik site. To see these folks marching for 14 miles in over 90 degree heat is pretty darn inspirational to me, and makes me very proud of them. Saw San Diego in the house, as well as Planned Parenthood, in this video. Also great to see folks representing us straight allies!

You can also follow “Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” by putting #mitm4e in the search box on Twitter for up-to-the-minute tweets.

Best of luck to everyone involved in today’s equality rally and march!

***Live feed for “Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” just went up @ 12:40pm PST…they’re welcoming the 14 mile equality marchers. ***

Open letter to the GLBTQ community in California regarding Prop 8 (video)

Dear GLBTQ community,

Please know that not everyone in California thinks the way those who voted Yes on Prop 8 do. Please know that the illogical decision handed down by the Supreme Court of California WILL be challenged. Please know that you have countless straight allies, such as myself, out there who are ready, willing, and able to continue to fight with you to gain equality in every aspect of the law.  Please know that you ARE valued individuals (not second class citizens), that who you love should NOT matter, and the fact that you continue to stand firm in your love in the face of this ignorance is still truly amazing to me.  Don’t be discouraged for too long,  don’t look at every person and wonder how they voted, don’t think that things will never change, and don’t give up hope.  Everything is just going to take a bit longer than anticipated or hoped for, but change WILL come and I look forward to being right there with you when it does.

Much love and admiration,

Laura

Please contribute to help air the “Fidelity” video above (Courage Campaign)

Find a Day of Decision protest rally near you!

Prop 8 Decision Analysis (HRC Back Story)

As Justice Moreno noted in his eloquent dissent:

I realize, of course, that the right of gays and lesbians to marry in this state has only lately been recognized.  But that belated recognition does not make the protection of those rights less important.  Rather, that the right has only recently been acknowledged reflects an age-old prejudice that makes the safeguarding of that right by the judiciary all the more critical …

Proposition 8 represents an unprecedented instance of a majority of voters altering the meaning of the equal protection clause by modifying the California Constitution to require deprivation of a fundamental right on the basis of a suspect classification.  The majority’s holding is not just a defeat for same-sex couples, but for any minority group that seeks the protection of the equal protection clause of the California Constitution.

Opening night of New York Dolls “Cause I Sez So” tour (videos)

I’ve been meaning to post a review of the opening night of the New York Dolls “‘Cause I Sez So” tour, with The Cliks opening for them,  from last Wednesday night (5/20/09) at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA, but haven’t gotten around to it.  Short review: GO SEE THIS SHOW!!!  Especially if you’re on the west coast and get the great opportunity to see The Cliks (”Snakehouse” and “Dirty King”) open for the New York Dolls!!!!  I figured if I don’t at least post these videos now, I might not ever get around to it. (Laziness ensues…) I’ll try to write more later, especially on the main reason I went to the show, the incredibly talented The Cliks, whose new CD “Dirty King” is fantastic, and available at the show, as well as various online options such as iTunes for $11.99, “Snakehouse” for $9.90.

In the meantime, here are the two videos I was able to tape before “the man” decided to pay me a little visit to say I couldn’t tape the show.  Hmmm, interesting that there are COUNTLESS NY Dolls live performance videos online, as well as COUNTLESS Belly Up Tavern videos online, yet I couldn’t tape in order to spread the NY Dolls love?  In all honesty I was fine with not taping and just enjoying the show.  I did tape several Cliks songs, but unfortunately the sound is pretty bad–too close to the speakers, I think.  Anyway, here ya go with some New York Dolls.

Opening video, with the NY Dolls coming on stage to opera music.  Song (Looking for a Kiss) starts about one minute in.

Last few seconds of this video of “‘Cause I Sez So” are when Mr. Security Man was telling me no taping, hence the camera going black.

Prop 8 decision comes down on 5/26/09/”Day of Decision” rallies nationwide (links/video)

News just broke that the Supreme Court of California will file its decision on the constitutionality and validity of Proposition 8, this coming Tuesday, May 26th at 10:00 a.m.  Click here for the official court notice of filing, and here for “Day of Decision” rallies.

One can only hope that a just decision will be handed down, that love will prevail, and that equality will finally be extended to each and EVERY Californian regardless of who they choose to marry.

***Added after the Supreme Court of CA upheld Prop 8: Open letter to the GLBTQ community in California regarding Prop 8 (video)

Keith Olbermann pays tribute to his mom on Countdown

What a great tribute Keith Olbermann gave to his mom, Marie Olbermann, on Countdown tonight. She passed away this past Saturday, April 4th, from cancer. I’m not really quite sure how Keith made it through without losing it (I know I was shedding a few tears, along with the laughs), but in his incomparable Keith style he was able to make us all feel like we knew his mother, Marie. After watching the segment, it’s plain to see that Keith is the male version of the very witty, sarcastic, and endearing Marie. What a character she apparently was, and how obvious it is that she’ll be missed by not only Keith and their family, but by many others. Our thoughts are with you, Keith.  R.I. P. Marie Olbermann.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

To the man who hit his child today in Carlsbad…

…shame on you! I was driving down Jefferson in Carlsbad (CA), enjoying the blustery, gorgeous day with my poochie sticking his nose out the window, when I drive past a man playing catch with his child on the small grassy area in front of their apartment complex (between Las Flores and Laguna…Park Place Apartments?). No sooner than it takes for me to think what a Norman Rockwell type moment it was, than the man hits the child in the head, the child’s hat flies off, the child grabs his (or her) jaw and hits the ground, and the man looks up and down the street quickly. It took a moment for me to register what had just happened, with instant disgust overcoming me and complete concern for that child–and immediate anger at that man. Unfortunately I was in the middle of traffic, but at the next corner I turned my car around as fast as I could to head back (was only a matter of a few hundred feet) and they were gone.

I honestly don’t know what I would have done if they’d been there (although I do know damn well I would have shielded the child from the man and called 911), and I hope against hope that I wouldn’t have gone with my initial, futile instinct and hauled off and smacked the guy (I’m actually a pacifist), but I guess I’ll never know. I’m incredibly bothered by this whole event and cannot get that poor child out of my head. My guess is that it’s not the first time this has happened, and who knows what else took place once the man shuffled the child away.

I hope that someone else saw what happened, knows who the man is, and follows through on helping that young innocent soul. For that child to grow up always wondering when the next hit might come, who might see it, and the aftereffects of it all, mentally and physically, as well as thinking that this is what adults do to children….well, it just breaks my heart. The chances of that man ever reading this post are slim to none, but if he does, or if someone else who has done the same thing is reading this, then PLEASE stop and think about the repercussions of your actions and seek some type of help. Perhaps you were abused as a child, and this horrific cycle is just continuing with your actions. Please be the one to put an end to it. Please.

WTG Jene Morris and Lady Aztecs!

(AP photo/Denis Poroy)

Just a quick shout-out to the San Diego State Aztecs women’s basketball team, and superstar player Jene Morris, for their exciting 76-70 win over DePaul in the first round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament. I may be a CSUSM alum, but I’m always for San Diego teams, especially one in the State system. Way to go, Aztecs, and best of luck in the next round!

My friends crack me up :)

I found this delightful tit-for-tat while catching up on email today.  (And yes, in order to maintain these valued friendships I will NOT use their names…for now…bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha… ) Love you, L** and K********!

Hi K******** et al,

I’m sitting here getting ready for a colonoscopy tomorrow morning and didn’t think anything could make me smile .. but the Door Frame and Pet Tax Form got me feeling good for at least a few moments, so thank you thank you.

L**

————————————————————

L**,

Glad to hear you aren’t feeling so poopy! I’d hate to waste such a funny form. I’m just passing things along the chute I think all you might enjoy.

Sorry , I couldn’t help it! I know colonoscopies are icky – although it’s the prep more than anything so tonight you feel much worse than you will tomorrow.

Remember, this too shall pass! Sorry, gotta run!

Meanly,
K********

Obama’s Weekly Address 3/14/09: “Reversing a Troubling Trend in Food Safety” AND HSUS response (VIDEOS)

President Obama’s weekly address hit upon one of the more troubling aspects of our government right now: the total failure of the FDA to keep us, our children, and our pets safe in the knowledge that what is consumed will not harm any of us.  He has named a new Commissioner of the Food and Drug Agency, Dr. Margaret Hamburg (go ahead, giggle as I did at her last name being Hamburg(er)–I blame the cold meds I’m taking), and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein (nope, no food-related funny with his last name) as Principal Deputy Commissioner.  Obama is also creating a new Food Safety Working Group which ultimately sounds like it will be making sure that the left hand of government agencies involved with food safety know what the right hand is doing–what a concept!

And as an animal welfare advocate I am THRILLED with the short, but oh-so-important sentence President Obama stated, “As part of our commitment to public health, our Agriculture Department is closing a loophole in the system to ensure that diseased cows don’t find their way into the food supply.”  Please read Wayne Pacelle’s email sent out this afternoon in response to this fantastic decision.  Thank you President Obama, and thank you to everyone who helped put an end to the horribly abusive downer cattle issue!

March 14, 2009

Our investigation thrust a global spotlight on abuse of downed cows. Dear ******, It’s been a long fight, and today, we closed another chapter on it. Since the mid-1990s, The HSUS has been working hard to stop as a matter of public policy the abuse of downer cattle — animals too sick or injured to walk. And today, President Obama himself announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was officially putting a stop to non-ambulatory cattle being mishandled in order to get them into slaughter plants. He made the announcement along with two top selections for the Food and Drug Administration and a series of other statements about food safety. I invite you to read my blog post for today about the food safety crises and horrifying investigations that led up to today’s announcement. The length of time we had to persist and what our investigations revealed are sad, but today I celebrate this news. And I hope that it is a harbinger of a far more serious attitude toward food safety and animal welfare from the new Administration. I am personally looking forward to working with Secretary Vilsack — a man of great integrity — on a wide range of issues. And I express my gratitude to him and his team today for his decisive action. Many of you joined us in demanding change on this issue, so this is your victory as well as the animals’. Thank you for all you do. Sincerely, Wayne Pacelle President & CEO The Humane Society of the United States P.S. Did you know you can easily subscribe to receive my blog daily by email or RSS? Look for the links to subscribe on the right side of my blog, www.waynepacelle.org. I write daily about pressing issues like farm animal abuse, so it’s a great way to stay in touch.

You’re a total and complete ASS, Rush Limbaugh!

Yes, I realize the title of this quick blog posting is not a news flash to anyone, but I’m just home for a quick lunch, saw the following on Huffington Post and just HAD to post it even though no time right now to REALLY go off on all the reasons Rush is an ass. Can somebody PLEASE permanently place a filter on that disgusting man’s mouth? Ass.

Limbaugh: Kennedy Will Be Dead By The Time Health Care Bill Passes

The Huffington Post | Rachel Weiner | March 6, 2009 02:51 PM

On his radio show Friday, Rush Limbaugh suggested that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) would be dead by the time health care reform legislation passes. “Before it’s all over, it’ll be called the Ted Kennedy memorial health care bill,” the talk show host says. He says President Obama has moved on to health care because he can’t solve the economic crisis. Listen, via Media Matters:

Kennedy was at the Senate Thursday for President Obama’s health care summit, where he made an impassioned plea for universal coverage.

Eve of Justice: CA State Supreme Court hears oral arguments on 3/5 regarding validity of Proposition 8

Tomorrow is a HUGE day for those in California (gay, straight, trans, and everything in between!) who believe in equal rights FOR ALL, in this case the right for everyone to marry the person they love. Of course it isn’t JUST for those in California since this outcome will send a signal to the rest of our country and the world. Fingers crossed it’s a signal of equality and hope. Please watch the following video and TAKE PART in tonight’s vigils across not only California, but other areas of the country.

This anticipation of change is exciting folks, it’s REALLY exciting.

From Eve of Justice:

EVE OF JUSTICE

The Eve of Justice: Lighting the way for the Supreme Court

Chico	Costa Mesa	Delano	Fort Bragg	Fresno	Kernville	Long Beach
Los Angeles	Mariposa	Miami, Florida	Modesto	Napa	New York	Palm Springs
Palo Alto	Phoenix, Arizona	Riverside	Roseville	Sacramento	San Diego	San Francisco
San Jose	San Luis Obispo	San Mateo	Santa Barbara	Santa Cruz	Santa Maria	Stockton
Thousand Oaks	Tulsa, Oklahoma	Tucson, Arizona	Tuolumne	Ukiah	Ventura	Visalia

Wednesday, March 4 is the day before the California Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the validity of Prop 8. That evening, we’ll stand together and send a unified message to our fellow Californians, including the Supreme Court Justices, that individual liberties like the right to marry are guaranteed by the Constitution to everyone and cannot be stripped away at the ballot box by a bare majority. Just as important, we will give our love and support to all the families headed by same-sex couples who are threatened by the recent electoral outcome, as well as same-sex couples whose hopes and dreams of marriage and family have been frustrated by enactment of Prop 8.

To read the parties’ filings and the dozens of amicus ‘friend of the court’ briefs filed on behalf of Civil Rights Organizations, Bar Associations, Academics, Women’s Groups, Faith and Religious Groups, and many others go to http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8.htm

March 5th – Supreme Court Oral Argument Hearing 9am to noon.

Television viewing: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8viewing.htm

Local Public Viewings: Check your local city for viewing locations as they become available.

Equality should not be put up for a popular vote.

• Prop 8 is a radical and unprecedented change to the California Constitution that puts all Californians at risk.
• Prop 8 defeats the very purpose of our constitution, which is to protect minorities and to make sure the law treats everyone equally.
• This is the first time the initiative process has successfully been used to change the California Constitution to take away a fundamental freedom from a particular group and to mandate government discrimination against a minority.
• If prop 8 is upheld, the courts will no longer have a meaningful role in protecting minority groups or women, since any decision prohibiting discrimination could be reversed by a simple majority.

Nationwide/Statewide Sponsors of Eve of Justice

Obama’s Weekly Address 2/21/09: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (VIDEO)

You’re a better person than yours truly if you can really grasp all that is (and hopefully will be) the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Here is President Obama’s weekly address regarding the topic, along with a link to the White House blog discussing it.  I’ve also added a link in my blogroll to Recovery.org, the website which lays out, it all its transparent glory, details of the Recovery Act, the entire bill for your reading pleasure, as well as a timeline of where the money is going.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed on this one, and our politicians held to task.

DOING GOOD: Basketball foul shots in Milwaukee show our good side

I saw this on the Rachel Maddow Show the other night and LOVED the story!  With all the negative news we are pummeled with on a daily basis, it was an unexpected and nice break to hear about genuine good-heartedness taking place.  See, it IS still out there, folks!

Here’s the video on Rachel’s show, and a snippet of the ABC News story about it.

But the night of the big game, Madison’s co-captain –18-year-old senior Johntell Franklin — was missing. His mother, who was suffering from cancer, had taken a sudden turn that Saturday, Feb. 7. At the hospital, Franklin was by his mother’s side as she died…McNeal, the team’s top free-throw shooter, stepped to the foul line and purposely missed both shots…”I missed them because it was just the right thing to do at the time. And him losing his mom, it really got to me,” McNeal said, who lost his father when he was 2 years old.

**************

(ADDED) But wait, there’s more… After posting the blog entry above, I was reading other stories on the ABC site and just about flipped my lid when I read this one.  Simply disgusting that the coach of Covenant School in Dallas allowed the score to reach such a ridiculous nature, especially considering it was against a school comprised of students with learning disabilities.  I’m not saying go extra easy on someone due to any form of disability in the sports arena (especially when they are putting themselves out there to be your equal on the playing field), but to push forth in the manner coach Micah Grimes did is disgraceful.  Kudos to the opposing team, Dallas Academy, for completing the entire game.  And shame on you, Micah Grimes, shame on you!  Enjoy your unemployment.

I’m baaaack…and totally adoring Adele (VIDEO)

Yup, it’s me.  I’m really back…well, for the most part.  I moved in early December and was without cable/internet until 1/16.  (Yes, it IS humanly possible to NOT be connected to the internet; I just don’t recommend it.) And a big fat “Screw you AT&T”  for claiming to service my area with U-verse, having me wait WEEKS upon weeks for an installation appointment, then the day of installation notify me that ‘ooops’ you don’t service my area!!!  And Cox isn’t doing much better since for some annoying reason I can’t get the internet to be connected if I’ve got the TV connected…argh!  And I just don’t have the patience to deal with the customer service runaround I get each time I call, so until I do, I have to unscrew the TV cable if I want to connect to the internet.  Obviously very annoying (TV cable is behind a bunch of stuff), so it goes without saying I’m not popping over to the web very often.  (Hmmm, does anyone say web anymore?)

Anyhooch, what amazing things we’ve had happen since I’ve been gone, most notably inaugurating our new President of the good old USA!  Now you just KNOW this big time Obama supporter made damn sure she had cable in time for all the inauguration hoopla.  Heck, I even took a vacation day off of work to plop my fanny in front of the TV all day.  But if that wasn’t enough, I made sure to hang my US flag up in the window AND wear my Obama/Biden shirt.  Yes, I’m a geek, but I don’t care.   Let’s just say that the tears started when I was watching the Whistle Stop Tour, continued that Sunday with the Inaugural Concert on HBO, and were out in full force on Inauguration Day.  Is it not absolutely INCREDIBLE to actually be (dare I say it?) PROUD to be an American again?!?!  And yes, despite this annoying BS back-and-forth debate about the stimulus package, I AM still proud and thrilled with our country and our democracy.  I do want to kick the majority of the Republicans in their collective stubborn elephant asses, but will try desperately to retain even the slightest of grips on that olive branch Obama really wants us all to extend.  Let’s just say my grip is quickly slipping away and I’m just about ready to use that branch to start knocking some common sense into some noggins, but…

Okay, enough with that–for now.  How about that Adele and her two Grammys on Sunday night?  Who’s Adele you say?  Well gather round my friends, and let me introduce you to one of the most powerful, unique, soulful, and incredible voices I’ve heard in quite some time.  I first became aware of Adele when she appeared on Saturday Night Live mid-October, last year.  Of course I was watching SNL hoping the Sarah Palin appearance would be worth it (read that as Tina Fey really sticking it to her), and wasn’t too interested in the musical performer I’d never heard of before.  But the minute Adele belted out those first notes I stopped what I was doing, turned my attention to the TV and was instantly mesmerized–and hooked!  This girl can sing, and I mean S-I-N-G!  I was so excited when they announced her name as the winner of the Grammy for Best New Artist two nights ago, and was hootin’ and a hollerin’ (did I just go hillbilly on ya?) and making sure Rudy (yes, he’s my dog…told you I’m a geek) was as excited about her win as I was.  This gal has got a powerhouse voice that you just know is going to withstand the test of time.

Catch Adele on her tour which happily begins in my area on 3/9, but sadly is already sold out.  Don’t let that happen to you, so buy your tickets NOW!  Here’s her SNL performance for you to (hopefully!) enjoy as much as I do.

g

Happy Thanksgiving WITH (not eating!) the Turkeys

Deb, over on her great Invisible Voices blog, has posted recently about Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary and their “Thanksgiving with the Turkeys” event, which I would LOVE to have been at. (Can you say ‘epitome of anti-Sarah Palin turkey slaughterhouse video event??) 

This will be a very quick post - it has been a long cold day, but an amazing one as well. Somewhere around 300 people came to Poplar Spring’s Thanksgiving With the Turkeys, despite a predicted high in the 30’s, and a bitter wind.

And the turkey’s had a hell of a time.

Deb’s pictures are always incredible and put you RIGHT in the middle of things, just as her writing does.  I’m totally lifting this picture above from the event (sorry, Deb…let me know if you’d like me to take it down ) , but it truly is one of my favorite photos of all time and wanted to share it with more people.  PLEASE take a quick trip over to Invisible Voices to enjoy the many other heartwarming photos Deb took.

Thank you for sharing your passion with us, Deb, and for all you do for the animals.  Happy Thanksgiving to you, my vegan blogger friend, and even to all of you meat-eaters our there.  (I’ll give you all some time to come around to our vegetarian/vegan way of thinking and living. )

Michael Vick is one sick SOB

I thought I had previously reached the highest level of disgust with Michael Vick’s animal cruelty that I could (my previous posts), but after reading an AP story and one on ESPN, detailing portions of a 17-page USDA report released on Friday under the Freedom of Information Act, I’m even more disgusted and sickened than I ever imagined possible.  And that’s saying a lot.

Here are some extremely disturbing details:

• A person identified as confidential witness No. 1 said Vick placed pets in the ring against pit bulls owned by “Bad Newz Kennels” at least twice and watched as the pit bulls “caused major injuries.”
• The witness said Vick and co-defendants Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips “thought it was funny to watch the pit bull dogs belonging to Bad Newz Kennels injure or kill the other dogs.”
• Vick was administered a polygraph test by the FBI in October 2007 and denied taking part in the killing of dogs in mid-April. When told he had failed that part of the test, Vick recanted his story and admitted to helping hang six to eight underperforming dogs.
• The dogs were killed by shooting, hanging, electrocution and drowning, and in at least one instance, according to one of the witnesses, when Vick and Phillips killed a red pit bull by “slamming it to the ground several times before it died, breaking the dog’s back or neck.”
• According to the report, the three men hung the dogs “by placing a nylon cord over a 2 X 4 that was nailed to two trees located next to the big shed. They also drowned approximately three dogs by putting the dogs’ heads in a five gallon bucket of water.”

You need help, Michael Vick, serious help.  I only wish all you were ever allowed to lay your hands on again are the pots and pans you’re washing in jail for 12 cents an hour, and never, ever again on any innocent animals.  Sick and twisted, you are, mentally sick and twisted.