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Read today’s column Washington Bullshit Watch
Monday, March 8, 2010
New book claims Robin Hood stole from the rich and lent to the poor
A new book claims that Robin Hood was not as selfless as he is often depicted, suggesting he stole from the rich and lent money to the poor as an early kind of loan shark.
Robin Hood: The Unknown Templar has a lot of Englishmen talking. Every hear the phrase, “Say it ain’t so Joe?” The British are saying, “Say it ain’t so Robin.”
Sunday, March 7, 2010
In a better world, we wouldn't keep animals in captivity
By Dave Stancliff/For the Times-Standard
Posted: 03/07/2010 01:27:21 AM PST
San Diego Zoo, 1960 -- I'm 10 years old and it's my first visit to a zoo. My parents and I walk past cages full of fascinating animals for several hours. At one of our stops my Dad points out the biggest rat I'd ever seen peacefully lumbering around in its enclosure.
He weighs about a hundred pounds Dad said, “which means he's heavier than you.” That sobered me up quick. As he talked about the capybara, I moved closer to the cage and came eye-to-eye with one of the big rascals.
What I saw was sorrow. A longing for home. “They can be found in Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, Peru...” Dad droned on, but his words were lost in my growing sadness.
Go here to read the rest.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Animal Parks and Zoos: capitalism and captivity
My column tomorrow “In a better world animals wouldn’t be held in captivity” will be considered controversial by some.
As I look around at recent incidents, “Report: Tiger bites keeper to death in Chinese Zoo,” “Women bitten by Bear at Wis. Zoo: fingers severed,” and the recent death of Animal trainer Dawn Branch at Sea World in Orlando, Florida, all trouble me. Tilikum, a 12,000 lb. Killer Whale, probably didn’t mean to kill his trainer, but by all accounts he was “stressed out” from living in isolation, with the exception of breeding attempts.
There’s even a darker side to some “so-called zoos.” A good example would be:
Tigers Being Turned into Wine!
Although the Xiongsen tiger park, near Guilin in south-east China, appears to be a depressingly typical Third World zoo, with a theme park restaurant and open areas where tigers roam, it actually hides a far more sinister secret: it's a factory farm breeding tigers to be eaten and to be made into wine.
The two reasons for zoos and animal theme parks are to make money and to study the animals in order to keep them from going extinct. At least, that’s the way I see it.
The first reason is inevitable; animals attract people who pay big bucks to see them. So, the argument is that visitors are able to experience seeing exotic (and not so exotic) animals that they might never come into contact with otherwise. With the technology we have today, we could have virtual zoos (holographs and all) that would give people the same experience without putting the animals into captivity.
The second reason is scientific. Zoos are a way to preserve species that might otherwise disappear. I’d rather see scientists spending their time in the wild to study them (I know some do that now) and creating habitats for endangered species that don’t have gawking humans involved.
Be sure to see my column on the subject in Sunday’s (March7) Op Ed page in The Times-Standard.
Friday, March 5, 2010
‘Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day’ set
By Carl Young
(Veterans Activist)
It’s finally official. Thirty-five years after the war ended in Vietnam, a welcoming home for the Veterans of the Vietnam war has been established.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill last September, AB 717, which calls for an annual “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” on March 30. The Board of Supervisors, and local cities will be doing resolutions supporting it. Sadly, local veterans are deeply split on the issue of even having a day for Vietnam veterans.
Our country was deeply divided during the Vietnam war, and at times some people were hostile to the returning veterans. Those memories still haunt some Vietnam veterans. The damage done to our fellow Vietnam veterans, and their families, is incalculable. Many will never see their “Welcome Home,” because they prematurely died due to aliments associated with their military service.
I support the establishment of this long overdue day of remembrance, in which 58,000 U.S. troops died and more than 300,000 were wounded. These statistics don’t include the number of suicides, mental health, destroyed families and the illnesses directed associated with our service.
Additionally there is the possibility that many other birth defects and aliments suffered by our children are because of their parents exposure to Agent Orange. The Department of Veterans Affairs only recognizes a few birth defects like Spina bifida.
I think Daniel L. Lawrence, President, of the Humboldt Memorial Chapter 781, Vietnam Veterans of America summed it up well, “We are the only defenders of freedom in this country to be vilified, berated and shunned by our own people. If this resolution brings peace to many Vietnam vets then I am all for it. It’s said that time heals all wounds. I guess not enough time has passed for me to heal my wounds. I am pleased that our country has chosen to not place the blame for this current war on those who doing the fighting. instead placing the blame where it belongs on our so called leadership. For all the problems these new veterans will face, being shunned by their own people will not be one of them.”
Maybe, California’s enactment of a special day to recognize Vietnam veterans will encourage other states to follow, someday making it a national holiday. I also support the idea of establishing a similar day for the forgotten veterans of the Korean War. It’s the very least we can do for those who served so faithfully.
I encourage everyone to attend the reading of the Resolutions with the following government agencies: Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, on March 23, at 9:00 a.m; the Fortuna City Council meeting on March 15 at 6:00 p.m.; Ferndale (already presented March 4th); Rio Dell March 16th at 6:30Pm and the City of Arcata March 17, at 6:00 p.m. As far as I know, there aren’t any other plans locally to recognize this special day for Vietnam veterans on March 30.
Lastly, I would like to thank the folks at the Eureka VA and Mental Health Clinics and our local Vet Center for the excellent care they provide. I’m hopeful the VA can further support local medical and mental health providers and our veterans through the “fee basis” program, and the establishment of local VA specialty clinics. The professionalism of the staff has been remarkable, as well as the coordination of care with local providers.
Anti-gay senator arrested 'after leaving gay club'
Another political hypocrite is exposed. Finding liars and hypocrites in public office doesn’t seem like much of a challenge anymore. Both Democrats and Republicans have their growing Halls of Shame.
A US senator with a history of opposing gay rights has been arrested for driving drunk after reportedly leaving a gay nightclub in California.
National media is abuzz about 'K2'. A scary drug, or just another drug scare?
“What would he make of all the recent stories about K2, or "fake marijuana," which is essentially a legal, smoking form of psychoactive potpourri?
Breathless news reports about the substance have been popping up all over in the last few days. If you live in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, or Wisconsin, you've probably seen one. Maybe you even caught a Missouri detective's panicked prediction that K2 is "going to end up killing somebody." As far as we know, though, it hasn't. Why is it suddenly getting all this attention?”
photo source - A package of K2: Herbs sprayed with a synthetic marijuana compound
A look at decades of pro- and anti-marijuana media – go here
How Oakland Is Leading Marijuana Legalization
How L.A. Became Overrun With Legal Marijuana
Ethan Nadelmann's Fight to Legalize Marijuana
VIDEO: Marijuana Mecca,
VIDEO: Pot's Biggest Bud
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Missing dog turns up 600 miles from home
I can’t resist this type of animal story. Each is unique, and best of all, they always end well!
Deacon the German shepherd survived journey from Virginia to Florida
For more animal stories like this go to:
11 true ‘tails’ of survival
From a ham that went on the lam to a Chihuahua that blew away, meet 11 amazing animals that survived a brush (or flush!) with death to reunite with their owners.
FDA orders recall of foods flavored with hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Is it just me, or is it becoming scary to shop at the supermarket these days?
Salmonella found in flavor enhancer used in thousands of processed foods
"Our investigation is continuing. We are proceeding with special studies to make sure foods containing those products are safe," Farrar said. "We are working with food manufacturers and distributors to provide guidance on any products that will need to be recalled. We are also creating a Web page to find any recalled products that may be in their pantry."
For list of recalled products, go to http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/HVPCP/
It's Not a Food. It's in Everything...And Now It's Tainted with Salmonella
Read more at: The Daily Green
Anti-Pot Propaganda As Stupid As Ever -- Yet Our Alarmist Media Continues to Hype It
Once again the mainstream media is running wild with the absurd notion that marijuana use causes psychological problems, despite much evidence to the contrary.
It’s this kind of weed rhetoric that the Feds seize upon despite the study’s credibility, to wage their senseless war on marijuana.
The day is coming when this kind of bullshit will come to an end, and the Feds will have to find a new bug-a-boo. Photo source
GOP portrays Democrates as an ‘evil empire’
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! The Bush administration was often portrayed as the evil empire for good reason. Look what they did to the country in eight years.
They waged wars and drove the national debt though the roof. They came up with the idea of spying on Americans (Patriot Act), and the oil barons danced as Dubya looted oil resources in Iraq. Cheney was the perfect Darth Vadar.
No, the real evil empire fell in the last elections. Having said that, I would also like to point out how miserably the Obama administration is doing. He hasn’t kept one campaign promise yet. The corruption in Washington continues to thrive. The people who surround him are idiots with personal agendas. The American people got rid of the “Evil Empire” in 2008 and replaced it with a three-ring circus staffed with lobbyists and clowns.
RNC chair disowns document showing Democrats as cartoon ‘Evil Empire’
Democrats on Wednesday sharply criticized a fundraising document that caricatured President Obama as the Joker, while Chairman Michael S. Steele sought to distance himself from it.
The three Democratic leaders were gathered under the heading "The Evil Empire."
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