Check this out:
(No, Really... it's funny... and quite revealing. I especially like the open-mouthed, gum-chewing, seat-warmer. And, don't let the starting image turn you off, the picture gets better immediately.)
Brought to you from the soon-to-be-legendary (if he isn't already) Max Blumenthal.
I just heard about this on Bill Moyer's Journal on PBS.
Whatever you think about Bill (if you even think about him), his show definitely unearths some priceless gems.
Thanks, Bill.
And, Max.... Michael Moore would be proud.
Peace.
L.
From: huffingtonpost.com
Generation Chickenhawk: the Unauthorized College Republican Convention Tour
On July 13, 2007, I visited Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, where the bodies of American soldiers killed in Iraq were freshly interred. Afterwards, I headed across the street to the Sheraton National Hotel, owned by right-wing Korean cult leader Sun Myung-Moon, to meet some of the war's most fervent supporters at the College Republican National Convention.
In conversations with at least twenty College Republicans about the war in Iraq, I listened as they lip-synched discredited cant about "fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here." Many of the young GOP cadres I met described the so-called "war on terror" as nothing less than the cause of their time.
Yet when I asked these College Repulicans why they were not participating in this historical cause, they immediately went into contortions. Asthma. Bad knees from playing catcher in high school. "Medical reasons." "It's not for me." These were some of the excuses College Republicans offered for why they could not fight them "over there." Like the current Republican leaders who skipped out on Vietnam, the GOP's next generation would rather cheerlead from the sidelines for the war in Iraq while other, less privileged young men and women fight and die.
Along with videographer Thomas Shomaker, I captured a vivid portrait of the hypocritical mentality of the next generation of Republican leaders. See for yourself...
Sunday, August 26, 2007
This is another one of those disturbing revelations that just aren't surprising to me.
A friend of mine used to say that no matter what technology the authorities might come up with to use against/mess with people... Joe and Jane Citizen, with adequate ingenuity and some supplies from a hardware store, could more than likely F.S.U. ("F$%& Stuff Up.")
Any homo-erectus with functioning gray matter who assumes that voting machines are un-hackable... Well, they don't deserve to belong to the category of "homo-erectus".
Defending against hacking is a 24/7 thing... if what you have is worthy of hacking.
It's like warfare... it's "liquid"... constantly changing and evolving.
If you reside in California:
I highly recommend (if you want your vote to count for what you voted for) that you choose to fill out an Absentee Ballot. They're on paper. They might not be 100% safe and secure, but from what I've read they're the most secure method of having your vote properly and accurately counted. (Be sure to get them in on time.)
If you live in another state (I'm sorry... Ha. Ha.):
But, seriously.... If you live in another state, Please find out what method of voting your state will be using (paper or electronic).
If it's electronic, find out if the Dept. of Elections/Secretary of State has had the machines tested and what the results are.
This is Very Important!
We have suffered through far too many years of Bush-shite.
I believe that part of the blame for that falls on electoral fraud... of several kinds.
We must not allow our Great Nation to fall further down the virtually bottomless pit that it has been shoved into by neo-con facist assholes.
Please Vote... In Every Election... And make sure Your Vote Counts!
(O.K., I'm off the soapbox... Thanks... I'll be running for Mayor of San Francisco in the future... and I'd appreciate Your Vote.)
Peace.
L.
From: Wired
CA Releases Results of Red-Team Investigation of Voting Machines: All Three Systems Could Be Compromised
By Kim Zetter
July 27, 2007 | 6:01:20 PM
Categories: E-Voting, Election '08, Glitches and Bugs, Hacks and Cracks
Electronic voting
California Secretary of State Debra Bowen just released the results of the state's unprecedented top-to-bottom review of voting systems being used in the state. The review consisted of three parts, one of which involved a Red Team led by UC Davis computer scientist Matthew Bishop that was tasked with examining the systems for security vulnerabilities . The team found that it could compromise all three of the top voting systems used in the state made by Diebold Election Systems, Hart Intercivic, and Sequoia Voting Systems, with the caveat that many, but not all, of the attacks they were able to accomplish on the machines could be mitigated with proper physical security of the machines, security training of staff, and contingency planning.
(*To see if any of these voting systems are used in your state, check out this Spreadsheet from Electionline.org. )
It should be noted that the Red Team stated it did not have enough time to fully examine the systems and was confident that further examination would reveal additional security vulnerabilities in the voting systems. You can read the Red Team reports on the three systems here.
Among the findings: (From: cbsnews.com)
The physical security was weak (Testers were able to access the internals of Sequoia's machines by unscrewing screws to bypass locks, and compromise Diebold's AccuVote TSx machine without prompting reminders to voters to check their printed records).
Software was overwritable with malicious code (Testers could load a program into a machine's memory which, at the next reboot, loaded malicious firmware, at which point an attacker could manipulate the election results, with no access to source code required; attacks on Diebold's machines allowed testers to overwrite firmware, which could change vote totals, and escalate privileges from those of a voter to a poll worker or central count administrator, enabling them to reset an election, issue unauthorized voter cards, and close polls; testers overwrote Hart's eScan software and issued administrative commands.)
Detecting election mode (Firmware loaded onto the Sequoia machine would determine whether a system was in test mode or not, so it could respond correctly to preelection testing and then operate incorrectly on Election Day).
Accessing election management systems (Software could infiltrate Sequoia's database directly and execute system commands on the host computer, and access the GEMS server of Diebold's system and take security-related actions that went unrecorded in the server's audit logs; Hart's system software could be penetrated by a hacker who could access the host operating system to gain unauthorized access to the database).
Altering data (Testers verified that the Hart system's mobile ballot box card could be altered during an election, and that post-election safeguards to prevent tampered data from being counted could be easily bypassed).
Forging materials (Both update cartridges and voter cards could be forged).
Capturing audio (A Hart eSlate with audio enabled for visually-impaired voters could have its audio from a voting session remotely captured, allowing an attacker to violate voter privacy.)
A friend of mine used to say that no matter what technology the authorities might come up with to use against/mess with people... Joe and Jane Citizen, with adequate ingenuity and some supplies from a hardware store, could more than likely F.S.U. ("F$%& Stuff Up.")
Any homo-erectus with functioning gray matter who assumes that voting machines are un-hackable... Well, they don't deserve to belong to the category of "homo-erectus".
Defending against hacking is a 24/7 thing... if what you have is worthy of hacking.
It's like warfare... it's "liquid"... constantly changing and evolving.
If you reside in California:
I highly recommend (if you want your vote to count for what you voted for) that you choose to fill out an Absentee Ballot. They're on paper. They might not be 100% safe and secure, but from what I've read they're the most secure method of having your vote properly and accurately counted. (Be sure to get them in on time.)
If you live in another state (I'm sorry... Ha. Ha.):
But, seriously.... If you live in another state, Please find out what method of voting your state will be using (paper or electronic).
If it's electronic, find out if the Dept. of Elections/Secretary of State has had the machines tested and what the results are.
This is Very Important!
We have suffered through far too many years of Bush-shite.
I believe that part of the blame for that falls on electoral fraud... of several kinds.
We must not allow our Great Nation to fall further down the virtually bottomless pit that it has been shoved into by neo-con facist assholes.
Please Vote... In Every Election... And make sure Your Vote Counts!
(O.K., I'm off the soapbox... Thanks... I'll be running for Mayor of San Francisco in the future... and I'd appreciate Your Vote.)
Peace.
L.
From: Wired
CA Releases Results of Red-Team Investigation of Voting Machines: All Three Systems Could Be Compromised
By Kim Zetter
July 27, 2007 | 6:01:20 PM
Categories: E-Voting, Election '08, Glitches and Bugs, Hacks and Cracks
Electronic voting
California Secretary of State Debra Bowen just released the results of the state's unprecedented top-to-bottom review of voting systems being used in the state. The review consisted of three parts, one of which involved a Red Team led by UC Davis computer scientist Matthew Bishop that was tasked with examining the systems for security vulnerabilities . The team found that it could compromise all three of the top voting systems used in the state made by Diebold Election Systems, Hart Intercivic, and Sequoia Voting Systems, with the caveat that many, but not all, of the attacks they were able to accomplish on the machines could be mitigated with proper physical security of the machines, security training of staff, and contingency planning.
(*To see if any of these voting systems are used in your state, check out this Spreadsheet from Electionline.org. )
It should be noted that the Red Team stated it did not have enough time to fully examine the systems and was confident that further examination would reveal additional security vulnerabilities in the voting systems. You can read the Red Team reports on the three systems here.
Among the findings: (From: cbsnews.com)
The physical security was weak (Testers were able to access the internals of Sequoia's machines by unscrewing screws to bypass locks, and compromise Diebold's AccuVote TSx machine without prompting reminders to voters to check their printed records).
Software was overwritable with malicious code (Testers could load a program into a machine's memory which, at the next reboot, loaded malicious firmware, at which point an attacker could manipulate the election results, with no access to source code required; attacks on Diebold's machines allowed testers to overwrite firmware, which could change vote totals, and escalate privileges from those of a voter to a poll worker or central count administrator, enabling them to reset an election, issue unauthorized voter cards, and close polls; testers overwrote Hart's eScan software and issued administrative commands.)
Detecting election mode (Firmware loaded onto the Sequoia machine would determine whether a system was in test mode or not, so it could respond correctly to preelection testing and then operate incorrectly on Election Day).
Accessing election management systems (Software could infiltrate Sequoia's database directly and execute system commands on the host computer, and access the GEMS server of Diebold's system and take security-related actions that went unrecorded in the server's audit logs; Hart's system software could be penetrated by a hacker who could access the host operating system to gain unauthorized access to the database).
Altering data (Testers verified that the Hart system's mobile ballot box card could be altered during an election, and that post-election safeguards to prevent tampered data from being counted could be easily bypassed).
Forging materials (Both update cartridges and voter cards could be forged).
Capturing audio (A Hart eSlate with audio enabled for visually-impaired voters could have its audio from a voting session remotely captured, allowing an attacker to violate voter privacy.)
Just heard about this...
I think it's Funny... Very Funny.
But, apparently, some of the local Pagans are not amused.
Personally, as one who gave up organized religion for Lent...
Well, actually... I kicked it out.
It was too bossy, too messy, too manipulative...
But, I digress...
Personally, I think anyone who takes offense at this should lighten up...
They should seek out some lighthearted humour...
Perhaps watch The Simpsons?
Seriously, how can you look at 'The Giant' (Not Homer... the one on the right.)... and not snicker?
Peace.
L.
A giant image of Homer Simpson now stands next to the 17th-century giant which is carved in the hillside above Cerne Abbas, Dorset
From: The Independent.
When two great fertility symbols collide ...
By Ed Caesar
Published: 17 July 2007
The Cerne Abbas Giant is used to having things his own way. Not only does he wield two mighty clubs - one military, one anatomical - but he stands 55m tall, and has been considered a fertility symbol for four centuries. Indeed, so potent is the Giant's chalky mojo, that couples struggling to conceive are still said to visit his hillside home for a grassy liaison. But yesterday there was a new alpha male in North Dorset. He wields a doughnut instead of a club. He has four fingers on each hand and four toes on each foot. Only three hairs sprout from his bulbous head. And his unmentionables are, mercifully, covered by the world's largest pair of Y-Fronts. His name is Homer Simpson.
The new chalk drawing is the brainchild of the publicity team behind The Simpsons Movie, which premieres in Britain next week. The artist Peter Stuart was commissioned to create a rival "chalk man" next to the Giant, and Stuart, a self-confessed Simpsons fan, leapt at the chance. The work - which, at 70m by 50m, required 200 litres of biodegradable white paint - started two days ago.
"We started very early on Sunday morning by laying the outline for the grid," said Stuart. "Today it's taken us over five hours to complete the painting of Homer Simpson. But it's all been worth it."
British Simpsons fans, whose legions include the Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Hawking and Tony Blair, will, no doubt, be tickled by the chalk Homer. But not everyone is happy. Pagans, who believe the Giant is a spiritual icon, are dismayed by this bold new artwork, and, in particular, the accompanying encouragement for young couples to "do it in the doughnut".
"It's very disrespectful and not at all aesthetically pleasing," said Ann Bryn-Evans, joint Wessex district manager for The Pagan Federation. "I'm amazed they got permission to do something so ridiculous. We were hoping for some dry weather but I think I have changed my mind. We'll be doing some rain magic to bring the rain and wash it away."
They should save their magic for a drought. The wet weather that has blighted the summer is set to continue (although Cerne Abbas could be dry until tomorrow) meaning that those wishing to see Mr Simpson in all his glory will have to move fast: as soon as the rains come, this Homer will wash away. D'oh!
About the Cerne Abbas:
From: The National Trust
A huge outline sculpted into the chalk hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas representing a naked, sexually aroused, club-wielding giant.
Public perceptions are wide-ranging, is he smutty, humorous or offensive? Certainly he has been used to advertise products as diverse as condoms, jeans and bicycles. Many couples today believe him to be a unique aid to fertility.
One of the Trust's most racy remnants of our distant pagan past or a 17th-century political caricature?
The Cerne Abbas figure has conventionally been viewed as a great symbol of ancient spirituality. A mound below the giant's left hand may be the sculpted remnant of a severed head which he once clutched – a rather grisly if common ancient Celtic religious symbol.
Alternatively, the Roman hero Hercules was often depicted naked with a club in his right hand and a lion skin draped over his left shoulder. Scientific tests have suggested that there might once have been something draped over the giant's left side, but long grassed over.
The problem with all these theories is that despite an abundant archive of local medieval documents at Cerne Abbey, there is no written reference to the giant before 1694. In 1774 the Rev. John Hutchins claimed he was told that the giant was 'a modern thing' cut by Lord Holles.
Denzil Holles who owned Giant Hill from 1642 to 1666 was a fierce critic of Oliver Cromwell. Could the Cerne Abbas Giant seek to satirise Cromwell's stern puritanical rule?
I think it's Funny... Very Funny.
But, apparently, some of the local Pagans are not amused.
Personally, as one who gave up organized religion for Lent...
Well, actually... I kicked it out.
It was too bossy, too messy, too manipulative...
But, I digress...
Personally, I think anyone who takes offense at this should lighten up...
They should seek out some lighthearted humour...
Perhaps watch The Simpsons?
Seriously, how can you look at 'The Giant' (Not Homer... the one on the right.)... and not snicker?
Peace.
L.
A giant image of Homer Simpson now stands next to the 17th-century giant which is carved in the hillside above Cerne Abbas, Dorset
From: The Independent.
When two great fertility symbols collide ...
By Ed Caesar
Published: 17 July 2007
The Cerne Abbas Giant is used to having things his own way. Not only does he wield two mighty clubs - one military, one anatomical - but he stands 55m tall, and has been considered a fertility symbol for four centuries. Indeed, so potent is the Giant's chalky mojo, that couples struggling to conceive are still said to visit his hillside home for a grassy liaison. But yesterday there was a new alpha male in North Dorset. He wields a doughnut instead of a club. He has four fingers on each hand and four toes on each foot. Only three hairs sprout from his bulbous head. And his unmentionables are, mercifully, covered by the world's largest pair of Y-Fronts. His name is Homer Simpson.
The new chalk drawing is the brainchild of the publicity team behind The Simpsons Movie, which premieres in Britain next week. The artist Peter Stuart was commissioned to create a rival "chalk man" next to the Giant, and Stuart, a self-confessed Simpsons fan, leapt at the chance. The work - which, at 70m by 50m, required 200 litres of biodegradable white paint - started two days ago.
"We started very early on Sunday morning by laying the outline for the grid," said Stuart. "Today it's taken us over five hours to complete the painting of Homer Simpson. But it's all been worth it."
British Simpsons fans, whose legions include the Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Hawking and Tony Blair, will, no doubt, be tickled by the chalk Homer. But not everyone is happy. Pagans, who believe the Giant is a spiritual icon, are dismayed by this bold new artwork, and, in particular, the accompanying encouragement for young couples to "do it in the doughnut".
"It's very disrespectful and not at all aesthetically pleasing," said Ann Bryn-Evans, joint Wessex district manager for The Pagan Federation. "I'm amazed they got permission to do something so ridiculous. We were hoping for some dry weather but I think I have changed my mind. We'll be doing some rain magic to bring the rain and wash it away."
They should save their magic for a drought. The wet weather that has blighted the summer is set to continue (although Cerne Abbas could be dry until tomorrow) meaning that those wishing to see Mr Simpson in all his glory will have to move fast: as soon as the rains come, this Homer will wash away. D'oh!
About the Cerne Abbas:
From: The National Trust
A huge outline sculpted into the chalk hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas representing a naked, sexually aroused, club-wielding giant.
Public perceptions are wide-ranging, is he smutty, humorous or offensive? Certainly he has been used to advertise products as diverse as condoms, jeans and bicycles. Many couples today believe him to be a unique aid to fertility.
One of the Trust's most racy remnants of our distant pagan past or a 17th-century political caricature?
The Cerne Abbas figure has conventionally been viewed as a great symbol of ancient spirituality. A mound below the giant's left hand may be the sculpted remnant of a severed head which he once clutched – a rather grisly if common ancient Celtic religious symbol.
Alternatively, the Roman hero Hercules was often depicted naked with a club in his right hand and a lion skin draped over his left shoulder. Scientific tests have suggested that there might once have been something draped over the giant's left side, but long grassed over.
The problem with all these theories is that despite an abundant archive of local medieval documents at Cerne Abbey, there is no written reference to the giant before 1694. In 1774 the Rev. John Hutchins claimed he was told that the giant was 'a modern thing' cut by Lord Holles.
Denzil Holles who owned Giant Hill from 1642 to 1666 was a fierce critic of Oliver Cromwell. Could the Cerne Abbas Giant seek to satirise Cromwell's stern puritanical rule?
It disgusts me how callously some inhumane beings treat other life forms.
More recently, they could be found ranting and railing against using embryonic stem cells in research to develop treatments and cures for things like Parkinson's and Spinal Cord injuries, from embryos which have no chance of being used to create a baby... You know, the extra, 'back-up' ones which are headed for the trash can at the fertility clinic anyway...
I bring this up because of a show I saw on PBS about a ranch that rescues abused, neglected and abandoned horses and foals, as well as ones who were about to be '...taken out back and shot' or sent to the slaughterhouse. These horses have worked tirelessly their entire lives for their owners and, since they now aren't able to continue at the expected level... their reward is not retirement in a field with other horses... No, it's to be slaughtered for horsemeat for human consumption in Europe or Japan.
Grotesque.
The PBS show mentioned the Rescue Ranchers acquired two Premarin foals... saved them from being sent to a feedlot to be fattened up and then sent to slaughter.
Hmmm... Premarin... Prem-Pro...
You know how they came up with the name 'Premarin'?
Pregnant Mare's Urine....
No, I'm not kidding.
And when you keep your mares pregnant... they keep producing foals.
So, what happens to the foals (baby horses)?
Read the article below and find out.
(*And, if you could care less about baby horses... there's always this pharmaceutical's side effects of increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease.)
It's similar to cow's milk production.
The cows produce milk for their offspring... just like humans do for theirs.
But the cow's milk is destined for sale to humans to consume (well, the one's who don't know better than to drink the stuff.).
Well, I guess some of it is given to the baby cows... the ones kept in tiny crates which don't allow movement... the one's who are soon to be on the menu as: "milk-fed veal."
(And don't get me started on what's in commercial cow's milk and why you shouldn't drink it.... anyway, if you are reading this, you have a computer and can look it up yourself. Besides the hormones, antibiotics and pus... why adult humans continue to pursue drinking Mother's Milk beyond childhood is anyone's guess. I think it's just become 'tradition.' An outdated one. )
Yuck.
I'm so glad that I'm vegan.
Peace.
L.
From: aspca.org
The Facts About Premarin®
The truth behind one of today's most widely prescribed drugs will shock you. Get the facts and get involved.
What Is Premarin®?
Premarin®, a drug derived from pregnant mares' urine (PMU), is prescribed to alleviate symptoms of menopause and to prevent osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. The estrogen-rich urine used in its production is collected from mares confined in barns on PMU ranches in Canada and the United States. Despite the availability of humane alternatives, including lifestyle changes and plant-derived or synthetic medicines, Premarin, PremPro, PremPac and PremPhase are among the most widely prescribed and profitable drugs in America. A company in Minnesota is currently seeking permission from the FDA to produce a generic version of conjugated estrogen from mares' urine. Women, doctors and the general public must be made aware of the unnecessary stress and pain inflicted on horses in the manufacture of these drugs, and of the alternatives from nonanimal sources that exist.
How Do Horses Suffer in the Production of Premarin®?
The Premarin industry is self-regulated through manufacturer Wyeth Ayerst's Code of Practice, but there are hundreds of farms and no outside scrutiny. Mares used in the production of conjugated estrogens are at risk for abrasions, leg swelling, excessive boredom, stress, and an early death, due to the conditions under which they are kept. The mares are:
- strapped to urine collection bags six months a year;
- tied in narrow stalls that do not allow them to turn around or lie down flat;
- denied free, continual access to water, and
- exercised, if at all, according to the rancher's assessment of how much each mare needs, because there is no minimum in the Code of Practice.
Mares are kept in production, foaling every year, for eight to nine years. When no longer able to reproduce, they are sold for slaughter. Under normal circumstances, a domestic equine will live 20 to 25 years.
What Happens to the Foals Who Are Born?
Every year, tens of thousands of foals who are born as "by-products" of this industry are sent to auction. Many of them eventually end up in slaughterhouses, where they are sold to meat markets in Europe and Japan. The first time Helen Meredith of the United Pegasus Foundation attended an auction of Premarin foals in Manitoba, Canada, what she saw was "absolutely devastating." Hundreds of terrified foals as young as three months were run through the auction and loaded onto cattle trucks for a trip to the feedlot—where they would live until they were large enough for the slaughter plant.
The ASPCA supports the work of several dedicated individuals and organizations who are trying to save as many of these foals as possible and find them loving, responsible homes.
Are There Any Alternatives to Premarin®?
It is time for our society to see menopause as a natural life process rather than a disease. Lifestyle changes, such as exercise and a better diet, can be effective in maintaining health and lowering the health risks associated with menopause. There are FDA-approved plant-derived and synthetic medications that have the same effect as Premarin. Hormone replacement therapy has its own risks. Recent studies show that long term use of PremPro increases the risk of breast cancer, heart attacks, blood clots and strokes. Women should consult with their doctors about all the treatments available in order to make an informed, safe, effective and ethical choice.
Dr. Ray Kellosalmi, a Canadian physician involved in Premarin foal rescue, sums up the sad truth: "Unfortunately, it is easy and comfortable for physicians to prescribe drugs that have been around for a long time. It is also easy not to think about our contribution to the cruel chain of events that our prescriptions may allow, and thus the PMU industry is supported by our acquiescence. But the doomsday clock is again well on its way for tens of thousands of innocent lives that, once again, will end in terror needlessly. With a few strokes of the prescribing pen, we are able to decide the fate of future innocents."
More recently, they could be found ranting and railing against using embryonic stem cells in research to develop treatments and cures for things like Parkinson's and Spinal Cord injuries, from embryos which have no chance of being used to create a baby... You know, the extra, 'back-up' ones which are headed for the trash can at the fertility clinic anyway...
I bring this up because of a show I saw on PBS about a ranch that rescues abused, neglected and abandoned horses and foals, as well as ones who were about to be '...taken out back and shot' or sent to the slaughterhouse. These horses have worked tirelessly their entire lives for their owners and, since they now aren't able to continue at the expected level... their reward is not retirement in a field with other horses... No, it's to be slaughtered for horsemeat for human consumption in Europe or Japan.
Grotesque.
The PBS show mentioned the Rescue Ranchers acquired two Premarin foals... saved them from being sent to a feedlot to be fattened up and then sent to slaughter.
Hmmm... Premarin... Prem-Pro...
You know how they came up with the name 'Premarin'?
Pregnant Mare's Urine....
No, I'm not kidding.
And when you keep your mares pregnant... they keep producing foals.
So, what happens to the foals (baby horses)?
Read the article below and find out.
(*And, if you could care less about baby horses... there's always this pharmaceutical's side effects of increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease.)
It's similar to cow's milk production.
The cows produce milk for their offspring... just like humans do for theirs.
But the cow's milk is destined for sale to humans to consume (well, the one's who don't know better than to drink the stuff.).
Well, I guess some of it is given to the baby cows... the ones kept in tiny crates which don't allow movement... the one's who are soon to be on the menu as: "milk-fed veal."
(And don't get me started on what's in commercial cow's milk and why you shouldn't drink it.... anyway, if you are reading this, you have a computer and can look it up yourself. Besides the hormones, antibiotics and pus... why adult humans continue to pursue drinking Mother's Milk beyond childhood is anyone's guess. I think it's just become 'tradition.' An outdated one. )
Yuck.
I'm so glad that I'm vegan.
Peace.
L.
From: aspca.org
The Facts About Premarin®
The truth behind one of today's most widely prescribed drugs will shock you. Get the facts and get involved.
What Is Premarin®?
Premarin®, a drug derived from pregnant mares' urine (PMU), is prescribed to alleviate symptoms of menopause and to prevent osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. The estrogen-rich urine used in its production is collected from mares confined in barns on PMU ranches in Canada and the United States. Despite the availability of humane alternatives, including lifestyle changes and plant-derived or synthetic medicines, Premarin, PremPro, PremPac and PremPhase are among the most widely prescribed and profitable drugs in America. A company in Minnesota is currently seeking permission from the FDA to produce a generic version of conjugated estrogen from mares' urine. Women, doctors and the general public must be made aware of the unnecessary stress and pain inflicted on horses in the manufacture of these drugs, and of the alternatives from nonanimal sources that exist.
How Do Horses Suffer in the Production of Premarin®?
The Premarin industry is self-regulated through manufacturer Wyeth Ayerst's Code of Practice, but there are hundreds of farms and no outside scrutiny. Mares used in the production of conjugated estrogens are at risk for abrasions, leg swelling, excessive boredom, stress, and an early death, due to the conditions under which they are kept. The mares are:
- strapped to urine collection bags six months a year;
- tied in narrow stalls that do not allow them to turn around or lie down flat;
- denied free, continual access to water, and
- exercised, if at all, according to the rancher's assessment of how much each mare needs, because there is no minimum in the Code of Practice.
Mares are kept in production, foaling every year, for eight to nine years. When no longer able to reproduce, they are sold for slaughter. Under normal circumstances, a domestic equine will live 20 to 25 years.
What Happens to the Foals Who Are Born?
Every year, tens of thousands of foals who are born as "by-products" of this industry are sent to auction. Many of them eventually end up in slaughterhouses, where they are sold to meat markets in Europe and Japan. The first time Helen Meredith of the United Pegasus Foundation attended an auction of Premarin foals in Manitoba, Canada, what she saw was "absolutely devastating." Hundreds of terrified foals as young as three months were run through the auction and loaded onto cattle trucks for a trip to the feedlot—where they would live until they were large enough for the slaughter plant.
The ASPCA supports the work of several dedicated individuals and organizations who are trying to save as many of these foals as possible and find them loving, responsible homes.
Are There Any Alternatives to Premarin®?
It is time for our society to see menopause as a natural life process rather than a disease. Lifestyle changes, such as exercise and a better diet, can be effective in maintaining health and lowering the health risks associated with menopause. There are FDA-approved plant-derived and synthetic medications that have the same effect as Premarin. Hormone replacement therapy has its own risks. Recent studies show that long term use of PremPro increases the risk of breast cancer, heart attacks, blood clots and strokes. Women should consult with their doctors about all the treatments available in order to make an informed, safe, effective and ethical choice.
Dr. Ray Kellosalmi, a Canadian physician involved in Premarin foal rescue, sums up the sad truth: "Unfortunately, it is easy and comfortable for physicians to prescribe drugs that have been around for a long time. It is also easy not to think about our contribution to the cruel chain of events that our prescriptions may allow, and thus the PMU industry is supported by our acquiescence. But the doomsday clock is again well on its way for tens of thousands of innocent lives that, once again, will end in terror needlessly. With a few strokes of the prescribing pen, we are able to decide the fate of future innocents."
Happy Friday! (...I think it's Friday.)
Anyway...
Today's Word is.... EXSANGUINATE!
OOoohhh!... Ssoundss Ssexy... Doesn't it?
Yeah, it kinda does... until you know the definition:
I first heard the word on the show "CSI". In case you missed it:
"ex·san·gui·nate (ks-snggw-nt)
v. ex·san·gui·nat·ed, ex·san·gui·nat·ing, ex·san·gui·nates
v.tr.
To drain of blood.
v.intr.
To be drained of blood.
[From Latin exsanguintus, drained of blood : ex-, ex- + sanguis, sanguin-, blood.]"
From: thefreedictionary.com
Well, I guess it still Ssoundss Ssexy... if you're an undead creature of the night...
Or if you're Arnold Ssschwarzaneggar.
Wow!
When "Cal-ee-for-nee-ahh!" Governor Arnie Schwarzaneggar finally received the CA State Budget to sign....
He really sank his teeth into it.
Count Dracula, Vlad the Impaler and Buckets 'O Leeches got nuthin on 'ol Arnie!
Jeez...
Whilst countless yacht owners and other brainless bozoids who are hopelessly hankering to buy RV's (recreational vehicles)...
Excuse me...A personal side note here...
If you are someone who is sooo Enormously Selfish and Environmentally Malignant as to be shopping for a yacht or RV... at a time when gas prices have no where to go but up and global warming from vehicle and other emissions is producing devastating weather conditions, glacial melt and species extinctions... then, well...
May God, Allah and Yaweh (and who/whatever) render you sterile and call your number earlier rather than later.
... Thanks. I needed to get that off my chest.
Anyway, as I was saying... Watch where you step...
Whilst exsanguinating the budgets for the Medi-Cal program ($300 Million!) and Proposition 63 -passed by CA voters to tax the overstuffed in order to finance mental health care for the homeless - ($55 Million!) and the Children's Outreach Initiative - finds and enrolls low-income children into state-funded healthcare - among others...
Governator Arnie has also made sure California is a safe place for people with way too much money to buy the little necessities in life...
Like YACHTS and RVs and avoid paying affordable sales taxes.
Responses from People on the Street?:
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him."
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Oh, and this little gem:
"The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are at the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped."
- Hubert Humphrey
And a quote from lil' me:
"A Pox on you, Arnold Schwarzaneggar."
Peace.
L.
From: KGO-7, ABC.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. August 24, 2007 (KGO) - A smiling Governor Schwarzenegger didn't want to talk about the 700-million dollars he cut from the budget using his line item veto power. He had to do it because of a promise he made to Senate Republicans, who demanded a balanced budget.
"I want to thank the Republicans, Republican friends for having done such a great job on insisting that it is zero, the budget deficit is zero", said the governor on Friday.
He biggest casualty of the veto pen was Medi-Cal, health care for the poor, which took a $300-million dollar hit.
Services may not be cut because historically that program comes in $300-million under budget every year anyways.
The next hardest hit was mental health services for the homeless; The $55-million dollars collected from California's wealthy under Proposition 63 was also axed. Rusty Selix, the author of Proposition 63, seemed concerned over his proposition being cut.
"It's a tragedy. That's why we did Prop 63. Because the homeless with mental illnesses were always last in line when it came to state funding."
Other losses of state funding include:
- The California Gambling Control Commission overseeing the impacts of tribal gaming to communities lost $30 million dollars. - The Children's Outreach Initiative which helps find and enroll low income kids into state-funded health care has $19 million less. - The California Parks & Recreation Department has to make do without $15 million. - The Governor's plan for a prescription drug program and website for poor families is delayed without its $ 2 million start up money.
All this while yacht, plane and RV owners can avoid paying sales taxes if their items are kept in Mexico for 90 days after purchase, an estimated loss of $45-million for the state.
The California Finance Department says only the legislature, not the governor, can change that tax break. Meanwhile, in anticipation of another bad year, this budget has $4-billion dollars in reserve.
Anyway...
Today's Word is.... EXSANGUINATE!
OOoohhh!... Ssoundss Ssexy... Doesn't it?
Yeah, it kinda does... until you know the definition:
I first heard the word on the show "CSI". In case you missed it:
"ex·san·gui·nate (ks-snggw-nt)
v. ex·san·gui·nat·ed, ex·san·gui·nat·ing, ex·san·gui·nates
v.tr.
To drain of blood.
v.intr.
To be drained of blood.
[From Latin exsanguintus, drained of blood : ex-, ex- + sanguis, sanguin-, blood.]"
From: thefreedictionary.com
Well, I guess it still Ssoundss Ssexy... if you're an undead creature of the night...
Or if you're Arnold Ssschwarzaneggar.
Wow!
When "Cal-ee-for-nee-ahh!" Governor Arnie Schwarzaneggar finally received the CA State Budget to sign....
He really sank his teeth into it.
Count Dracula, Vlad the Impaler and Buckets 'O Leeches got nuthin on 'ol Arnie!
Jeez...
Whilst countless yacht owners and other brainless bozoids who are hopelessly hankering to buy RV's (recreational vehicles)...
Excuse me...A personal side note here...
If you are someone who is sooo Enormously Selfish and Environmentally Malignant as to be shopping for a yacht or RV... at a time when gas prices have no where to go but up and global warming from vehicle and other emissions is producing devastating weather conditions, glacial melt and species extinctions... then, well...
May God, Allah and Yaweh (and who/whatever) render you sterile and call your number earlier rather than later.
... Thanks. I needed to get that off my chest.
Anyway, as I was saying... Watch where you step...
Whilst exsanguinating the budgets for the Medi-Cal program ($300 Million!) and Proposition 63 -passed by CA voters to tax the overstuffed in order to finance mental health care for the homeless - ($55 Million!) and the Children's Outreach Initiative - finds and enrolls low-income children into state-funded healthcare - among others...
Governator Arnie has also made sure California is a safe place for people with way too much money to buy the little necessities in life...
Like YACHTS and RVs and avoid paying affordable sales taxes.
Responses from People on the Street?:
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him."
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Oh, and this little gem:
"The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are at the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped."
- Hubert Humphrey
And a quote from lil' me:
"A Pox on you, Arnold Schwarzaneggar."
Peace.
L.
From: KGO-7, ABC.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. August 24, 2007 (KGO) - A smiling Governor Schwarzenegger didn't want to talk about the 700-million dollars he cut from the budget using his line item veto power. He had to do it because of a promise he made to Senate Republicans, who demanded a balanced budget.
"I want to thank the Republicans, Republican friends for having done such a great job on insisting that it is zero, the budget deficit is zero", said the governor on Friday.
He biggest casualty of the veto pen was Medi-Cal, health care for the poor, which took a $300-million dollar hit.
Services may not be cut because historically that program comes in $300-million under budget every year anyways.
The next hardest hit was mental health services for the homeless; The $55-million dollars collected from California's wealthy under Proposition 63 was also axed. Rusty Selix, the author of Proposition 63, seemed concerned over his proposition being cut.
"It's a tragedy. That's why we did Prop 63. Because the homeless with mental illnesses were always last in line when it came to state funding."
Other losses of state funding include:
- The California Gambling Control Commission overseeing the impacts of tribal gaming to communities lost $30 million dollars. - The Children's Outreach Initiative which helps find and enroll low income kids into state-funded health care has $19 million less. - The California Parks & Recreation Department has to make do without $15 million. - The Governor's plan for a prescription drug program and website for poor families is delayed without its $ 2 million start up money.
All this while yacht, plane and RV owners can avoid paying sales taxes if their items are kept in Mexico for 90 days after purchase, an estimated loss of $45-million for the state.
The California Finance Department says only the legislature, not the governor, can change that tax break. Meanwhile, in anticipation of another bad year, this budget has $4-billion dollars in reserve.
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