Hug a Vegetarian Day is tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder:

Don't forget to hug a vegetarian this friday.


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Just a dog, by Richard Biby

by Richard Biby
From "The Versatile Hunting Dog" NAVHDA's Magazine; February 2006

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog,"
and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand
phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust,
and pure unbridled joy.

"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog", I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away
from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog",
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
"just a man or woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog"
just smile...
because they "just don't understand."

I found this on animalliberationfront.com.

Honey isn't vegan

Honey is something that, if you're vegan, you avoid. I've met a number of people who are vegans who don't believe that honey counts because it doesn't come from an animal, rather it is just created by them and they make more than they can ever use anyway.

However, if you're a vegan to prevent cruelty to animals, you ought to consider this: In order to obtain honey the bees have to be smoked out of their hives and are often killed in the process of getting the honey, which isn't ethical by vegan standards.

There are vegan options to honey:



Agave Nectar is made from the same plant which tequila is made from and it's been used in foods for thousands of years (http://www.allaboutagave.com/).

To read more on honey, check out: http://www.vegansociety.com/images/Honey.pdf

More news out of Washington

Everett, WA



Lastest, in Washington. Earth Liberation Front Topples Two Radio Station Towers in Snohomish County, WA.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 4, 2009
Earth Liberation Front Topples
Radio Station Towers in Snohomish County, WA
Everett, WA: Two radio station
towers were torn down early Friday by the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) in the
Lord's Hills valley in Snohomish County, WA. The towers, owned by station KRKO,
have been a source of controversy for years. A sign left at the scene claimed
responsibility by the ELF.
" Due to the health and environmental risks
associated with radio waves emitted from the towers, we applaud this act by the
ELF," stated Jason Crawford, a spokesperson for the North American Earth
Liberation Front Press Office. "When all legal channels of opposition have been
exhausted, concerned citizens have to take action into their own hands to
protect life and the planet."
For the past eight years, opponents have waged
a legal battle against the towers, arguing that AM radio waves cause adverse
health affects including a higher rate of cancer, harm to wildlife, and that the
signals have been interfering with home phone and intercom lines.
Last year,
the first four towers were erected by KRKO after numerous hearings and appeals.
KRKO plans to build two more towers to boost the station's broadcasting
power.
" We have to weigh our priorities and the local ecosystem in Everett,
along with the local residents, do not need additional sports news radio station
towers that come at the expense of reduced property values and harmful radio
waves," Crawford continued. "We sincerely hope that people continue to take
direct action to stop the threats to human health, wildlife and the
planet."
The E.L.F. is an international underground organization that uses
direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the systematic
exploitation and destruction of the planet. Since its inception in North America
in 1996, the ELF has inflicted well over $150 million in damages to corporations
and governmental agencies that are profiting from the destruction of the
Earth.
The North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office is a legal news
agency representing the earth liberation movement. The NAELFPO reports on the
covert direct actions taken by the Earth Liberation Front in defense of the
planet. Targeting deforestation, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), urban
sprawl, automobile and industry pollution, and other threats to the natural
environment, the Earth Liberation Front uses nonviolent economic sabotage to
compel industries and governments to reshape their environmentally destructive
policies.
The NAELFPO can be found on the web at www.elfpressoffice.org

I can't believe it's 12 AM

I got home about thirty minutes ago. I was planning on hanging out with Alli tonight but since I got home so late...yeah, it's a bummer.

I was googling "How to annoy a vegan" because my friend had this blog that was about "How to annoy an atheist" and I found an article instead from Spokane! Bascially the article is about how annoying vegans can be at social functions.

"I have a business acquaintance who, after meeting her husband, became a vegetarian, and is now a vegan. They are so happy and in love with their world they proselytize their food choices and practically insult those who are comfortable with their own eating habits.

As annoying as this is, my concern is that they would like to host the annual company event at their home. When I entertain at home, I provide a range of food and libation so as to cover everyone's dietary restrictions.


But I know that they will serve only vegan foods, no sodas, and food that many in the larger group don't necessarily enjoy, along with lots of alcohol, which is amusing given their health concerns.

They will not allow anything other than vegan foods in their home, which is their right.

Of course, knowing this upfront, I will eat before I go and nibble on their offerings. Even so, there is a feeling among the workers that these two are incredibly rude and controlling.

They are more senior in the company, so everyone will go along. However, since the party is for the employees, it seems unfair that at a party that is meant to show appreciation everyone will be forced to eat what the hosts like, versus the standard buffet choices.

Gentle Reader: That people who go around insulting others over their food choices are rude is beyond dispute. Whether they are "controlling," which is to say assuming illegitimate authority over others, is a more complicated question.

As you acknowledge, they may serve what they like in their own house. They also may choose the location of a party they are giving.

So if this couple is senior enough to be throwing and sponsoring the annual party, the only polite protest their prospective guests can make is to decline their invitations.

If everyone expressed polite regret at being busy the night of the event, perhaps the hosts would understand that it was not working as a show of appreciation.

It is an entirely different matter if the event is actually given by the company at which they and the other prospective guests are employees. Employees may then make the point to whoever is in higher charge that the couple's house is an unsuitable venue because of its food restrictions.

This is not the time to deal with their rudeness.

It should be phrased as it would be if a popular employee had wanted to host the party in a house that was too small to hold the number of people expected – with gratitude for the offer and regret that it would not work."

A lot of people don't think that vegans drink because we're "healthy people" but that's not the case (really not my case, at least). However, there are many straight edge vegans that I do know, but being vegan is not always about health- often (more times than not, I'd say) it's about ethics rather than health.

I certainly don't see anything wrong with drinking a bit every now and then but there are obvious reasons as to why someone would not want to eat animal products.

The lady above says that the person is being too critical (and I don't know the vegans in question, so it's hard to say) but, at the same time, she's being critical towards veganism. Vegan food is no different from other food and I KNOW for a FACT that there are some kick ass vegan cookers in Spokane.

So why not lighten up and give veganism a chance if only for one night? It's not a personal attack against you, it actually has nothing to do with you.

Class has started

First assignment, write a free verse poem.

Free verse poetry, to me, is so sloppy but after thinking about it- it's really my favorite form of poetry because aren't I the one sobbing in the back at every poetry slam? And what kind of poems are those? Hmm? Usually they're free verse which is nice.

So I've managed to write a few but none of them nearly come close to the talent of the poets of Spokane, that are deeply talented.

Like this guy, Kurt Olson: