After watching this, I wonder why we can't be this way more often. There are choices we can make that would not only help the earth but also help each other, yet we don't make those choices...why? I don't have the answer...nothing even close to the answer. But I'm going to do some research and see what I can find out. Keep you posted.
Here's another intersting tid bit. I just read (and unfortunately lost the article) that 72% of animal testing is done in vain because when substances are finally administered to humans, DIFFERENT reactions occur. So spending money on animal testing is just propaganda to convice us that they are testing what we eat, wear, drink, etc and making sure it is safe.
Is it so hard to believe that our country does this stuff? How many scandals and scams are turned up side down every year? So PLEASE, make a different choice when you buy candy next time. Hershey has pledged to be a cruelty-free candy.
~Rhea~
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
accomplished - Music:NONE
I usually determine the candidate I'm going to vote for by writing out the thing I want to see change, and then look at who has the passion, the promise and the experience to change them. And this is why I'm voting for Obama.
Health Care
Health care isn't a luxury. It's a neccesity in this country. 46 milliion Americans do NOT have coverage. Can you imagine what that must be like? Parent's praying that their children don't get sick and die because they can't afford to take them to the hospital!
“We now face an opportunity — and an obligation — to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates… My plan begins by covering every American. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less. If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law. No one will be turned away because of a preexisting condition or illness.”
— Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, May 29, 2007
Education
Education has become a tool of oppression; those who can afford to go to college go, and those who can't, are unable to achieve a college education.
Obama and Biden will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Recipients of the credit will be required to conduct 100 hours of community service.
Women
Here's my favorite one :) Women are still underpriveleged and payed less than men in many fields. Women still have to worry about sexual and violent assault.
"From the first moment a woman dared to speak that hope - dared to believe that the American Dream was meant for her too - ordinary women have taken on extraordinary odds to give their daughters the chance for something else; for a life more equal, more free, and filled with more opportunity than they ever had. In so many ways we have succeeded, but in so many areas we have much work left to do.” ~Barack Obama.
Reducing Domestic Violence:
One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Family violence accounted for 11 percent of all violence between 1998 and 2002. Barack Obama introduced legislation to combat domestic violence by providing $25 million a year for partnerships between domestic violence prevention organizations and Fatherhood or Marriage programs to train staff in domestic violence services, provide services to families affected by domestic violence, and to develop best practices in domestic violence prevention.
Fighting for Pay Equity:
Despite decades of progress, women still make only 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. Throughout his career, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have championed the right of women to receive equal pay for equal work. In the Illinois State Senate, Obama cosponsored and voted for the Illinois Equal Pay Act, which provided 330,000 more women protection from pay discrimination. In the U.S. Senate, Obama joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the Fair Pay Restoration Act, a bill to overturn the Supreme Court's recent 5-4 decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. The bill would restore the clear intent of Congress that workers must have a reasonable time to file a pay discrimination claim after they become victims of discriminatory compensation. Obama is also a cosponsor of Senator Tom Harkin's (D-IA) Fair Pay Act. As president, Obama will continue to promote paycheck equity and close the wage gap between men and women.
Traditional doctors are starting to embrace what holistic doctors have said for centuries: an imbalance of healthy bacteria in your stomach may lead to an onslaught of other health issues. You may not be having any stomach problems. Perhaps you have other ailments, such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, headaches, etc.
So, I began to eat things w/ more probiotics in them and also to take supplements. My favorite supplement is "Pearls". They are about $12 a box and you get about 30 of them. They keep me extremely regular, and have reduced my stomach issues quite a bit. Foods you can find probiotics in are yogurt, pickled vegetables, kimchi, fermented cheese, and more.
Of course, traditional doctors want to tell us that there isn't enough research on probiotics to declare them efficient. An article on medicinenet.com said there isn't enough research done on probiotics yet. Well, of course not. The health and pharmaceutical companies charge billions of dollars a year to diagnose IBS, spastic colon, insomnia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc. Why would they do research on such only to find out that probiotics ARE helpful and if people ate foods rich in probiotics and prebiotics (nondigestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial microorganisms already in people's colons; http://www.medicinenet.com/probiotics/a
Now people are probably starting to think I'm a pessimist. "Damn the government, always lying to me." and "Why the hell are these bastards getting away with this shit?" If you say that in a southern accent, I could be Anthony Hopkins from "Legend of the Fall". But anywho, I'm not pessimistic, I'm a realist. The government is a business, plain and simple. The government is a business and we are the customers.
So do some of your own research on probiotics. Let me know what you find out.
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
awake - Music:NONE
1)Vegetarians are drastically less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, and stroke than meat eaters. In fact, vegetarians have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, less of a chance of developing Diabetes Type II, and less of a chance of developing colon or prostate cancer than people who eat meat.
2) Vegetarians are less likely to be obese than those who eat meat.
3) Vegetarians are less likely to develop Asthma, Alzheimer's, and male impotence.
4) Vegetarians have stronger immune systems, so they are less likely to get the flu, colds, and other ailments.
5) Studies show that vegetarian kids grow taller, have higher IQ's and are less likely to develop the diseases listed above in the long run.
6) A lot of Olympians are vegetarians b/c they know the health benefits of a plant-based diet.
7) Being a vegetarian is healthier for the environment. Eating 1 lbs. of meat is like emitting the same amount of Greenhouse gases as driving an SUV 40 miles. Factory farms take up unnecessary land, use unnecessary resources, and pollute the air.
8) Vegetarians can feel happier and kinder because they aren't ingesting pain. The typical barn yard scene is null and void in factory farms. Animals are crowded into pens, must stand on cement all day, and must live in their own feces and urine. Not only is that unsanitary, it's CRUEL.
9) Vegetarians are much less likely to develop salmonella and e. coli.
10) VEGETARIANS LOOK SEXIER!
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:energetic
- Music:NONE
First of all, did you know that the best home for e. coli is in a cow's stomach, and that it's pretty much hit or miss if you get it or not?
Did you also know that there is no humane slaughter act in effect for poultry? They can do whatever they want to poultry.
Did you know that cows have been found conscious as far along as the skinning portion of the production line in factory farms endorsed by the USDA? Oh, and the fun little tid bit here is that they keep going. THEY SKIN THESE ANIMALS ALIVE!
Did you know that the majority of factory farm workers are alcoholics, drug abusers and wife beaters due to the trauma they suffer?
Did you know that 90/100 employees at factory farms have been injured by live livestock on the production line?
Did you know that the USDA has been cited violation after violation for hosing down infectious abscesses on livestock rather than removing infected flesh? They don't want to lose time or money.
Did you know that people who work at Morrell's meat factory have told interviewers there are rats, maggots, FLYING COCKROACHES NEARLY 6 INCHES LONG, and other unsanitary conditions throughout the factory? Did you know that supervisors tell workers to pick the meat up off the floor when it's been dropped and to package it up anyways?
Did you know people who work for USDA factory farms have gotten in trouble for stealing horses from small farms and selling them to the slaughterhouse to be sold overseas? Did you know that horse meat is frequently mixed into your hamburger?
Did you know that the USDA factory farms ground up chicken bones and put them in bologna.
I could go on and on, people. The issue is, we are letting people get away with this shit. Instead of looking the other way, or saying "Oh gosh I can't read that, it'll give me nightmares", we need to take action and do something. Write a letter to your congressmen, or better yet, to the exec. director of the USDA. Buy organic if you must eat meat, or go vegetarian. It feels so good to avoid ingesting pain, turmoil, fear, and death---all of which are associated w/ USDA approved factory farms.
First of all, if you can see that tiny font, My birthday falls in the Vata category (it shows the latter half of October falling in the Vata section. So, we'll just assume that could be a coincidence. Moving on...
Signs that you need to balance Vata
- Are you constantly worried, anxious, overwhelmed, fretful? Anxiety is my middle name...
- Do you feel tired but find yourself unable to slow down and relax? Constantly fatigued...
- Do you find it difficult to settle down and fall asleep at night? Is your sleep restless when you do manage to fall asleep? Very restless sleeper...
- Is your skin feeling dryer than usual, stretched taut or flaking? Constantly dry skin...read my lotion!
- Is your hair more brittle, with split ends happening oftener? Commented to my fiance today that my hair looked extremely brittle and frizzy lately.
- Are your lips raw and chapped? Is your throat constantly dry? always using chapstick, always sucking on cough drops due to sore throat.
- Is your digestion irregular? Do you experience problems with abdominal gas? Have been seeing a gastrointestinal doctor for acid reflux, gas, and IBS
- Do you feel like you cannot sit still, that you need to be constantly moving? Get very depressed if I'm not moving and staying active.
- Do you feel "spaced out"? Is it harder to remember things for more than a short period of time? Is your attention span shorter than usual? Is it harder to focus? Clint is constantly needing to remind me of past events that I have forgotten about.
- Do your bowel movements occur less than once daily? Damn right...
So I'm meeting all of these criteria and it's really interesting. So I'll be working on a new diet from now on to hopefully balance my Vata.
Oh and P.S. Boycott the Olympics. Isn't it funny how our president and govt. are against tyrrany in Iraq, but they aren't raising a finger about China's grip on Tibet...nah...no need right? Instead...let's just have our olympics there :)
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
anxious - Music:NONE
I even *GASP* smoked a cigarette. Today, I haven't even the slightest craving. It's not something I'm going to do again anytime soon, but it felt good to have it in moderation. To know that someday in the future I may have another one makes it easier to quit.
And now, I'm off to work at my new job...which btw, I'm loving!
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
sick - Music:NONE
It's the Meat, Stupid! http://www.peta.com
Everyone needs to pay attention because this is getting a lot less hype in the media than the original story did. There's scientific evidence to prove what PETA has been saying all along: The recent salmonella outbreak wasn't all about tomatoes or jalapeños but rather contaminated water.
Why is the water contaminated, you ask? Long story short, it's because massive overproduction of factory-farmed animals leads to tons of feces. Cattle are sick (rhymes with "ick"), and so are chickens. Living in filth makes their disease spread. Those tons and tons of contaminated feces then end up in the irrigation water (ick)—the same water that then ends up on the produce (double ick).
The meat industry is the culprit! (I keep hearing my mother's voice in my head ... "If I've told you once, I've told you 1,000 times.") So stop blaming the poor tomatoes already!
Better yet, join the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in demanding that the Department of Health and Human Services investigate the meat industry—the real reason why our produce is contaminated!
In other news, I started my job at the Homestead and I LOVED IT! I'm so excited to have this job!!!!
Gosh, I don't know what else to write. I'm hoping to have my new computer soon...>sigh< Then I can do my podcast!!!!
K, Bye
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
weird - Music:Walking on Air by Kerli
So Michael Savage's recent ridiculous statement was about autism. Not only did he say that most kids diagnosed w/ autism were just little brats with soft, panzy parents, but he also compared autism to ADD and ADHD in their unfortunate over-diagnosis. Well, being the psychology major that I am, I decided to pull out my good ol' DSM-IV and look up a bit about autism (not that I had questions about the illogic in Savage's comments).
First of all, autism doesn't start out much like ADHD at all. It starts out as impaired social skills and especially impaired communication skills. These children either can't talk or can't talk well. When/if speech does develop, the tone and rhythm may be abnormal. And here's the kicker. Autistic symptoms begin at a very early age. An age where the concept of "spoiling" isn't applicable. I had a psych professor once say "If you're a Jungian psychologist and you think you can spoil infants, you're WRONG. Their brains aren't developed enough to comprehend it. All they cry and whine about are their basic needs and desires" So, if autism starts at a young age, before a parent can negatively impact the child, perhaps...just maybe...it's a real disorder.
Here's another "interesting tid bit"...The DSM IV says that about 75% of moderately autistic children function at the mental retardation level. Now, to determine if these children function at the mental retardation level, they must take an IQ test, and depending on their score, they are compared to the average and diagnosed as either MR or not. An IQ test, my friends, is an OBJECTIVE test.
And as for the prevalence of 1 in 150 children having autism (quoted by Tony Zizza on Michael Savage's website---he says Fox News said this, but I think they would have checked their sources first), this prevalence is WAY OFF. The DSM IV says 2-5 people out of 10,000 have autistic disorder.
And here's my final bit of information and maybe the most important. NOTHING can be proven in science...only supported and theorized about. Due to this, there is a diagnostic criteria for Autism. A Psychologist has a list of 12 criteria and a person must meet 6 of the 12 with certain criteria in certain categories before being diagnosed. So it's not something that's done in 5 minutes. There is a lot of testing that goes on before a label as serious as autistic disorder, Aspergers disorder, ADHD disorder, Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Atypical Autism, etc., is ascribed to the patient.
So I'll end this with "SHAME ON YOU, MICHAEL SAVAGE." Savage isn't a doctor or a psychologist...he's as much a man of propaganda as the next.
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
annoyed - Music:Clint's Nintendo Music
Am I the only one dreading going back to school? Maybe I am, but I have good reason, or so I tell myself. However, the intelligent pig is turning over a new leaf this time...a giant, heavy, gigantic leaf that is going to take a lot of effort, discipline and love to overturn.
Without giving anything away, there is a particular..."person"...at my school, who loves to make my life a living HELL. She may not do this intentionally, by any means, but never-the-less, she does it. Okay, hell, I'll go ahead and admit that it's a teacher. I'm sure deep down she's a nice person, but for some reason, I feel like she's taking out her day's disappointment on me, and I'm DAMNED tired of it. But...instead of getting mad, sad, hurt, angry, jealous...etc...I'm going to do something else. I'm going to be as polite as I can be and find a way to love her. I'm not going to let her get to me. Getting upset about her doesn't hurt her...it hurts ME....and I am not going to let it happen this year. I'm a new person.
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
contemplative - Music:Realize-Colbie Cailat
I'm not a Christian, but I was raised one. My parents didn't actually get up and go to church w/ my brother and I, but they made sure that we went. I went through Sunday School, Confirmation, and was eventually in the Church Choir, teaching Sunday school myself, and singing in a Praise Band. But still, some part of me deep inside...HATED it. I didn't believe in this dogmatic doctrinal bull shit (I'm referring to my particular church...your dogma and doctrine may be completely different, so please don't take that as a generalization). However, I made myself believe, because I was so scared that if I didn't believe...God would hurt me, ruin my life, wreck my car, make my boyfriend break up with me, kill my cats, my parents, my grandparents or even me.
When I went to college it was 20,000 times worse. I try not to hold grudges, because if you do know me well enough, you'll know that I'm currently working on a different path that concerns itself w/ discipline, love, compassion, and enlightenment (I'm not going to go as far as calling myself a Buddhist, but I pretty much am). However, it's hard not to hold a grudge against some of the people I had to deal with in college. A couple of them in particular judged me so harshly for drinking, smoking, having sex, being depressed, doing homework rather than praising God, etc...I got so depressed that I finally had to move away from these people. I must say, one of them was great, and never judgmental, but I know in a heart beat, she'd join her posse...and I hate posses.
So now I'm on this different path, and I must admit...I STILL get nervous sometimes that Jesus is up there ready to strike me down. But it's not like that, is it?
Whether you believe in God or not, you are sorely disadvanted and closed-minded if you think that your God is better than mine. A wise philosopher once said, "It doesn't matter what you call him...just as long as you call." I'm talking here about the age-old debate...and no, it's not called tolerance. I don't want you to "tolerate" my beliefs. I want you to accept that they are mine, and I want to respect that they are mine. Don't tolerate me as you tolerate an annoying person or a strong spice on your food, neither of which you like or want anywhere near you. Every good belief system has a center called LOVE, and if yours has that, then you shouldn't care if different people are...DIFFERENT...If everybody was the same, it would be damned boring.
- Location:Indianola
- Mood: accomplished
- Music:NONE
Well, regardless of that, I am planning on getting a podcast started as soon as my loving fiance gets me my new MAC! I guess I haven't catered enough to this so-called creative side of myself. I know it's there--hell, ego aside, I did win a couple of writing contests when I was yonger (even have a poem published). *Cringes at her ego's lack of tact and humility*
So who's gonna listen? And what the hell am I going to "pod" my "cast" about? Perhaps that's where you (you know, all of you "audience members") could help me out. I need a topic, I need a drive, I need a passion. Granted, yes, I have my own of all of those...but wouldn't it make more sense that I cater to yours? After all, if it's not your topic, drive, or passion, why the hell would you listen/view the podcast? Isn't that business anyways? Cater to the audience. Don't worry, it won't cost anything, really. :)
SEGUE: I will have to drive to Clive tomorrow, and if you know me, you know I hate driving, so I could possibly die...actually that's not funny at all. I almost want to delete that...but not enough to actually do it.
- Location:Strangetown
- Mood: crazy
- Music:Here we Go by Dispatch
I realized today how much control we are given, especially over animals. We decide when they go to the vet, we decide when they get food and water, etc. We have to choose if we want to act in compassion towards these creatures (and in doing so, we might just learn something from them), or if we want to control them in a power-hungry, means to an end, demeaning way. I choose the former. And that is why I'm not eating any animals. Why kill anything for your taste buds? There is enough killing going on in this world the way it is.
BIG SEGUE: Do you like tea? If you don't, MIX IT WITH LEMONADE! You can barely taste it and you get all the good antioxidants (make sure you get caffeine free). Mix 2 cups of water+3/4 cup of sugar+a couple slices of lemon in a pot and bring it to a boil to melt the sugar. After it's melted, take it off the heat and add 6 tea bags of your choice (I like chamomile). Then let it steep for 10 more mins. Take the tea bags out and pour the rest into a pitcher. Add 3/4 cup of lemon juice, and 3 more cups of water. Add more lemons if you'd like. Stir, chill and SERVE! Very good :)
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
sleepy - Music:Wish I could by Norah Jones
I don't know if any of that offers peace to any of my friends who are suffering, but I do hope so. I would strongly recommend reading "A New Earth" by Ekhart Tolle. He teaches readers how to give up their ego and live a life of complete consciousness. It is helping me tremendously.
I took my chauffeur's license exam today and passed :)
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
indescribable - Music:none
I went antique-ing today...and what did I learn? It was fun, but for stuff that was once 50 cents, I'm not too keen on paying 25 dollars.
I finished Skinny Bitch and must say it was a great read...once again, I'm recommending it to everyone. Now I'm working on getting through A New Earth. It's by Ekhart Tolle, my new favorite philosopher...check him out. He offers a new approach to the "hyped-up ego topic". I've read most of this book, and I already feel that I'm dealing with shit in a much healthier manner. Seriously...just check him out...
Well, as the subject so worthily shows, I am in a writing lull today. Namaste.
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
bored - Music:Dispatch-Here We Go
So, I want to keep everyone up-to-date on my life and my goals. As you know, I have officially gone Vegetarian...and now, I'm going to up it to Vegan. Granted, I've never eaten a lot of dairy products anyways, so it wont be difficult to nip that in the bud. Also, I am adopting a cruelty-free morning routine...meaning I'm going to purchase soaps, make-up, shampoos, etc., that do not harm animals.
And for all of you who actually know me, and know what's going on in my life...I had my stomach procedures, and the doctor diagnosed me w/ acid reflux disease. Granted, a lot of that is due to my eating habits, which are now changing. And also, assuming I obtain a Chauffer's License and pass a physical, I am going to be an Autism Associate at The Homestead, and will be making...*drum roll* 10.25 an hour! Some of you might be like...wow...that's...great? But for me, that's quite the raise.
Peace
- Location:Indianola
- Mood:
chipper - Music:no music right now :(
So in this blog, I'm going to introduce you to something I want to help PETA with. It's called Think About It. Did you know that pigs and dogs are, at the very least, equally intelligent (in fact, if one of the two is smarter, it's the pig)? Yet, we reduce pigs to bacon and elevate dogs to our friends. Granted, I wouldn't suggest eating either; however, a lot of you do choose to eat pigs. I'm not going to tell you to stop and call you bad people, but what I am going to do, is provide you with a link. Go to http://www.peta2.com/woof/quiz.asp and take the quiz. After you do so, if you feel compelled, go to http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/p2_wo
- Location:Indianola
- Mood: accomplished
- Music:Anna Molly-Incubus
Profile
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
intelligent_pig- intelligent_pig
Syndicate
