Notice how there are nonhumans everywhere and not a human in sight.
And that’s not even the whole gang.
Shown above from left to right: Belicose (Bella), Dapple, Lucy (we’re doggy-sitting her).
Not shown: Elaine, Ed, Bacall, Bogart, Otis, Floyd.

“The available research puts the figure [of vegans] at around 1% of the USA population.”
source: http://www.imaner.net/panel/statistics.htm

That may not sound like a lot, but it translates into MILLIONS of vegans worldwide.

Moreover,
“Nearly one-quarter of Americans say that they sometimes go meatless at restaurants” … “10% of consumers say they largely follow vegetarian-inclined diets and 5% more are ‘definitely interested’ in shifting to vegetarian-based diets in the future.”
source: http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/12/03/325121/meat-moves-over-us-food-trends.html

And
“’Meat reducers,’ ’semi-vegetarians,’ vegetarians, and vegans are growing segments of consumers. [...] The USDA estimates show declines in red meat consumption. [and...] One in four U.S. adults (25%) is a ‘moderate’ meat consumer who currently consumes meat with ‘about half’ of his or her meals.”
source: http://cultivateresearch.com/vol_1_VCT_Series_Overview.pdf

a Nevada bill to restrict tethering and penning of dogs, has been set for hearing before the Senate Natural Resources Committee on March 19, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. PST This committee will decide whether the bill should be voted on by the entire Nevada senate. Here are the names of the Nevada state Senators on the Natural Resources Committee:

• David R. Parks - Chair            dparks@sen.state.nv.us (775) 684-6504
• Allison Copening - Vice Chair acopening@sen.state.nv.us (775) 684-1475
• Bernice Mathews bmathews@sen.state.nv.us (775) 684-1433
• Bob Coffin bcoffin@sen.state.nv.us (775) 684-1427
• Dean A. Rhoads drhoads@sen.state.nv.us (775) 684-1447
• Mark E. Amodei mamodei@sen.state.nv.us (775) 684-1470
• Dennis Nolan dnolan@sen.state.nv.us (775) 684-1421

Write or call each of these committee members and urge them to stop cruel chaining/ penning of dogs by supporting Sen. Townsend’s bill, now called S.B. 132.

They supply some sample letters. I’ve modified one to my liking:

Dear Senator:

Re: Supporting SB132

As a Nevadan resident, I urge you to support SB132. There is virtually no sadder sight that the dogs this bill aims to protect. They are the forgotten dogs, relegated to the status of lawn ornaments, and ignored by the family. They are the chained and penned dogs.

Many chained or penned dogs are seriously neglected. They lack fresh, unfrozen water, adequate housing, hygiene and the most basic veterinary care. Many of these dogs suffer from parasites. They are forced to eat, sleep and defecate in the same penned area. Or if they’re tethered, the tethers are dragged through their filth, sometimes catching, snagging, and choking dogs to death. Winter in Northern Nevada is harsh for outdoor dogs. In the summer, the heat across the state is unbearable. Doghouses are often even hotter than the air.

Continuously confined dogs develop many behavior problems such as barking, crying, digging, and chewing on themselves. Unsocialized dogs can become very territorial and aggressive. Children who wander into the dog’s small space, can easily be attacked. The CDC reports that chained dogs are five times more likely to bite children and three times more likely to bite adults. The National Canine Research Council estimates that nearly 30% of all fatal dog attacks are from chained or penned dogs.

Furthermore, researchers are confirming the link between abuse and neglect of animals and abuse and neglect of children and perpetration of future crimes. Fostering compassion towards animals is a necessary step towards creating a positive, peaceful society. SB132 will help foster compassion towards animals.

I urge you to protect dogs - loving and loyal animals - from lives of loneliness and deprivation. Please support SB132 to limit the chaining and penning of dogs.

Respectfully,
Elaine Vigneault

So… please read/watch me here:

• Kangaroo Elaine
• Vegan Soapbox
• Selling Compassion

Death on a Factory Farm

From the makers of HBO’s 2006 documentary Dealing Dogs, this film takes a harrowing look at animal cruelty in an Ohio factory hog farm, as chronicled through undercover footage taken by “Pete,” the same animal-rights investigator who appeared in the first film. Premieres Monday, March 16 at 10pm.

More details about Death on a Factory Farm from HBO here >>

See a preview video here >>

Here’s the synopsys:

“Each year, ten billion animals are raised for consumption in the U.S., mostly on sprawling, industrialized farms, where virtually no federal laws mandate how the animals are treated - though guidelines exist - and state laws are ineffective. As a result, animals are frequently subjected to what many consider cruel treatment and inhumane conditions in the interest of economic efficiency. DEATH ON A FACTORY FARM chronicles an investigation into alleged abuses that took place at a hog farm in Creston, Ohio. This shocking documentary is produced by Tom Simon (a seven-time Emmy® winner) and Sarah Teale, producer of the 2006 HBO special “Dealing Dogs,” which received two Emmy® nominations, including Best Documentary. ”

[...] “hogs were being hung by chains and strangled to death”[...]

“Over the course of six weeks, Pete secretly filmed numerous disturbing scenes, including piglets being tossed into crates from across a room, impregnated sows held in pens that don’t allow them to move, an unhealthy piglet being slammed against a wall to [kill him or her], and a sick sow being hung by a chain from a forklift until it choked to death.”

The movie documents the horrific events as well as the court case that followed.

Please watch this special documentary tonight.

“Analysis of data from 52,700 men and women shows that those who did not eat meat had significantly fewer cancers overall than those who did.”

Source: The BBC “Vegetarians Get Fewer Cancers”

Next, remember that Disney-Vegas train lie that has been thoroughly debunked (along with Fox’s hilarious claim that it ended up at a brothel 422 miles away from Sin City)?

Well, on Meet the Press this morning, Eric Cantor was at it again, pushing the same Disney-Vegas rail line lie:

The LIE:

The TRUTH:

Why does Fox News spread lies about Vegas? Because people love to hate Vegas. It’s just so easy to attack Vegas. Hardly anyone will stand up and stick up for Vegas.

Since I live here in Vegas, I’ll stand up. I would LOVE a train from LA to Vegas. But I know it’s not going to happen. I also know that prostitution is ILLEGAL in Vegas and that all brothels are at least an hour drive out of town. Just an FYI, since no one else seems to know this shit.

Funny, I didn’t know I was “extremely” progressive.

You can take the quiz here >>

Set your DVR if you have one! Send out the emails to friends and family!

There are previews on YouTube. I collected them and posted them here:

Please repost the previews on your blogs! Or send the links in emails.

This show WILL convert some people to vegetarianism or veganism. (ANY show with graphic footage of animal abuse in animal agriculture tends to convert some portion of people to vegan.)
Here are the specific video links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuSSf8oSDtw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxRIzspZ5VA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASJx253M5hk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BxqT1MT_Sg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eUTcTCyHqQ

“Perhaps you should stick to your entries on the advantages of getting naked for PETA, Elaine, because it seems clear to me that you don’t understand much of anything beyond that.”

source: comments at Ryan’s post

Whatever.

I think I’m good at other things. For example, I think I’m pretty good at making silly videos:

UPDATE: Bob Torres has gone off the deep end:

Elaine Vigneault, the “eccentric vegan,” is hoping to drive some traffic to her sad little site by getting in on the critique that I made of Ryan McReynolds’s entry about his misunderstanding abolitionism. Though I may deal with her entry itself later if I’m bored enough — and hey, it had pictures! That makes anything easier to read! — I just want to publicly correct the lies that Vigneault is attempting to spread about us. I posted a response on her blog, but I do not trust her to be honest about posting it. I suspect she has such a vendetta against us that she’d probably edit the response to say something totally different than what I’d acutally said. In case she refuses to post my comment on her blog, or in case she edits or distorts it, I present her comment and my response here, for the sake of posterity, and so that you can decide for yourself who is distorting what. I realize that I’m giving Vigneault exactly what she apparently didn’t get enough of as a child — attention [...] Certainly, farty mariachis like Vigneault who are more interested in the politics of distortion and self-aggrandizement don’t help the situation.”

And with that, I’ll leave you with this from YouTuber mario8891:

Another update:
I’ve publicly apologized:

“Apologies to Bob for suggesting that he isn’t interested in working towards a vegan future. It’s clear he IS interested in that goal.”

For interested parties, here are all the relevant links:

• First there was Ryan McReynold’s post
• Then Bob Torres’ response
• Then my response
• Then the comments at each blog

“Animals are something to be respected. And one can enter into a bonding relationship with them.
Civilization cannot. I like to follow the native american idealism. Respect your food like you should respect all of nature, and enter into this bonding relationship. “

My response:
“Listen to this podcast”

That’s the Las Vegas Strip in the background there. I took this at the top of the hill at Mountain’s Edge.

“My wife and I were in Las Vegas not too long ago and I called down [for room service] and asked them to send us, sautéed in orange juice, broccoli, asparagus, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers. I asked them to do two big, heaping plates of those, and two heaping plates of brown rice. And they did it. We also asked for some whole-grain rolls and they had them. It was simple, but it was incredibly delicious…and just what we needed after a long day of traveling.” (link)

Being a vegan in Vegas, I recommend:

• http://vegasveg.blogspot.com/
• http://www.lvvegan.com/

I think this is hilarious… well funny/sad:

Santino, a 30-year old chimp who lives at a Swedish zoo, hates gawkers. So in his spare time, when the zoo his closed, he methodically gathers rocks from the moat in his enclosure. When the zoo opens, he becomes enraged and throws the rocks at the visitors.

Poor guy shouldn’t be in a zoo.

Marcus says: “Scientists are calling this the first proof of an animal planning for a future event”
What!?!
Little white lightening Floyd plans for future events. What he doesn’t have in size, speed, and bite, he makes up for in stealth. He’ll watch Bella working on a “bone.” He waits quietly for her to get distracted by something else, and when she does finally abandon the bone for a couple seconds, Floyd swoops in and steals the bone. Indeed, his chubs are a testament to his intelligence.

The message I got was:

“Please go back and enter a cholesterol value in the range of 130-320.”

Apparently my cholesterol is too low to use to calculate my heart disease risk.