...aka darzy...

New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T22:08:00.000-05:00

Undercover Footage Exposes Butterball's Cruelty to Animals

2011-12-29T11:53:00.000-05:00

Please visit Mercy for Animals' Butterball Abuse page to sign a petition demanding Butterball treat its animals humanely and with compassion.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T10:24:00.001-05:00

AAVS

2011-12-22T11:05:00.000-05:00

Many non-profit organizations solicit year-end donations while sending holiday greetings to their supporters. I've noticed that this year, I've received more electronic messages than holiday cards sent in the mail. While I sometimes miss the actual cards being a mail junkie, I know that email is better for the organization's budget as well as to preserve natural resources.

I thought this greeting from the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS), a group dedicated to ending the use of animals in experiments, was precious. AAVS sponsors Animalearn, an initiative to provide alternatives to dissection in science classes. They also work to educate consumers on cruelty-free products. The Tina Nelson Sanctuary Fund provides grant assistance to sanctuaries that provides shelter to animals previously used in laboratories.

AAVS is a group worthy of a year-end donation. What a wonderful way to celebrate life and peace on earth!

2011-12-20T23:17:00.000-05:00

Museum of the Earth

2011-12-13T23:25:00.003-05:00

Quotation of the Day

2011-12-10T11:59:00.001-05:00

"This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals,"

~Walt Whitman

Norman

2011-12-07T12:13:00.000-05:00

Quotation of the Day

2011-12-06T18:34:00.001-05:00

"If a being suffers, there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration."

~Peter Singer

Animal Rights in the Classroom

2011-12-05T13:31:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, we are scheduled to discuss animal rights as they relate to business ethics. Perhaps I should be more excited about covering this with my students, but I am too close to the subject. In thinking about the upcoming class, I was reminded of an incident in my MBA program.

In my Operations Management class, we had to give group presentations on a topic related to the course. (I can't remember at all what my group's presentation covered.) One day, a group helmed by a student I remember as a jerk presented on slaughterhouse waste. I suppose that the topic was legitimate, and perhaps not even controversial in an Oklahoma classroom, but the group treated the concept as a joke. To me, the death of animals is never a joke, and in fact, the entire premise of slaughterhouses is immoral.

I had to leave the classroom until the presentation was over. It's bad enough that animals are killed in a cruel and inhumane manner, but to laugh about it? This is what they found so humorous:

Unforgivable.

Afternoon Sky

2011-12-02T22:56:00.001-05:00

World AIDS Day

2011-12-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

Over 25 million people have died from HIV. Remember them on World AIDS Day.

Pig Friend at the Farm

2011-11-30T22:39:00.000-05:00

I think this is Eric, but might be Jane, one of the piglets who found peace and protection at the Farm Sanctuary.

black pug friday

2011-11-25T21:19:00.000-05:00

45 Million Dead

2011-11-24T09:50:00.000-05:00

I know Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of gratitude, and I appreciate that part of the holiday. I am, in fact, grateful to the Farm Sanctuary and all the people and organizations who do so much to help animals. I can't help, though, but be sad at Thanksgiving. Estimates point to 45 million of these curious, precious birds being killed as the centerpiece for dinners across the country. Learn more about turkeys here and visit the Farm Sanctuary's website to see turkeys celebrating the holiday free and at peace. Listen to an NPR story here about last weekend's Celebration for the Turkeys.

Babe

2011-11-23T16:48:00.000-05:00

Babe, this 10 year old terrier mix, has been at the Tompkins County SPCA shelter for two months! His family gave him up in what should have been enjoying the prime of his life. Please visit the SPCA to see Babe or another dog or cat. Remember, don't shop, adopt!

Shop and Share

2011-11-19T21:00:00.010-05:00

The Tompkins County SPCA's latest Shop and Share was today. I love to shop, so this is such a fun way to help the SPCA. Here was the shopping list:

Although the latest Shop and Share has concluded, the SPCA could still use your financial or in-kind donations.

New Student

2011-11-18T18:21:00.000-05:00

Normally, I don't tolerate sleeping during class, but in Doreen's case, I'll let it slide! She started coming to class on Wednesday with one of my students who is training her as a guide dog for the blind. I wish I had more than a month of this cuteness.

Don't Shop, Adopt!

2011-11-15T12:45:00.001-05:00

The Shelter Pet Project is a non-profit organization that advocates the adoption of homeless animals. Face it - if you don't adopt them, they die. Don't shop, adopt!

Help Children Receive Books - Free to You, Free to Them

2011-11-12T09:59:00.000-05:00

The Literacy Site helps First Book at Room to Read provide books to children around the world. Each click helps pay for 1% of a book. Please click today - it's free to you and will help children around the world develop a love of reading.

11.11.11.

2011-11-11T18:09:00.001-05:00

Family Portrait

2011-11-09T22:08:00.002-05:00

I love getting mail from Alivia!

Quotation of the Day

2011-11-06T19:03:00.000-05:00

"It is only when you feel you have the legitimate right to say no that you can say yes with utmost certainty, sincerity, and enthusiasm."

Finding Freedom in No

DailyOM

Turkeys Don't Want to Be Your Dinner

2011-11-03T13:32:00.002-04:00

Ravelry Vegan Halloween Swap

2011-11-02T18:33:00.000-04:00

Look at all my goodies!