But, as I thought more about it, my feelings became less clear. On a personal level, killing a sentient creature is wrong. That’s not confusing for me. But on a public level, can I hold the same position?

It would be easy to say that Santeria is evil and shouldn’t be allowed. But if we start attacking religions because we think their practices are immoral, where do we stop? I think that’s a slippery slope best not started down.

So I guess the issue comes back to where it does so often, freedom doesn’t just apply to things you like. Not always an easy lesson but an important one.

What do you think? Good decision or a bad one?

The first one concerns using animals for research. I would have thought this one was pretty popular with both groups. You know, the whole “medical research saved my grandmother,” type of thing. While it is very popular with scientists (93%), regular folks were much more skeptical (52%). That’s still a majority but a lot better than I would have guessed.

And the other issue is the effect of regulations on animal research. While I think the regs we currently have are pretty much a joke, that doesn’t stop the other side from trying to get out of them. So do the scientists think the laws are restricting progress? It seems only 27% do.

I’m struck by the fact PETA or HSUS could be commissioning these sorts of polls and it would be very useful information. Much more than a new Holocaust ad or a new happy meat campaign.

Apparently she’d decided to take a nap in the sheet I use to cover her cage. Maybe the world’s just a bit too much for Ozzie at times.

Taco Bell’s New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature

And I don’t even want to know what the pink stuff is. Vegan or not.

I’d been working on a new post trying to lay out my new animal activism philosophy, when the Real World(tm) reared it’s ugly head and disrupted everything. Basically I was going to say I was going to concentrate on culinary activism because that’s what I seem to actually be good at and not worry so much about other things.

Oops.

Some of our local community have decided they’d like to begin killing pigeons. Now I can’t exactly say I love pigeons but don’t think they need to die to accomplish the aims here. The problem we’re having is our 1903 courthouse, which is a beautiful building, is being damaged by the pigeon droppings being left on it. Anyone who has a car that’s been pooped upon will be able to relate. Anyone who keeps parrots will definitely be able to (I’m looking at you, Ozzie and BB!)

It seems that several things have been tried to an effort to prevent the birds from perching on the courthouse. We’ve got a nesting pair of peregrine falcons living in one of our taller buildings and they, of course, eat pigeons among other things. Some of our buildings with flatter roofs have spike strips to keep the pigeons from landing. Sound machines have tried to scare them away. And all to no avail.

But I can’t see killing them as the answer. Purely on practical terms, pigeons are nothing if not prolific. Unless we’re to wage some sort of war on pigeons for miles around, new birds are just going to move in.

And I have to ask, how do other cities deal with pigeons? We’re certainly not the only city with both pigeons and old buildings.

So I’m off to gather up some contact information and start writing some letters. I would like to solicit some input from you, my dear readers. Do any of you know of any good humane pigeon removal resources? How other cities are dealing with this issue?

I’ll be putting up a page with the information I come up with and hopefully a solution.

It seems that David Letterman thinks so. With his ‘joke’ about the rape of Willow Palin and his refusal to issue a real apology it’s hard to draw any other conclusion. Now it’s been quite a while since Mr Letterman has actually been funny but there’s a big difference between boorish and offensive.

Other folks have already called for a boycott of the sponsors of the Late Show. I would encourage everyone to contact the show’s supporters and let them know how you feel.

Now it may not be common knowledge but Mr. Letterman has an auto racing team along with Bobby Rahal. And if you’ve ever watched a race, you know the cars and their drivers are just covered in sponsor’s logos. So maybe a few of them would like to reconsider their association with a man who likes to joke about underage girls being raped?

Here’s the list I’ve been able to find so far. I’ll put up contact information as I find it.

AMERICAN HONDA

BESSEY TOOLS

BMW

BOBBY RAHAL AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

BOSCH GROUP

CONANT AUTO RETAIL GROUP

ESCORT

FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER

GEHL COMPANY

IRONCLAD PERFORMANCE WEAR

NEC

PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

RAYS WHEELS

ROUSSEAU

WORLDWIDE PANTS (Yeah, I know. I listed ‘em for the sake of completeness)

the largest operation in military history was launched, the Allied return to northern Europe.

While it may not be directly related to Normandy, I find myself thinking of an incident a few years ago. I was in the kitchen, helping to clean up after a dinner with my ex’s family (we were still married at the time). Some of the teens were out back doing some sort of silly thing. One of the older men looked out at them and said, “What are those kids doing out there?” Hoping to head off a rant, someone said, “And what were you doing when you were that age?” The answer? “Landing on the beach at Okinawa.” And then the room got very quiet.

Thanks to all the participants, the ones who came home and the ones that stayed forever.

And a happy 25th to Tetris as well.