My empire of dirt

Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog Teaser

2008-07-02T18:48:50Z

You've prolly all seen this already, but just in case, may i present the teaser...

And some info...

"Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" will be streamed, LIVE (that part's not true), FREE (sadly, that part is) right on Drhorrible.com, in mid-July. Specifically:

ACT ONE (Wheee!) will go up Tuesday July 15th.

ACT TWO (OMG!) will go up Thursday July 17th.

ACT THREE (Denouement!) will go up Saturday July 19th.

All acts will stay up until midnight Sunday July 20th. Then they will vanish into the night, like a phantom (but not THE Phantom – that's still playing. Like, everywhere.) From a mysapce announcement by Joss himself

We're then promised a DVD with plenty of shiny extras - yay :D. I <3 Fillion!

PIMPIN'

2008-05-20T07:54:31Z

Just pimpin' my future wife's new vlog (well one of my future wives*, i seem to be accumulating a potential harem, i imagine that's nowhere near as fun as an actual harem but much less work ;)).

Watch her introductory video here and subscribe on youtube if you wanna see a hot geeky stripper talk nerdy! She has very hot nerdtastic tattoos and plans to wear a different cute outfit every time while discussing geek topics of interest, i think the virtues of different consoles may be up next - she's a playstion girl like me, it's why we can marry see no arguments about consoles in our house ;p.

Oh and it's all thanks to "An Engineer's Guide to Cats" which you should all watch (if you haven;t already) if only for the cat yodelling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHXBL6bzAR4

*we know each other irl (through lj though lolz), i didn't just see her video and propose ;p.

"All things grow...all things know..."

2008-05-17T12:53:33Z

Mmm this week i got my first box of organic fruit & veggies home delivered via Organic & quality foods (http://www.organicfoods.com.au/) upon the recommendation of a couple of friends. And omg you guys, i forgot how *good* fresh, organic fruit & veggies can taste. Real, ripe tomatoes, not sad ones picked months ago before they're ripe, treated with poisons & chemicals that ruin the natural environment around them and in run-off, & pumped full of water to look bigger & better on the shelves of coles (i mostly bough local fruit & veggies from small shops, but i know many ppl get theirs in supermarkets). Investing in my health never tasted & felt so good =).

I made a really yummy raw meal today a (mostly)raw salsa salad nacho type dish. First i prepared a bed of lettuce & cut up some carrot & corn. I then made some sunflower seed 'cheeze' and a simple salsa of tomato, coriander(which you may call cilantro), salt & lemon juice (should've been lime but it will do) which i pulsed real quick in the blender so it was still chunky. And omg that salsa was SO good. I could have just eaten a bowl of that! But instead i enjoyed it with the salad and followed it up with an incredibly creamy & nutritious raw choc-chip vanilla/coconut ice-cream from these folks - http://fromearthandwater.com/services.htm. Yum!

So i'm getting into the swing of being raw now, i'm still eating cooked foods more often than i'd like as i adjust and slowly eat what cooked foods i have left, but i am finding my cravings for them diminish. Especially with green smoothies. They give me plenty of energy for the morning (comparatively, 'cos the cfs means i'm pretty low) and i find they really do make you crave salads. My body is adjusting to healthy, living foods, to eating the way nature intended.

I had a burger and potatoes at the forest on Thursday and honestly i found both to be a little bland. Although i looked forward to and enjoyed the cake i wasn't really looking forward to the cooked food. Once i get a food processor and eventually a dehydrator i'll be able to make raw bread & biscuits & cakes which will satisfy the physical and psychological urges i have for such foods.

I really think i could eat this way for life, whether it helps me a little or is a major factor in my complete healing it's the way i want to be. It's an amazing discovery really, food tastes better, i create less rubbish, and the intimidation and trepidation i felt at eating this way has pretty much given way to complete excitement in the new way of looking at & preparing food & the earth. It's changing my mindset for the better. The only down sides will be when traveling or eating out - boring green salads & fruit platters ahoyhoy :/. But there are ways around that in being prepared and taking supplements. But for now it's not too much of a concern, i just need to be organized and have my green smoothie or similar every morning & to take along prepared raw snacks so i don't get too hungry when out.

I really am enjoying learning all about health issues, hearing about how people have cured their chronic fatigue syndrome or thyroid issues and even depression on raw food diets! There are so many different theories on what to eat too. High fruit diets, people who think greens are where it's at, people who like to dehydrate & those who don't and so on. But i'm testing the waters and seeing what i enjoy and what works for my own unique biochemistry (high protein & more veggies than fruit i think).

I did think about making a filter for these raw entries, but then i thought well if you wanna skip you can. I'd only filter for things like sex-talk, things that might offend people. Keeping track of my progress is more for me than anything, but i figure some of you might be interested in this too =).

To that end this community is active & helpful so join if you're interested and let me know if you do so we can be buddies! It's like a social network site for raw foodies ^-^.
http://www.giveittomeraw.com/
This website has some really wonderful recipes that are quite inspiring, though they do tend to be a little gourmet but they certainly prove how yummy raw food can be. Lots of videos too. http://gliving.tv/greenchefs/
And here is a blog from a raw model who lives in New York. I've enjoyed looking about at his blog there are lots of nice pics, of both the food and him haha ;)
http://rawmodelcom.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html
Enjoy!

bitter_moss @ 2008-04-13T05:17:00

2008-04-12T19:17:11Z

One should always be drunk. That's all that matters;
that's our one imperative need. So as not to feel Time's
horrible burden one which breaks your shoulders and bows
you down, you must get drunk without cease.

But with what?
With wine, poetry, or virtue
as you choose.
But get drunk.

And if, at some time, on steps of a palace,
in the green grass of a ditch,
in the bleak solitude of your room,
you are waking and the drunkeness has already abated,
ask the wind, the wave, the stars, the clock,
all that which flees,
all that which groans,
all that which rolls,
all that which sings,
all that which speaks,
ask them, what time it is;
and the wind, the wave, the stars, the birds, and the clock,
they will all reply:

"It is time to get drunk!

So that you may not be the martyred slaves of Time,
get drunk, get drunk,
and never pause for rest!
With wine, poetry, or vitrtue,
as you choose!"

by Charles Baudelaire

I found this in someone's userinfo and i just love it ♥.

Friends-cut

2008-04-09T16:27:56Z

I feel the need to do a biiiiig friends cut as i simply can't keep up with my flist these days.

I write about my life & my thoughts on here and i feel it's a place for dialogue, not just for having big friends lists to look popular. If i find myself skipping your entires all the time (or you always skip mine) then i think it's dishonest to pretend we're 'friends'. So unless we've actually connected on here or we know each other in the real world you may get cut. If you feel like we haven't really connected on here (and commenting isn't necessarily connection) and you'd still like to be friends please let me know now or after i've cut you and i either won't cut you or i'll re-add you.

I hope no-one feels offended by this, it's just that i can't keep up with everything that i'd like to and i'd rather have honesty, integrity and quality over quantity. In saying all that i'm pretty likely to keep you if i know you in real life or we communicate via other means as well (e-mail, the phone, snail-mail).

Oh and anyone who has added me without commenting first please simply introduce yourself and i'll probably add you back :).

Women more troubled by bag theft than rape, BNP candidate claims

2008-04-03T14:43:19Z

Until i started to read this i'd never actually experienced the sensation of having my jaw drop. What a horrible man. May he be set upon by a pack of people with red hot pokers. Ok well i don't wish that upon anybody (well maybe a few people we all have exes and bad presidents don't we ;) hurhur) but i hope he dreams about it or has something happen to him that gives him some small inkling that rape and domestic violence are bloody awful things to experience.

I don't think i'll say any more as my stomach is hot & twisty & nauseous. I will have a shower and watch more Gilmore Girls and perhaps write some angry activist e-mails (not about this issue but doing some good that channels my rage & disbelief should help).

I will note that it's kind of the opposite viewpoint of the Dworkinsim(sp?) beliefs held by the all hetero sex is rape woman i last posted about (the whole Firefly & feminism thing), as he says Rape is simply sex. Women enjoy sex, so rape cannot be such a terrible physical ordeal.. I just, arrg, there are no words *fumes*.

Sorry to keep being the bearer of bad news, i just have to share wonderful and horrible things, it's my way.

Follow the link or look under the cut to read this horrible article*
A senior BNP leader with a strong chance of winning a seat in the London Assembly next month has written that rape is a "myth" and that "some women are like gongs - they need to be struck regularly."

The Standard can reveal that Nick Eriksen, the BNP's London organiser and the second-highest candidate on its list for the Assembly, is the author of "Sir John Bull," a notorious far-Right blog which has regularly advocated hatred and abuse against women. The disclosure will be a serious blow to the BNP's hopes of London electoral success.

On 24 August 2005, Mr Eriksen wrote: "I've never understood why so many men have allowed themselves to be brainwashed by the feminazi myth machine into believing that rape is such a serious crime ... Rape is simply sex. Women enjoy sex, so rape cannot be such a terrible physical ordeal.

"To suggest that rape, when conducted without violence, is a serious crime is like suggesting that forcefeeding a woman chocolate cake is a heinous offence. A woman would be more inconvenienced by having her handbag snatched.

"The demonisation of rape is all part of the feminazi desire to obtain power and mastery over men. Men who go along with the rape myth are either morons or traitors."

On 5 November 2005, in an item entitled "Give her a slap!," Mr Eriksen approvingly quoted Noel Coward as saying: "Some women are like gongs - they need to be struck regularly." On 8 November, he claimed that "the vast majority of domestic [assaults] are initiated by the woman." Mr Eriksen also wrote on 24 November 2005 that mothers "should never go out to work" and described career women as "unnatural and vile... it is a strange kind of woman who would want to invest [her] energies into her job rather than into a man."

Eleven of the 25 Assembly members are elected on a London-wide basis using a form of proportional representation. The BNP is likely to win at least one of these seats, for which it needs around five per cent of the vote, and has strong hopes of winning a second, for which it needs around seven to eight per cent. If the BNP does win two seats, one of them will go to Mr Eriksen and one to London party leader Richard Barnbrook.

Gerry Gable, publisher of the antifascist magazine Searchlight, said: "It is horrifying, and an amazing indictment of the BNP, that someone with these views could be elected to the London Assembly. What is his attitude going to be to his women constituents?"

The author of the Sir John Bull blog, which stopped publication last autumn, is not identified on the website itself. But the Standard established that it is Mr Eriksen by posing as a BNP sympathiser and sending a message to the site's contact email address, johnbull@englandmail.com.

Within two days, Mr Eriksen replied, signing his name, giving Mr Barnbrook's contact number and saying: "As for your kind comments about the blog, I may well restart this after the elections - we shall see what happens! All the best, Nick."

Contacted by the Standard last night, Mr Eriksen admitted the blog postings were written by him, but said they were "deliberately provocative" in order to stimulate debate.

"I was trying to make the point that there are two kinds of rape," he said. "There is stranger rape and there is so-called rape by somebody the woman knows. I was raising an important issue in a provocative way to allow people to make up their own minds."

Mr Eriksen insisted that he "did not condone violence in any way," but was "trying to highlight the fact that violence against men is unacceptable." He said: "It's typical of the media to distort what the BNP say."

Mr Eriksen, a former Tory councillor and ex-civil servant at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who lives in Richmond, says he will not resign. If he and Mr Barnbrook are elected, BNP leader Nick Griffin says the party will be invited on the BBC's Question Time.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23470426-details/

*i'm not saying the writing is awful - i can't tell if it is 'cos i'm too mad. I simply refer to the views of this horrible, horrible man

Earth Hour

2008-03-28T15:10:02Z

Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights (and anything else that isn't necessary, like mobile phone chargers & t.vs) for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.

On March 31 2007, for one hour, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming – coal-fired electricity – by turning off its lights. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world.

In 2008, 24 global cities will participate in Earth Hour at 8pm on March 29. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty, to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.

http://www.earthhour.org/

I'm game, though i haven't organized for anyone to come over, nor do i have candles yet, so it will just be me alone in the dark, eep. Guess i'll go outside & stargaze if it's not raining :).

Livejournal strike

2008-03-19T12:43:57Z

As you probably know by now, LiVEJOURNAL has discontinued new basic accounts; the only two options are a paid account or a plus account. beckyzoole has proposed this:

The one-day content strike is on for this Friday, March 21, from midnight GMT to midnight GMT.

For 24 hours, we will not post or comment to LJ. Not in our own journals, not in communities. Not publicly, privately, or under friends-lock.

This is a protest that will have long-lasting effects, showing up forever in the daily posting statistics.

This is a protest that will not harm LJ in the long run, as leaving LJ might do.

This is a protest that will demonstrate the power of community, as all users unite to support Basic users and the concept of adfree space.

This is a protest that will educate the new owners that LJ is driven by user-created content.

How Can I Help?

DO post about this in your own LJ.
DO post and comment about it in appropriate communities.
DO remember that it's based on Greenwich Mean Time, which may not be your local time.
DO turn off LoudTwitter and your RSS feeds for 24 hours.
DO feel free to friend beckyzoole for updates, and defriend when the strike is over.
DON'T forget to get permission from community mods before making an off-topic post or comment about the strike.
DON'T be spammy with your posts or comments about the strike.

What's this about?

* It's about free and ad-free LiveJournal accounts being abolished for new members, ignoring the advice from the newly-formed Advisory Board.

* It's about LJ staff trying to sneak this decision in under the radar, and when people found out, telling the users it was done 'to make the signup process less confusing'.

* It's about LJ staff failing to apologize for trying to hide the facts from view and for lying about the actual reasons for their actions.

* And finally, it's about the latest decision to hide certain user interests from the list of Most Popular Interests, some of them being fanfiction, bisexuality, fairies, sex and depression. This decision was not announced or explained in any way. Users found out for themselves. (Due to the protest from users, the interests are now back up in the list of Most Popular Interests)

Sleepydust - About M.E. / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

2008-02-06T09:05:20Z

I was going to make a post, but this says it better than i could anyway. If you consider yourself a friend of mine, please watch it all the way through and pay special attention to the latter part (it goes for about 9 minutes and is a bit slow moving, but it's pretty clear, informative & important).

Mimi: Set on fire while giving birth

2008-01-29T13:01:27Z

Seen in veganpeople
Man this has kinda ruined my night, i was all set to go to bed but now i am going to have awful images in my head. I need a hug :(.

Please sign this petition!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/37/justice-for-mimi

Media contact info for DA of Memphis

Media inquiries should be directed to:
Jennifer Donnals, Communications Director
901-545-5988
jennifer.donnals@scdag.com

Please take action, sign the petition and e-mail and call all the contacts below . Permission to cross post and appreciated.

TAKE ACTION CALL THE NUMBERS BELOW AND DEMAND AN ARREST IN THE CRUEL DEATH OF MIMI. SHE WAS SET ON FIRE WHILE GIVING BIRTH!!

THE FULL STORY IS PASTED BELOW THE CONTACT INFORMATION.
THE DOG'S OWNER HAS EYE WITNESSES AND HE HAS THE NAME OF THE KILLER! YET NO ARREST HAS BEEN MADE!

MEMPHIS SHELBY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY CONTACT INFO:

William L. Gibbons
201 Poplar Ave # 301
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 545-5900

www.scdag.com

MEMPHIS POLICE DEPARTMENT EMAIL
tara.bowen@memphist n.gov

201 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN
38103
901-545-5700

CITY OF MEMPHIS CONTACT INFO:
The Online Support Center links you to the (MCSC) Mayors Citywide Call Center, which operates as a primary information resource center for both city government and the citizens of Memphis. The Center links questions, comments, complaints and suggestions from the public, to the appropriate division of city government for resolutions of problems and complaints.

You can also contact MCSC by phone during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) via the contacts included below for your convenience.

Phone: (901) 576-6500
Fax: (901) 576-6200
TTY: (901) 576-6501

THE CORRECT INFO FOR THE MAYOR:

Willie W. Herenton
Mayor
City Hall
125 N. Main St. Room 700
Memphis, Tn 38103
Phone:
(901) 576-6007

Email:

mayor@memphistn.gov

Justice for Mimi the Pit Bull set on fire while giving birth!! Please sign the petition + forward.

Please forward and cross-post!! We need signatures and Mimi deserves justice!!!!

http://www.thepetit ionsite.com/ 37/justice- for-mimi

Reported by Blair Simmons
Owner of dog set on fire wants justice
Updated: Jan 24, 2008 07:03 PM

When Antoine Draper sent his two year old pit bull, MiMi, to live with his brother for a while, he said it was like parting with one of his kids.

"From a puppy I fed her with a bottle. From the time she was born," Draper said.

But just days before Christmas, he got a call that made him sick to his stomach.

"I was working, I got a phone call said somebody set my dog on fire. When I came down here my dog was on fire," Draper said.

Mimi was set on fire while she was giving birth to puppies. The dog was still burning when Draper got there and he said he knows who did it.

"I found out later on it was my brother's girlfriend who was mad and high. She sent her friend to get gasoline to kill my dog to hurt my brother. She thought it was my brother's dog. But it was actually my dog," Draper said.

In fact, the remains are still in the yard.

"It was sick! You gotta be real cruel. Messed up in the head...to set a dog on fire. Somebody who ain't did nothin' to you," Draper said.

But to make matters worse, nobody has been charged with the crime.

Draper filed a police report. He said he even brought witnesses down to the station with him. But a month later, his brother's ex-girlfriend still hasn't been arrested.

"There are people tellin' y'all she did it. Why y'all ain't did nothin' about it? Y'all hung Mike Vick for doing it. He just fought a dog! This is somebody who's out here, poured gasoline on a dog and watched it burn," Draper said.

Draper says justice won't bring MiMi back. But her killer should be punished.

Read the rest of the story here:
http://www.wmctv. com/global/ story.asp? s=7770986

TENNESSEE STATUTES
TITLE 39 CRIMINAL OFFENSES
CHAPTER 14 OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY
Part 2-- Animals

39-14-201 Definitions for animal offenses.
As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Animal" means a domesticated living creature or a wild creature previously captured;

(2) "Livestock" means all equine as well as animals which are being raised primarily for use as food or fiber for human utilization or consumption including, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and poultry;

(3) "Non-livestock animal" means a pet normally maintained in or near the household(s) of its owner(s), other domesticated animal, previously captured wildlife, an exotic animal, or any other pet, including but not limited to, pet rabbits, a pet chick, duck, or pot bellied pig that is not classified as "livestock" pursuant to this part; and

(4) "Torture" means every act, omission, or neglect whereby unreasonable physical pain, suffering, or death is caused or permitted, but nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the shooting of birds or game for the purpose of human food or the use of animate targets by incorporated gun clubs.

39-14-202 Cruelty to animals.
(a) A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly:
(1) Tortures, maims or grossly overworks an animal;
(2) Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;
(3) Abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody;
(4) Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner; or
(5) Inflicts burns, cuts, lacerations, or other injuries or pain, by any method, including blistering compounds, to the legs or hooves of horses in order to make them sore for any purpose including, but not limited to, competition in horse shows and similar events.

(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person was engaged in accepted veterinary practices, medical treatment by the owner or with the owner's consent, or bona fide experimentation for scientific research.

(c) Whenever any person is taken into custody by any officer for violation of subdivision (a)(4), the officer may take charge of the vehicle or conveyance, and its contents, used by the person to transport the animal. The officer shall deposit these items in a safe place for custody. Any necessary expense incurred for taking charge of and sustaining the same shall be a lien thereon, to be paid before the same can lawfully be recovered; or the expenses, or any part thereof, remaining unpaid may be recovered by the person incurring the same of the owners of the animal in an action therefor.

(d) In addition to the penalty imposed in subsection (f), the court making the sentencing determination for a person convicted under this section shall order the person convicted to surrender custody and forfeit the animal or animals whose treatment was the basis of the conviction. Custody shall be given to a humane society incorporated under the laws of this state. The court may prohibit the person convicted from having custody of other animals for any period of time the court determines to be reasonable, or impose any other reasonable restrictions on the person's custody of animals as necessary for the protection of the animals.

(e)(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the owner of a farm animal or someone acting with the consent of the owner of such animal from engaging in usual and customary practices which are accepted by colleges of agriculture or veterinary medicine with respect to such animal.
(2) It is an offense for a person other than a law enforcement officer acting with probable cause to knowingly interfere with the performance of any such agricultural practices permitted by subdivision (e)(1).
(3) An offense under subdivision (e)(2) is a Class B misdemeanor.

(f) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

39-14-205 Intentional killing of animal.
(a)(1) A person who intentionally or knowingly unlawfully kills the animal of another, with the intent to deprive the owner of the right to the animal's life and without the owner's effective consent commits theft of that animal and shall be punished under § 39-14-105.
(2) In determining the value of a police dog under § 39-14-105, the court shall consider the value of the police dog as both the cost and any specialized training for such police dog.

(b) A person is justified in killing the animal of another if such person acted under a reasonable belief that the animal was creating an imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to such person or another or an imminent danger of death to an animal owned by such person. A person is not justified in killing the animal of another if at the time of the killing such person is trespassing upon the property of the owner of such animal. The justification for killing the animal of another authorized by this subsection shall not apply to a person who, while engaging in or attempting to escape from criminal conduct, kills a police dog that is acting in its official capacity. In such case the provisions of subsection (a) shall apply to such person.

39-14-207 Feeding of impounded animals -- Care provided by humane society -- Recovery of expenses.
(a) In case any impounded animal is without necessary food and water for more than twelve (12) successive hours, it is lawful for any person, as often as necessary, to enter any place in which any animal is so confined, and to supply it with necessary food and water so long as it shall remain so confined. Such person shall not be liable to any action for such entry, and the reasonable cost of such food and water may be collected from the owner or keeper of the animal. The animal shall not be exempt from levy and sale upon execution issued upon a judgment therefor.
(b) In case any animal is injured, diseased, suffering from the elements, or malnourished, and is found at large by any agent of any humane society chartered by the state, the agent may cause adequate veterinary treatment or shelter or nourishment to be furnished to the animal. The society shall have a right of action against the owner of the animal for all necessary and reasonable expenses so incurred. Within forty-eight (48) hours after taking custody of the animal, the society shall make reasonable efforts to notify the owner of the animal's whereabouts and condition. Nothing in this subsection shall affect the right of action of the veterinarian or furnisher of goods or services against the person or persons with whom he contracted for payment of charges. Any such right of action by a humane society may be voided by an owner who elects to forfeit the animal to the society rather than pay for the goods or services rendered.

39-14-209 Horse shows.
(a) It is the duty of any person designated and acting as a ringmaster of any horse show or similar event to disqualify any horse determined by the ringmaster to be suffering from the causes set out in s 39-14-202(a) (5) from further participation in such show, and to make a report of the same, including the name of the horse, the owner of the horse, and the exhibitor of the horse, to the manager or chairman of the show, who in turn shall report the same in writing to the district attorney general of the county wherein the incident occurred for appropriate action.
(b) A violation of this duty is a Class C misdemeanor.

39-14-210 Societies for prevention of cruelty to animals -- Powers.
(a) The agents of any society which is incorporated for the prevention of cruelty to animals, upon being appointed thereto by the president of such society in any county, may, within such county, make arrests, and bring before any court thereof offenders found violating the provisions of this part with regard to non-livestock animals.

(b) Any officers, agents, or members of such society may lawfully interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in such person's presence. Any person who interferes with or obstructs any such officer, agent, or member in the discharge of this duty commits a Class C misdemeanor.

(c) Any agent or officer of such society may lawfully destroy, or cause to be destroyed, any animal found abandoned or otherwise:
(1) Which is not properly cared for, appearing, in the judgment of two (2) reputable citizens, who are experts, called to view the same in the agent's or officer's presence, to be glandered, injured or diseased past humane recovery; or
(2) After a holding period of not less than seventy-two (72) hours and after having made a reasonable effort to locate and notify the owners, for the purpose of animal population control.

(d) All fines, penalties and forfeitures imposed and collected in any county, under provisions relating to or in any way affecting animals, shall inure to such society in aid of the purpose for which it was incorporated, and no injunction shall be granted against such society or attorney or its officers or agents, except upon motion, after due notice and hearing.

(e) Any humane society chartered by the state, into whose custody shall lawfully come any animal, shall have a lien on that animal for the reasonable value of the goods and services necessarily rendered by, or at the instance of, the society to that animal.

(f) Custody of any animal victimized under this part shall be placed with any humane society chartered by the state immediately upon arrest of the person alleged to have violated this part. The humane society shall assist the animal and preserve evidence for prosecution.

39-14-211 Examination of livestock by county agricultural extension agent.
No entry onto the property of another, arrest, interference with usual and customary agricultural or veterinary practices, confiscation, or any other action authorized by this part or any other provision of law shall be taken in response to an allegation that this part has been violated with regard to livestock unless, prior to or at the same time as such action, the livestock in question is examined by the county agricultural extension agent of such county, a graduate of an accredited college of veterinary medicine specializing in livestock practice or a graduate from an accredited college of agriculture with a specialty in livestock. If the extension agent, veterinary college graduate specializing in livestock practice or livestock specialist does not have probable cause to believe that a violation of this part has occurred with regard to such livestock, no action against the owner of such livestock described above shall be taken. If a person authorized by this section does not make an inspection within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of a complaint, then a licensed veterinarian may make such inspection.

Amended in 1997.
Reviewed by AAHS in September 2001.

Stop the Climate-Wrecking at Bali

2007-12-13T23:51:39Z

Climate negotiations in Bali are in crisis. Things were looking good till now: near-consensus on a delicate deal, including 2020 targets for rich countries, in return for which China and the developing world would do their part over time. IPCC scientists say such targets are needed to prevent catastrophe. But Japan, the US and Canada are banding together to wreck the deal, and the rest of the world is starting to waver...

We can’t let three stubborn governments throw away the planet's future. We have until the end of Friday to do everything we can. Please sign our emergency global petition below -- we'll deliver it through stunts at the summit, a full-page ad in the Jakarta Post read by all the delegates (see below, right), and directly to negotiators to stiffen their nerve against any bad compromise. Add your name to the campaign below now!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/bali_emergency/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

And;

Join Al Gore in Bali

GetUp is calling for a detailed and strengthened climate change response which will keep us below the 2 degree threshold - the temperature rise that experts agree we must stay beneath in order to avoid dangerous climate change.

The decisions that are made in Bali will to a large extent determine whether dangerous climate change can be prevented or not.

The conference, which brings together international leaders under a UN Framework, is designed to launch two years of negotiations for the post 2012 period agreement. An emissions trajectory post 2012 should be based on the Kyoto architecture, seeing developed countries reduce emissions by 25 to 40% below 1990 levels by 2020, with a common but differentiated approach for developing countries. Australia has significant role to play in making this a reality.

Sign Al Gore's petition below;
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/ClimateActionNow&id=267

If you're an Aussie and not a member of getup you should totally check it out. It's a really easy way to get your voice heard on issues of environmental and social justice within Australia (and sometimes the world).
http://www.getup.org.au/

And for my international friends the other site i mentioned in this entry, Avaaz is really excellent too.
Join here if you're interested in recieving e-mails about actions you can take. It's all free and if you don't want to act on a certain issue, just delete the e-mail - easy! http://www.avaaz.org/en/

And i have to mention my personal faveourite Greenpeace.org, so if you feel so inclined go to the site, follow the links to you countries site and join their cyberactions too :).

And don't worry it's free to help on all those sites (other than whatever you pay for computer access of course).

Say no to Gunns Pulp Mill!

2007-12-13T06:56:16Z

I tried to e-mail this to some of you, not sure if it got thru...?

So here it is, possibly again for some of you :P

Right now, in a skyscraper in Melbourne the fate of the Gunns pulp mill in Tasmania's Tamar Valley is being decided by ANZ executives - and with our help we can make sure they make the right decision, before next Tuesday's AGM.

The ANZ bank is considering financing Gunns' controversial pulp mill this week. Despite having the approval of the new Government, without a financial backer the project can't go ahead. Banks aren't answerable to the voters but they do listen when customers, shareholders and the public put their reputation at risk.

Our contacts inside the ANZ have told us that the ANZ decision-makers like the new head of the ANZ Mr Smith are listening and this is the time to add your voice. Can you send a message to Mr Smith, to encourage him to do the right thing and not finance the mill?

www.getup.org.au/campaign/TellMrSmith

Public pressure has been proven to make large corporations act more ethically, for fear of tarnishing the company's reputation and customer backlash - that's why ANZ is making sure they fully consider the implications before they approve the mill's finance. We can leave them with no doubt that bankrolling this environmentally disastrous development would be equally disastrous for them, by demonstrating the level of community concern over the mill.

Your email to Mr Smith at ANZ could save the equivalent of 2.3 million cars being taken off the road each year. 25,000 of you have already written submissions to the government inquiry, but whereas our politicians were too worried about losing votes, your email to ANZ will help make financing this project risky business:

http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/NoPulpMill&id=269

The Government has failed us on the pulp mill, by refusing to listen to the tens of thousands of Australians outraged by this ill-conceived development - the ANZ can't afford to be as foolish. This is our urgent last chance to stop the pulp mill - the ANZ AGM is next Tuesday, and we want every executive to enter that meeting knowing Australia does not want them to become a climate villain.

Thanks for being a part of the solution

Environmentalism means less deprivation

2007-10-24T15:30:35Z

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/10/environmentalis.html

People ask me if the reduced use of consumer conveniences that goes with the No Impact project doesn't mean a lot of deprivation. I say that I spend more time with my family, eat more healthily, get more exercise and am a better dad. Then I ask: "Was I more deprived before or am I more deprived now?"

The point is that the money we make, the things we buy and the planetary resources we use--or waste--aren't what make us happier. This is the finding of the forthcoming book The How of Happiness by University of California, Riverside researcher Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky.

Her findings show that contributions to our happiness come:

* 50% from a genetically-determined set point (which we can do nothing about)
* 10% from our life circumstances or situations (which means we could trash the entire planet to get ourselves the biggest house and fastest car and still barely feel better)
* 40% from--are you ready?--how we act and how we think.

This confirms my No Impact experience that environmentalism--preserving rather than using up planetary resources--means nothing like depriving ourselves of happiness. Instead, it suggests that using less and treating the planet kindly means we get to stop distracting ourselves from what really makes us happy.

Of our assumptions about happiness, Lyubomirsky writes:

"Perhaps the most common error is that we assume that positive events ... will provide much more happiness than they really do. Take materialism, the pursuit of money and possessions, as an example. Why is it so hard for us (even myself!) to believe that money really doesn't make us happy? Because the truth is that money does make us happy. But our misunderstanding, as one happiness researcher eloquently puts it, is that 'we think money will bring lots of happiness for a long time, and actually it brings a little happiness for a short time.' Meanwhile, in our effortful pursuit of such dead ends to pleasure, we end up ignoring other, more effective routes to well-being."

What are the more effective routes? Well, that gets you back to how you think and how you act, and for more on that, you'll have to read Lyubomirsky's book. But a few bullet points include:

* Nurturing and enjoying relationships with family and friends
* Being comfortable expressing gratitude
* Being the first to offer help to coworkers and passersby
* Practicing optimism about the future
* Savoring life's pleasures and living in the moment
* Exercising at least once a week
* Committing to lifelong goals and ambitions
* Coping with challenges with strength and poise

Goffs

2007-10-18T07:04:21Z

I wanna collect a list of fictional goths, and as wikipedia is unhelpful in this regard as it used to be a category, but they deleted it as apparently left open the doors for the category of fictional emos due to the subcultures apparently only being about fashion :/ (they do have a list of fictional vegans tho :)). So i'm asking you guys for help.

I'm not saying those i've listed or any you will list are necessarily accurate portrayals (and Goddess knows i've had enough debates about what defines goth anyway! If they get called goth on the show or in the book e.t.c or *you* think they're goth then that's good enough for my purposes).

What i'm interested in are any *attempts* at portraying 'goths' in fiction, in order to see what representation the darkly-clad have. I'd like to see how often it's clear the producer has a few Christian Death or VNV nation albums tucked away in his/her closet, or if they've just seen too many 'mall-goths' and love Emily the Strange merchandise ;). (Not sayin' anything against Emily other than the whole consumer/branding issue, i've been a *big* fan of her merchandise since it's inception).

It seems most of the goths in fiction are the more classic/Victorian style kind, so i'm curious to see if there are any cybers and the like out there too...

Nico Minoru (i want that dress!)

My list to start you off...

Richmond Avenal on the IT Crowd (British T.V show)
Coreen Fennel on Blood Ties (Canadian T.V show)
Nico Minoru in Runaways (comic book series)
Abby Sciuto on NCIS (American T.V show)
Michael on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season three, episode 11 'Gingerbread')
Emily the Strange? does she count? She has her own comics and stuff now...

YOUR ADDITIONS
The Adams Family
Eric Draven ie. The Crow
Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice
Death from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, The Endless e.t.c - she's made of awsome!!
Thelma Bates from the tv show Hex
Allison Reynolds ie Ally Sheedy's character in The Breakfast Club
Nancy Downs from The Craft
Trent Lane from the tv show Daria
The secretary/pa girl from Be Cool if anyone knows her name? I haven't seen the film...
Eden from the movie 'Hot Chick'
Stokely from the Faculty
Francesca Curtis from the Perfect Score
Sonja Blue* of self-titled series of novels written by Nancy A. Collins
Ginger and Brigitte Fitzgerald in Gingersnaps
Molly from Neuromancer
Crestfallen and Gothboy internet comic found here - http://www.elfwood.com/art/t/r/tristanbro/tristanbro.html
Elvira mistress of the Dark
Snape from Harry Potter
Vampire Willow* on Buffy
Joan of Arc from Clone High
Jane Lane from Daria
Edward Scissorhands
Angel(us)* from Buffy & Angel
October from the film Stay Alive

*though i am really hesitant to class any vampires as goths unless they self-identify as such. Goths draw on their mythology after all, not the other way around :)

Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars, UN report warns

2007-10-14T11:15:09Z

UN report mentioned in my earlier post about Al Gore.

29 November 2006 – Cattle-rearing generates more global warming greenhouse gases, as measured in CO2 equivalent, than transportation, and smarter production methods, including improved animal diets to reduce enteric fermentation and consequent methane emissions, are urgently needed, according to a new United Nations report released today.

“Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems,” senior UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) official Henning Steinfeld said. “Urgent action is required to remedy the situation.”

Cattle-rearing is also a major source of land and water degradation, according to the FAO report, Livestock’s Long Shadow–Environmental Issues and Options, of which Mr. Steinfeld is the senior author.

“The environmental costs per unit of livestock production must be cut by one half, just to avoid the level of damage worsening beyond its present level,” it warns.

When emissions from land use and land use change are included, the livestock sector accounts for 9 per cent of CO2 deriving from human-related activities, but produces a much larger share of even more harmful greenhouse gases. It generates 65 per cent of human-related nitrous oxide, which has 296 times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CO2. Most of this comes from manure.

And it accounts for respectively 37 per cent of all human-induced methane (23 times as warming as CO2), which is largely produced by the digestive system of ruminants, and 64 per cent of ammonia, which contributes significantly to acid rain.

With increased prosperity, people are consuming more meat and dairy products every year, the report notes. Global meat production is projected to more than double from 229 million tonnes in 1999/2001 to 465 million tonnes in 2050, while milk output is set to climb from 580 to 1043 million tonnes.

The global livestock sector is growing faster than any other agricultural sub-sector. It provides livelihoods to about 1.3 billion people and contributes about 40 per cent to global agricultural output. For many poor farmers in developing countries livestock are also a source of renewable energy for draft and an essential source of organic fertilizer for their crops.

Livestock now use 30 per cent of the earth’s entire land surface, mostly permanent pasture but also including 33 per cent of the global arable land used to producing feed for livestock, the report notes. As forests are cleared to create new pastures, it is a major driver of deforestation, especially in Latin America where, for example, some 70 per cent of former forests in the Amazon have been turned over to grazing.

At the same time herds cause wide-scale land degradation, with about 20 per cent of pastures considered degraded through overgrazing, compaction and erosion. This figure is even higher in the drylands where inappropriate policies and inadequate livestock management contribute to advancing desertification.

The livestock business is among the most damaging sectors to the earth’s increasingly scarce water resources, contributing among other things to water pollution from animal wastes, antibiotics and hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and the pesticides used to spray feed crops.

Beyond improving animal diets, proposed remedies to the multiple problems include soil conservation methods together with controlled livestock exclusion from sensitive areas; setting up biogas plant initiatives to recycle manure; improving efficiency of irrigation systems; and introducing full-cost pricing for water together with taxes to discourage large-scale livestock concentration close to cities.

They fail to mention EATING LESS/NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS as a solution o_O. I agree we need to do all the things they mention, but that's kind of an obvious way to help, ya?

From - http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772&Cr=global&Cr1=environment

Urge Gore to Add Going Vegetarian to the Global Warming Pledge

2007-10-14T06:21:22Z

Everything after the first paragraph is copied from the peta site where you can send or add to the form letter - http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/p2_gore_environment?c=918

I don't agree with all off petas methods, but i think its good to get this message out there. Animal rights and ethics aside (not to say they aren't important of course!) being a vego is an environmental issue too.

So i'd encourage any omnis reading this to reduce your consumption of animal products, and when you do eat meat and dairy to try and source it locally and organically. If you're eating vegan a few days a week and avoid the processed vegan products you will save money, which can be spent on the more ethical animal products if you still feel the need to consume them.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Former Vice President Al Gore is a trailblazer when it comes to drawing attention to what has been deemed the world's most grave environmental threat—global warming. Through his work with a variety of events and organizations, such as Live Earth, The Climate Project, and the Alliance for Climate Protection, he has been able to reach millions with his message.

Unfortunately, Gore has not yet endorsed the most effective thing that any individual can do to help—going vegetarian.

In a groundbreaking 2006 report, the United Nations (U.N.) said that raising animals for food generates almost 40 percent more greenhouse gases than all the cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined. And Senior U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization official Henning Steinfeld reported that the meat industry is "one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems."

Although the Live Earth global warming handbook identified "refusing meat" as "the single most effective thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint," the Alliance for Climate Protection, where Gore serves as chair of the board, has created a seven-point pledge designed to identify easy steps that we can take as individuals to help end the climate crisis. However, going vegetarian is inexplicably missing from the list.

Please take just a few moments to send a polite letter to Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection asking them to make their seven-point pledge an eight-point pledge by adding going vegetarian to the list. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk has already written to Gore and the alliance—read the letter here—asking them to alter the pledge, and now it's your chance to ask them to promote the most effective way to fight our climate crisis.

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/p2_gore_environment?c=918
_____________________________________________________________________________________

ps. I'm so excited that he won the nobel peace prize! :D

Raw Video: San Diego Mayor Sanders Supports Gay Marriage

2007-09-27T08:01:42Z

Aw you guys, i was nearly in tears when i watched this :P. Also ; he's a republican and his tie is in Slytherin colours XD. Heehee.

Also i am not sure what i'm doing this evening/weekend. So those who are thinking of coming along on Saturday CALL or TEXT me as i am more than likely going to be without internet access for a few days. Might be going to Mum's or Dad's and to Byron Bay or the beach at the Gold Coast or staying here e.t.c e.t.c yada yada yada!

All i know is that October looks to be one of the busiest months i've EVER had and from now until next year i am going to have very little breathing room. And more than likely the craziness will continue into next year :/. It would all be ok if i were in perfect health, so i could live like i did in 2004 and get by on 3-6 hours sleep a night (i need around 9 normally and 10-14 with the cfs). Heh, if there is no rest for the wicked then i think i may be getting coal for Xmas for the rest of my days ;).

The Shock Doctrine by Alfonso Cuarón and Naomi Klein

2007-09-25T12:47:47Z

Wow, i've been wanting to get her new book for a while now but this has made me want it NOW so much so that if i didn't have so much to do i'd go spend some food money on it. I really do need something to kick-start my politics again, uni politics kind of burnt me out but i'm a pretty political animal so i want to keep informed and active without burning out.

Who knows, if Zombie Love does well on youtube i may one day become a big name director, and will be able to make political films and throw my money and influence around to make political change ;). And have tea with Robert Smith and Naomi Klein :P.

Thanks to ripper_jack for sharing this with me.

The power of one

2007-09-06T13:24:58Z

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/09/the-power-of-on.html - Its a great blog & has a feed here on lj - i highly recommend adding it.

People ask me this a lot: what is the point of one person trying to reduce their consumption to help the environment? Isn’t that a meaningless drop in the bucket?

No.

It’s only meaningless if we think it’s meaningless, because if we think it’s meaningless, we’ll do nothing. Optimism, as I’ve said before, is the most radical political act there is.

Back in World War II, millions of Allied citizens changed their consumption patterns to help the war effort. They (largely) obeyed rationing rules, forwent metals and rubbers needed by the armed forces, taught their children not to waste valuable and scarce food, and even carpooled to save gas.

What made them believe their individual actions mattered? Why did they bother?

Because being told so by the powers that be—see the poster above—helped them see that one person trying to do the right thing makes a difference. If I remember my chaos theory correctly, one butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon can set off a chain of events that leads to a hurricane.

Recently, our Congress passed an energy bill that had no fuel efficiency standards for newly manufactured cars. I am personally appalled.

On the other hand, we the people are not helpless. We the people don’t need Government to tell us to do what is right. We the people can stop buying cars with poor fuel efficiency. We don’t need the government or the automobile manufacturers to do a thing. All it takes is for us to believe that how we purchase and how we act can really make a difference. And it can.

What I’d like to see are the big environmental organizations taking the place of the governments of World War II to remind us all that we can make a difference. I'd like to see Greenpeace and Sierra Club and Environmental Defense billboards all over our country saying: “Do your grandchildren a favor: drive a car that gets 40 miles per gallon.”

Because if a few big environmental organizations start shouting from the rooftops about the power of one, that each one of us can make a difference, more of us will come to believe it and will act as though it is so. And if more of us refused to drive cars that got less than 40 mpg, you better believe the auto manufacturers would not wait for the Government to tell them to improve their efficiency standards.

Watch the video below of the ping-pong ball and mousetrap chain reaction (You'll have to follow the link for this one obviously :)). We never know which of us will be the ping-pong ball that sets the others off. We never know which of us will start the chain reaction. But one of us will.

Another short piece from him about Getting traffic off our city streets

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/08/reducing-traffi.html
I’ve written recently about how the environmental crisis offers us the opportunity to make life in our cities more pleasant while reducing our greenhouse gas emissions—a win/win situation. Part of the way for cities to do that is to adopt policies based on a green transportation hierarchy, which puts pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit users before automobiles (people before cars).

Finally, I posted a wonderful photograph of Park Avenue, when it was literally a park and before it was “improved” to allow for car traffic, which I thought might inspire us all towards an ideal where cities are livable, safe and free of the terrible air pollution that makes the air so awful to breathe.

Today, all I want to say is that this ideal of a livable city is not as pie in the sky as it might seem. A first step towards it might come for New York City if the New York State Assembly ultimately adopts Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s proposed “congestion pricing,” one solution for reducing traffic in urban centers.

According to Environmental Defense:

“The idea of congestion pricing is simple: Use price to signal when drivers should consider taking mass transit, reschedule their trip or pay a higher fee for driving. An electronically-collected toll system charges drivers more to use the most congested roads at the most congested times. Like airline ticket prices, prices can be cheaper at off-peak times.”

Bloomberg’s congestion pricing proposal is to reduce traffic in Manhattan’s central business district by charging tolls of $8 for cars and $21 for trucks that drive below 86th Street during workdays. The amazing thing about congestion pricing is that we know that it already works in London, Singapore, Stockholm and three cities in Norway.

London, for example, has experienced:

* 30% average drop in congestion
* 25% average increase in traffic speed
* 22% and 18% drop in particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, respectively
* 20% decrease in fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emissions

And according to Environmental Defense:

“A key lesson in the London experience is that traffic has not overflowed onto neighboring roads…A final measure of London's success is the satisfaction of those involved. Seventy-eight percent of people who pay to enter the cordon area are satisfied with the system.”

Are Cell Phones and Microwave Radiation Really Unhealthy?

2007-08-24T06:06:51Z

http://environment.about.com/od/environment/a/cell_phones.htm

Dear EarthTalk: Could our health be negatively affected by all the radio frequencies being bandied about by cell phones and cell phone towers, wireless pagers and Internet systems, and other uses of radio frequency and microwave radiation?
-- Beverly Filip, Santa Cruz, CA

Since the middle of the last century, technological advancements in telecommunications and other industries have led to significant increases in the use of radio frequencies. Equipment employing microwave and radio waves is today widely used not just in broadcasting and communications, but also in the health care industry, the food industry, and in a host of other industries in a wide range of applications.

Evidence Raises Concerns About Cell Phones and Microwave Exposure
Health advocates have worried for decades that exposure to frequencies emanating from these many sources might be harmful.
And the ubiquity of such technology today--especially considering the quantum leap in cell phone usage in recent years--only makes such concerns that much more pressing.

How Do Cell Phones Affect Your Health?
Various studies researching the health effects of cell phone use have yielded mixed results. Some studies suggested a link between exposure to radiation from cell phones and an increased risk of acoustic neuroma--a tumor of the nerve connecting the ear to the brain--but more recent research found no such links.

The issue is primarily heat. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), “As high frequency radio frequency radiation…penetrates the body, the exposed molecules move about and collide with one another causing friction and, thus, heat…If the radiation is powerful enough, the tissue or skin will be heated or burned.”

According to CWA, “there is substantial scientific data that establishes negative health effects associated with microwave radiation.” CWA cites cataracts as one possible negative health effect from prolonged exposure, as well as well as nervous system damage and even reproductive problems in both males and females. This issue was in the news in 1992 over the issue of the safety of police radar devices, but subsequent studies were inconclusive.

Young Cell Phone Users May See Negative Effects in Middle Age
As to cell phones, the results of a study recently published in the academic journal Environmental Health Perspectives do not bode well for habitual chatterers. Researchers documented brain damage in laboratory rats exposed to radio frequencies from cell phones at levels comparable to what people would experience during normal use. The study’s authors expressed concern that “after some decades of (often) daily use, a whole generation of [cell phone] users may suffer negative effects, perhaps as early as middle age.”

How Do Cell Phones Affect the Environment?
The environmental effects of radio frequencies are also largely unclear. Migrating birds have been known to fly right into cell phone and other communications towers. Some blame the radiation emanating from such towers for disorienting the birds and undermining their navigational abilities. Others chalk such incidents up to poor visibility associated with bad weather and nothing more.

Some farmers have observed that cows grazing near cell towers are more likely to experience still births, spontaneous abortions, birth deformities and behavioral problems, not to mention general declines in overall health. Moving cattle herds away from such towers has reportedly led to immediate health improvements.

Not the best site or source for this imo, but interesting nonetheless. And its something i've been worried about for years. Its rare that we really figure out the long-term affects of anything before letting it into the environment. (DDT anyone? Or Cane toads? Or genetically engineered crops? George Bush :P?)

Genes linked to chronic fatigue syndrome

2007-07-05T13:52:45Z

Research conducted by the University of New South Wales has shed new light on chronic fatigue syndrome.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/05/1970542.htm

Events on in BrisVegas

2007-07-01T03:43:06Z

Firstly, if I've invited you and you're planning on attending the bbq on Saturday, I'd really appreciate you letting me know you're coming (if you haven't already mentioned you are coming of course :P).

Come one, come all to see me fawn stupidly like the fan-girl that I am, over The Follow on the 20th of July...

Then please come to this event a friend of mine has organized for the 18th of August (I will bug you again about this one closer to the date :P).

I am going to be on the door from 9-11 so please pop in say hello & have a drink with me after my very short shift :). My friend would really appreciate your support, as would I for if he is successful in this venture we're hoping to work on other events together. OMG i am actually doing things towards my career!?

bitter_moss @ 2007-05-21T16:28:00

2007-05-21T06:29:14Z

http://whedonesque.com/index2.php?comments=13271

An important post from Joss Whedon, sparked by the honour killing of seventeen year old Dua Khalil.

Why we still need feminism

2007-04-03T06:55:35Z

I found the links through a feed i get from 'Finally, a Feminism 101 Blog'- http://finallyfeminism101.blogspot.com/index.html. Here's the intro to the post the links are from;

"Why do we still need feminism?"

This question is based on several misconceptions.
1. Even if women in your part of the world do have legal equality, what about women elsewhere? Feminists who fight for the rights of other women to have what they already have are justified in doing so.
2. Simple, basic legal equality regarding the right to own property, sign contracts or vote does not always translate into social equality in work, the community or the home. Feminists who point out residual cultural traditions and reactionary business practices that disproportionately disadvantage women are not making it up

Feminism Benefits Us All
http://www.shakesville.com/2007/04/feminism_benefits_us_all.php
Remedial Feminism
http://tinycatpants.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/remedial-feminism/
We still need feminism
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0703-08.htm

The 'Finally, a feminism 101 blog' is new but it's pretty good and I recommend having a look around. It has relevant links to other feminist blogs & posts if you're old hat, and lots of nice FAQs if you're not so well versed with the movement & lingo.

On-line activism makes a difference :)

2007-03-23T03:15:28Z

From - http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/newsletters/People_Mar2007/page4.asp

Make it count
Do online actions make a difference? Absolutely! Political leaders not only read letters from the public, they weight them. That means that each letter represents roughly 100 votes, so ten thousand letters equals a million votes.

In 5 seconds, you can: make your voice heard immediately by voting in our weekly online polls (you'll have to follow the link at the top to do-this, though it may only apply to Canadians as the David Suzuki foundation is based there...)

In 2 minutes, you can: visit our website and click on the “Take Action” button. Each month you’ll find a new action, so be sure to visit often and pass it on. We’ll let you know the results in next month’s e-newsletter.

In 12 minutes, you can: fill out a customer feedback form at your favourite supermarket and ask for more locally grown produce. Locally grown food helps support farmers in your community, and reduces the greenhouse gas emissions that come from transporting food long distances.

In 20 minutes, you can: write a letter to your MLA or MP about a local environmental project that you believe needs greater support, or a federal issue such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Pour yourself a glass of organic, local wine and relish in the satisfaction of making your voice heard.

Both Greenpeace and World Wide Fund for nature have on-line newsletters with simple actions you can take every month. Sign-up for them here for WWF - http://passport.panda.org/index.cfm?uNC=00892629 and here for Greenpeace - http://www.greenpeace.org/international/getinvolved/sign-up?MM_URL=RSSEzineSignUp (there are links to your national sites if you go to just www.greenpeace.org)

If you're in Australia go here to learn about and vote against Genetically Engineered corn -
http://sites.greenpeace.org.au/truefood/get_active2.html?activityid=27

Simple daily stuff you can do - Buy locally grown produce - we can't all afford organic, but we can afford to do this. Plus food grown locally, thats in-season is better for you :). Eat organic meat (or none at all :).) Buy green power (ring you electricity company and ask about this, it should be an option). Catch public transport to work. Vote.

When you have to replace a bulb, get a compact fluorescent bulb - If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars. They also use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer. As well as saving $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb’s lifetime
From - http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

So it all adds up :).