With the religious threads lately and I think there should be a counterbalance. I don’t want to step on any toes, so I’m not suggesting the religious posts stop, but I think there needs to be posts here for those of us with no faith at all, and that’s what this is. Let me say that I am an atheist, not an anti-theist. If you believe that there is a god and you are bound for heaven (or whatever), good for you and I sincerely hope that makes you happy. I simply don’t agree.
This column is intended as a positive space for atheists, agnostics and freethinkers.
So now, without further ado, I present the first semi-regular (as in I will do it when I feel like it, but others are welcome to step up to the plate) atheist affirmation.
I’m going to start with each of these affirmations with a quote from Positive Atheism’s big list of quotations and I can think of no better person to start with than the late, great Douglas Adams:
A man didn’t understand how televisions work, and was convinced that there must be lots of little men inside the box, manipulating images at high speed. An engineer explained to him about high frequency modulations of the electromagnetic spectrum, about transmitters and receivers, about amplifiers and cathode ray tubes, about scan lines moving across and down a phosphorescent screen. The man listened to the engineer with careful attention, nodding his head at every step of the argument. At the end he pronounced himself satisfied. He really did now understand how televisions work. “But I expect there are just a few little men in there, aren’t there?”
And then I will feature a famous atheist or agnostic. We’ll start off with the (sometimes) world’s wealthiest man, Bill Gates.
From a 1996 issue of Time Magazine:
“Isn’t there something special, perhaps even divine, about the human soul?” interviewer Walter Isaacson asks Gates “His face suddenly becomes expressionless,” writes Isaacson, “his squeaky voice turns toneless, and he folds his arms across his belly and vigorously rocks back and forth in a mannerism that has become so mimicked at MICROSOFT that a meeting there can resemble a round table of ecstatic rabbis.”
“I don’t have any evidence on that,” answers Gates. “I don’t have any evidence of that.”
He later states, “Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.”
And finally, something to think about and discuss- A lot of people say they want to believe because they don’t think a universe so complex could have come about by chance. To me, that the universe in all of its vastness and complexity does indeed work without anyone at the wheel is what makes it so amazing.
Three summers ago, I was mauled by a pit bull. He tried, unsuccessfully, to attack Nanook, our samoyed/chow mix. She came away with just a bruise and wounded pride, while I spent an entire day in the emergency room awaiting my 12 stitches and staring, in awe, at the three inch gaping hole on my thigh. I could actually see the fat in my leg! The dog who did the damage was a pit mix rescued from Katrina. 2 weeks after the incident, he was euthanized. My heart ached for him. You see, I don’t blame him, I blame the owner. His irresponsibility and outright ignorance of the breed caused one more unnecessary death in the approximately 970,000 pit bull euthanizations in America’s shelters in 2008. Both pure bred and mix breed pits account for 58% of all dogs put down in this country each year. By far, most of them end up at the pound because of abuse, neglect, and owners who can no longer care for them, not because of their aggressive nature.
This overwhelming statistic is almost too painful for me to consider. Although most who were in my situation would automatically take a stand against this breed, I’m torn. Torn because we have a pit mix in our home.
Meet Ugo. The love of my life. When people ask me what breed he is, I start to go down the list; boxer, German shorthair pointer, dane, and…. pit bull. And then “the look” rears its ugly head. You know, that look that says “well, he WAS cute, but now…um, gotta go!”. Some people literally back away so quickly, they trip. Others cross the street when they see him, or ask if he bites, from a block away. Truthfully, when I look at him, I can’t see the scary. He is the most gentle, loving, submissive dog I’ve ever met. His best friends are, usually, dogs a tenth his size and twice his age. With all other K9’s, he’s the awkward kid on the playground who REALLY wants to play with others, but just doesn’t know how. His blind, 11 year old “sister” Nanook, loves him like no other which is no small feat considering she is aloof, at best, with everyone else. I often wonder why not everyone is as enamored of Ugo as we are.
Then, I remember what those people see when they look at him. They see aggression, attitude and a thirst for blood. In short, they see a killing machine. They see a breed that began because of a human penchant for fighting. Not only were these dogs bred for fighting each other, but also for bull and bear baiting. Although, the latter has mostly vanished, the former is flourishing. Every year, 250,000 pit bulls are maimed or killed in dog fights (from HSUS) that earn humans millions of dollars, but are a death sentence for those unlucky enough to be on four legs.
According to Adam Goldfarb, director of the pets at risk program for the Humane Society of the United States, “Dogs are products of their environment. Dangerous dogs are not born, they are created.” Therefore, education seems to be the best, maybe the ONLY solution to end dog fighting and bring the pit bull’s reputation back to reality.
According the the ASPCA, rottweilers and pits (pure and mixed breed) account for a “majority” of the dog attacks in this country, but ANY dog is capable of sinking his teeth into your leg. Here are some statistics courtesy of the American Humane Society:
An estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year.
Approximately 92% of fatal dog attacks involved male dogs, 94% of which were not neutered.
Approximately 25% of fatal dog attacks involved chained dogs
Approximately two-thirds of bites occurred on or near the victim’s property, and most victims knew the dog.
At least 25 different breeds of dogs have been involved in the 238 dog-bite-related fatalities in the U.S.
Approximately 58% of human deaths involved unrestrained dogs on their owners’ property
It seems, from these statistics, that certain rules are a MUST (for ANY dog owner):
Spay/neuter your dog. This will significantly cut down on their aggression and make them less territorial.
When using your dog for security, do not use a chain. This makes them more territorial and, therefore, more likely to strike. Use a retractable, tethered lead that allows them to move about more freely.
Just because you are familiar with a dog, does not mean he/she will remember you. Always, re-introduce yourself by letting the dog smell you and remember to approach with your hand below the chin, not from above.
Most importantly, ANY dog is capable of biting you. Just because it’s a pocket pet under 20 lbs, doesn’t mean it has no teeth!
In no way do I expect one article to change decades of stereotype and skepticism. All I am hoping for is that my words will help shift the “blame” away from the dog and towards a solution. A solution that provides us with the tools and figures to educate each other about the proper way to care for our K9 companions.
Next time you see what you think is a pit bull, stop and ask. The owners will be grateful for the chance to crush the myth and the dog might turn out to be your friend for life….
Welcome to EthologyNerd’s Training Corner. Each week I’m going to take a look at the most common behavior problems pet owners deal with and offer some solutions. This week: Destructive behavior.
It’s important to first understand why dogs chew. Basically, it’s in their genes: from an instinctual standpoint, chewing is the canine version of sucking. Wolves, hyenas and other canids do it too. When a human sucks, endorphins are released in the brain; when a dog chews, it gets the same endorphin high.
From an evolutionary standpoint, it started with bones. Bones are filled with marrow and therefore high in nutritional value. Chewing also helps promote healthy teeth and gums. Consequently, canines that were able to procure bones not only got more nutrition, but had stronger teeth, ensuring they were more adept at hunting. Those dogs were also more likely to survive and breed.
The domestic dog has a couple more reasons to chew. Puppies, like babies, explore the world around them with their mouths. As a puppy grows, they, of course, begin to lose their puppy teeth and begin teething. Teething typically occurs between 3 and 10 months of age; if your dog is older than that, there are other factors at play.
Some dogs are specifically bred to put stuff in their mouths. I’m looking at you, retrievers. Dogs like this typically have what’s called a “soft mouth,” meaning that, while they’ll walk around all day with a tennis ball in their mouth, they aren’t as likely to destroy things (although some still will). Those dogs were originally used to retrieve hunted game without mangling the carcass. Terriers, however, are born to seek and destroy. Any terrier breed, be it Jack Russell, pit bull, or Schnauzer, was originally used
IRL, he would have destroyed those ruby slippers.
to catch game and kill them. So they will delight in ripping up any toy they can; it’s pleasurable for them because it mimics the hunt.
So…neato. You have a dog that’s genetically predisposed to eating your Uggs. All well and good, but unless you have some kind of Ugg tree in the backyard, you want to stop it, huh? Well, it’s a good thing I’m here.
Put it away if you don’t want it in your dog’s mouth.
This is the number-one rule. You’re a biped with opposable thumbs, so you can open/close doors and reach high shelves. You may need to get inventive, and it may ruin your living room’s aesthetic to live for a while without those cute throw pillows, but you’ll lose them for good if you leave them lying around.
On that note, supervise your dog when you’re home. If you have to, clip a leash to your belt, or just keep them in the same room with you, door closed. This will prevent them from finding something before you can stop them.
A tired dog is a good dog.
All dogs need mental and physical stimulation. The above mentioned terriers and retrievers are full of energy. If you own a dog that is bouncing around the house and getting into all kinds of trouble, that dog is basically begging for exercise.
Aim for aerobic-level exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. If you own a Chihuahua, less; if you own a Border Collie, much, much more. Dogs also need human interaction. If your dog is alone twelve hours a day, consider a doggy day-care or a dog walker so you don’t release the Kraken when you walk in the door.
Get your dog some things he’s allowed to chew on.
Invest in some good chew toys. Puzzle toys, of which Kongs are the gold standard, are sturdy and also provide mental stimulation if stuffed with good treats like peanut butter or frozen wet food. Make sure that you never leave your dog alone with a toy that can be ripped apart and eaten, and remove any toys the dog has begun to tear up, as it can be a choking hazard or lead to intestinal blockage.
If you find little Jezebel with a knife in her mouth, gnawing blissfully on the handle (true story), don’t chase her around the house, yelling wildly. Your dog thinks this is the greatest game ever and will start to grab stuff just to play tag. Instead, find one of “her” toys and lure her into taking that; once she’s happily chomping away, praise her. This will teach her that, when she chews on the appropriate objects, mommy or daddy loves her. Also, sleep with one eye open.
Don’t expect perfection. Your dog is incapable of reading human minds (probably).
When you come home to a house that looks like meth-heads burglarized it, sigh dramatically, clean it up, and have a glass of wine. You only have a window of about two seconds to reward or redirect a dog’s behavior. So if they chewed up something an hour ago, they have no idea why you’re crying.
Many dogs chew things when they’re alone out of anxiety or boredom. Separation anxiety is a huge issue, and will be addressed in another article. Regarding boredom: if you don’t provide your dog with something to do, he’ll find something to do, and guaranteed it won’t be balancing your checkbook.
Ultimately, channeling destructive behavior into a lovely evening with a Nylabone takes time and patience; if you have a young dog, I promise it gets better.
Please, feel free to share your ugliest destruction stories in the comments. If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.
Now that CBS has taken our advice and officially fired Carlos Estevez, one may wonder what the former bowling shirt connoisseur will do now. Well, I think it’s rather obvious – become King of All Media. That’s right. The Sheen is going to conquer the world one social media empire at a time. For now though, he’s Twitter’s most famous mascot. Fantastic.
As his first act as social networking Emperor he’s placed an ad looking for an intern to help him craft all of his wonderful and now quotable Charlie Sheen Twitterisms. I imagine this job would entail serving him breakfast and then just listening to him ramble on about various large jungle cats filled with demon blood and broccoli and then, you know, typing it into Twitter.
AOL news reports, Sheen wants a “hardworking, self-motivated, creative, resourceful and social media savvy individual to work closely with him to leverage his social network.” Uh, okay. Is that kind of like a young, nubile, newly established porn star who can decipher his code of egomania and narcissistic rant-speak? Because that’s what I think this means. Maybe not. It looks like he’s serious. Well, as serious as someone who has introduced Tiger Blood into our lexicon can be.
Description: Do you have #TigerBlood? Are you all about #Winning? Can you #PlanBetter than anyone else? If so, we want you on #TeamSheen as our social media #TigerBloodIntern!
This unique internship opportunity will allow a hard-working, self-motivated, creative, resourceful and social media savvy individual to work closely with Charlie Sheen in leveraging his social network. The internship will focus on executing a social media strategy that will build on the success Charlie Sheen has attained in setting the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to reach one million followers on Twitter. The #TigerBloodIntern is expected to be proactive, monitor the day-to-day activities on the major social media platforms, prepare for exciting online projects and increase Charlie’s base of followers.
You will learn how to promote and develop the social media network of Hollywood’s most trending celebrity.
Judging from the application, there is absolutely no criteria for this position. None at all. You just need to be able to tell Charlie Sheen in 75 characters or less why you want to work for him. Glorious.
Okay, so here’s what I’d like to do.
Let’s all come up with something spectacular to submit! Please put your best “I Wanna Work For Charlie” application submission in the comments. The best one will get a prize. What kind of prize? Well, the kind that doesn’t cost a thing — our undying love, adoration, perhaps a few mellifluous statements about your awesomeness, and superior recognition demonstrated by my most spectacular egg sammich picture.
Also, let me know if you’d like to actually submit your application and see what happens. You could be famous! Or just marginally confused.
*I can’t guarantee the safety of anyone actually pursuing an internship with Charlie Sheen, there may be waivers involved.
As a good Catholic girl, this is the time of year I think about how I can be a better person. I think New Year’s resolutions are foolish, but for some reason I have no problem with Lenten resolutions. I was pondering why there was such a difference between the two periods of personal improvement and reflection for me.
I am religious, but I’m more of a cafeteria Catholic. I find the Sacrament of Reconciliation rather silly as I don’t think I need an intermediary between God and me to obtain his forgiveness. Don’t get me started on the Church’s views on gays. Despite my picking and choosing of the tenets of my religion, Lent resonates for me.
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. I am going to go to church and have the sign of the cross put on my forehead with ashes from the burnt palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. The history of the ashes goes back to a time when during the Lenten season only the faithful were allowed into church. Those who committed serious sins would be forced to wear a hairshirt for forty days. That hairshirt was blessed with palm ashes. I imagine that the wearing of a hairshirt was not unlike wearing a scarlet letter. It marked you as a grave sinner. Today, it reflects the fact that we all sin but are seeking redemption.
The act of giving something up for Lent is well known. Catholics are asked to give up something; be it an appetite, a distraction or something we love, not to just suffer, but to create a “vacuum” of sorts. It is hoped that this vacuum is filled by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps that is why I like it so much. Notice that it isn’t necessarily about improving oneself, it is more about creating a “space” in your everyday life for God to enter. Additionally, we are only asked to do this for 40 days, not permanently. After that period of time it is hoped that you would permanently create this space for God even as you go back to enjoying what you sacrificed for Lent.
What many are not aware of is that the Catholic church does not merely want us to give up during Lent. The Church wants us also to “give out” and “give in” . By ‘giving out’ one can express their love of God and Man by making your talents and treasures available. Acts of kindness, volunteerism, donations of goods and services to those in need are very much a part of the Lenten tradition. Some Catholics focus on this aspect of Lent more than the giving up part. In fact at the conclusion of each Mass the priest asks the congregation to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” We are supposed to take what we learn each week in Mass and apply it to the outside world. I love that fact — that the Church really isn’t about Mass. It really is about applying Mass to your real life. Way too many Catholics forget that. Priests included.
The ‘giving in’ part is especially interesting to me as it is quite Zen. In this age of self-fulfillment we are called to go the opposite way. In order to find your life, your way or your path, you must lose it. You must let go of it. We are supposed to give our life and our trust to God. I also look at it this way: when you cling too heavily to your wants, desires or results, that you often miss an more interesting or fulfilling path that was thrown in your way. This giving in part really feeds into the reasons why we give up during Lent.
I’ve tried to give up many things during Lent over the years. Some worked out fine and others not so much. Giving up wine/booze has never worked well in the past as it makes me a rather irritable person. I find I’m much better at doing something than giving up something in order to create that vacuum or space for God to enter. I do this with acts of volunteering that put me in direct contact with those in need.
This year, in addition to volunteering, I am adding daily exercise to the list. Not to get my fat arse moving, that is an added benefit; but to clear my head of all the cobwebs and crap that interfere with me creating space or that vacuum for God to enter.
I know there are a few Catholics/Christians out there. Are any of you giving up something for Lent?
Have you noticed everywhere you look there’s a Subway sandwich shop? Like literally on every street corner, and in every shopping center — there are one, now two, or perhaps three Subway eateries in a single mile radius? Yes? Well, that’s not just a coincidence.
Has the burger giant been dethroned? Well, yes and no.
Subway has now globally surpassed McDonald’s in store presence, a feat heretofore not accomplished by any other fast food company. The sandwich chain opened 33,749 restaurants worldwide at the end of last year, to McDonald’s 32,737 stores. That’s a lot of five-dollar foot longs.
What does this say about the expectation of our eating habits? Certainly we all recall recent marketing campaigns that tout Subway sandwiches as an alternative to typical greasy fast food choices. Their liberal use of words like “eat fresh,” is used often to combat the growing concerns regarding the copious trans fats and high caloric counts of their fast food counterparts.
Even our friend “Jared the Subway Guy” still appears every now and again to show us that he’s kept the weight off, even though we are well aware that if you eat excessively at any fast food restaurant any and all attempts will be outweighed by sheer input of calories. A bit of slight of hand on the part of Subway? Perhaps. But the nutritional data is solid. It’s true that the sandwich giant does offer options that in moderation are healthier than the typical fast food fare.
For instance, Subway’s “Fresh Fit” meal option includes sliced turkey, lean roast beef, or Black Forest ham, with fresh veggies, (without cheese, mayo, or any of the other sauce choices), on baked whole grain bread, and a choice of apples, yogurt, or baked chips, and a water. Average total calories: 355 to 450. Conversely, McDonald’s flagship Big Mac Meal, which includes a Big Mac, medium french fries, and a large soda, is a staggering 1230 calories. In addition, the newer Angus Third Pounder burger tips the scales at 720 to 860 calories (depending on options) alone.
This is not to say that McDonald’s, in a demonstrated mea culpa, hasn’t stepped up their game to offer healthier options like salads, wraps, fresh fruit, yogurt, smoothies, and other lesser fatty foods, but realistically these fewer options are not what’s driving consumers to eat their offerings. And it shows in their revenue.
While Subway is dominating store numbers, McDonald’s is still the overall revenue champ. The company reported $24 billion in revenue for its last fiscal year. Subway generated roughly $15.2 billion, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
McDonald’s on Tuesday said global sales at established restaurants in February rose 3.9 percent, as strong sales in Europe helped offset a U.S. market that was hit by high unemployment and rising gasoline prices. In addition, February sales were up 2.7 percent here in the United States, helped by strong demand for its McCafe beverages, reports the Associated Press.
So apparently to offset sales lost nationally because people were out of work and couldn’t afford gasoline to get to a McDonald’s drive thru, the company is relieved that some people were able to beat the odds and drag themselves in the stores for McDonald’s new line of coffee sundaes.
Obviously this is the next obstacle Subway has to face in its efforts for complete fast food domination. Sadly, I think there are probably fewer actual “winners” here than both companies would like to acknowledge.
All right kids here is your Hump Day post. As always the rules apply. No peen, vag, or girlie nips. Violators will be banished to the Tempe casual encounters section on Craig’s List. You have been warned. Here are some cuties from the BBC show Survivors to get you going.
Here is Max Beesley. I want to do some really bad things to him.
This is Phillip Rhys. The fact that he exists makes me really happy.
Today, Crasstalk is thrilled to present a conversation with Indiana Democratic Representative Terri Austin (IN-37). Rep. Austin was one of two Democratic legislators who remained at the Statehouse to object to any legislative business occurring without a quorum. A leading voice in education, mass transit and transportation, Rep. Austin has spent the last two weeks traveling back and forth from the Indiana Statehouse to Urbana, Illinois, where the remaining Democratic caucus members have been since the standoff began.
As they enter their third week of boycotting the Indiana House of Representatives, Indiana Democratic legislators are facing enormous pressure from all sides. On one side, there are calls for them to come to the Legislature and go back to work. On the other, countless Hoosier workers and teachers who have rallied day after day, numbering in the thousands each time, to show their support for the Democrats’ stand. What is happening in Indiana is different than what is occurring in Ohio and Wisconsin. However, there are also common themes threaded through each states’ stand off. For many, the events in Indiana and across the country represent no less than a battle for the future of the American working class. Are unions a thing of the past? Do public employees deserve collective bargaining? These are just a few of the questions raised by this situation.
On Tuesday, February 22, 2011, House Democrats used their constitutional obligation to prevent quorum on the House floor to stop a radical agenda that was a direct attack on working Hoosiers and our public schools. We left for Illinois to give the thousands of Hoosier workers, teachers, and families a real voice at the State House. Our decision was to send a message to Republicans that we were serious about our concerns. Some say we should come back and do our job. We believe that fighting on behalf of thousands of Hoosier students, workers, and families is our job. To sit in the chamber and simply vote no was not enough.
Source: Indiana State Legislature
Before focusing on the substance of why Democratic legislators left the state, I want to ask you about the tactic of walking out or boycotting the legislature. Some have suggested that this is not an appropriate way for a minority party to block legislation. How do you respond to this criticism?
Rep. Austin:
I have great respect for our legislative institution and its rules. The tactic of quorum-busting—causing a quorum to be prevented from meeting—has been used in legislative bodies by minorities seeking to block the adoption of some measure they oppose. Quorum-busting has been used for centuries. For instance, during his time in the state legislature, Abraham Lincoln, leapt out of a first story window (the doors of the Capitol had been locked to prevent legislators from fleeing) in a failed attempt to prevent a quorum from being present.
To remain out of the House chamber should be used rarely and done only after careful consideration. We know that Speaker Bosma and other House Republicans understand this, because when in the minority, they used this Constitutionally-granted ability in 2001 and 2004.
Both Republican and Democratic members have participated in walkouts that have stopped legislative action. However, in the recent past, members have not left the state. Why did the Democrats feel they needed to leave the state?
Rep. Austin:
The decision to leave the state was made after careful deliberation. There was significant concern that the Speaker of the House or the Governor would use the powers of arrest to compel attendance. The only way to ensure that this would not happen was to relocate to a region where the powers of arrest were not recognized. It also gave us uninterrupted time to review, discuss and debate the various pieces of legislation we were concerned about and to develop proposed amendments to the bills. We believe that the legislature works best when a spirit of bipartisanship and compromise is present.
Indiana House members initially left the state to stop Right to Work legislation from passing. Why is the Democratic Caucus opposed to RtW?
Rep. Austin:
The decision to break a quorum was not just about Right To Work. Over the last couple of weeks the barrage of controversial and critical bills, put on the calendar at the last minute, hampered the ability of legislators and the public to understand the details of these bills much less consider their long-term consequences. Let me give you an example of what I mean.
The RTW bill was scheduled on the very last morning for committee hearings. The hearing was held in less than ideal conditions. There were hundreds of people who traveled to the statehouse to testify regarding the bill. Many could not even hear the testimony because the hearing room only held about 50 people. Others were forced to stand outside in the hallway or throughout the building. 92 people who signed up to testify were not given an opportunity to testify.
It is important to note that there was conflicting testimony on the positive impact of RtW legislation in other states. Dr. Gordon Lafer, an Associate Professor at the University of Oregon indicated that all of the most recent scientific studies show that RTW has zero impact on job growth. In fact, only one state, Oklahoma, has adopted Right To Work over the past 25 years. One problem with basing public policy decisions on what happened in 1970 and 1980 is that we live in a fundamentally different economy today.
Something this important should not be determined in a 90 minute committee hearing where Hoosiers were denied an opportunity to hear the testimony or offer their thoughts and opinions as citizens.
I think you can see from this example and news reports of the session that legislators and the public were not fully educated on several bills that were moving like a runaway freight train. Although the “Right to Work” (RTW) bill has been depicted as the primary reason for the “time out”, it was a whole list of concerns. This time out has given the public and legislators the time to learn about the content of these bills. As can be noted by the thousands of citizens who have demonstrated at the statehouse and rallied in their communities, the public is becoming more aware of these issues, and they are speaking up. The focus of this time-out should not be the absence of the House members but the potentially damaging impact of these bills.
Almost immediately after the Democrats left, Republican leaders pledged not to advance the RTW legislation. But, the Democrats did not come back. Why?
Indiana State Democrats
Rep. Austin:
As explained above, there were other pieces of legislation that would have had a drastic impact on Hoosier families and children attending public schools. Democrats’ decision to remain out of the statehouse allows time for the bills to be fully examined, amendments developed, the public to be informed and their voices to be heard. The Democrats have consistently expressed a desire to work in a spirit of compromise and negotiation. Efforts to do just that have been rebuked and refused by the House leadership. Republicans have said there is no negotiating, their agenda will pass. Their rhetoric and unwillingness to compromise have forced us to fight from Illinois – our only means left to defend the jobs of working people in Indiana and the education of Hoosier children.
This session began with a great hope of working with our colleagues across the aisle to develop a plan for job creation, move our public schools to the front of the class and draft a fiscally responsible state budget. Speaker Bosma started this session saying it was a “new day” in the House chamber, and he was going to seek a new level of bi-partisanship. Unfortunately, we’ve seen the complete opposite. This session has seen only 29 percent of the votes be cast in a bipartisan manner. Normally, 80-90 percent of the votes in a session are bipartisan.
Please understand that House Democrats did not cross our arms and say “no” to everything that was proposed by our Republican colleagues. Even if we disagreed on a bill, positive and compromising alternatives were offered to improve and/or moderate the consequences if we felt they were harmful to our districts and our constituents. Most times those ideas, offered in good faith, were summarily dismissed Our kids’ education and our families’ wages shouldn’t be the victim of partisanship. Hoosier families deserve better than that.
Source: Indiana House Democrats Fighting for Families
Do Democrats have a list of specific bills that they want to negotiate on before agreeing to come back? If so, can you briefly explain what they are?
Rep. Austin:
There is no list of “demands” as has been suggested. However, several bills impacting public education and the future of the middle class in Indiana are of great concern. HB 1003 creates a voucher program that sends public tax dollars to private schools for a select number of children. HB 1479 allows for the immediate state takeover of 212 schools and gives the State Board of Education the authority to appoint a for-profit management company to run the school. Other legislation impacts individuals’ rights to voluntarily have association dues or fees paid from their paycheck. Others greatly restrict employees’ ability to work with management regarding areas of mutual concern. Many of the bills will drive down Hoosier wages and benefits. Hoosiers already earn only 85 cents on the dollar as compared to the U.S. average. The Republican proposals have been proven in other states to lower wages by $5,500 a year on average.
These are just some of the bills that many legislators feel will be harmful to their communities.
Are the Democrats asking for specific legislative changes to be agreed to before you will come back or are you asking for an opportunity through open debate and proposed amendments to change them once you do come back?
Rep. Austin:
The Democrats are willing to work with everyone in a spirit of compromise. Negotiations are never successful when one party or the other draws a line in the sand. It is important to keep the lines of communication open and for both parties to come to the table with respect and a willingness to listen.
The Crasstalk community includes people from all 50 states. It seems that the same legislation Indiana Democrats are objecting to is also being proposed in other states, notably Wisconsin and Ohio. Are Democratic legislators talking across states and coming up with a larger strategy to counteract what seems to be a nationwide Republican effort?
Rep. Austin:
I am not aware that talks with other Democratic legislators are going on to develop a strategy. I do know that the communications that have taken place are more about supporting each other’s efforts and comparing different pieces of legislation across state lines.
Are you personally concerned about any political fallout from the Democrats’ boycott? Why or why not?
Source: Indiana House Democrats Fighting for Families
Rep. Austin:
At some point, you have to stand up for what you believe in, regardless of the consequences. I was elected by the people of the district to try and make their lives better and to be their voice in state government. Many of the pieces of legislation would not have a positive impact on the families and children that I represent. I believe that Hoosier families are worth fighting for.
Last question. Many people who will read this are not Hoosiers and may have never been to Indiana. As an elected representative of Hoosier residents, what is the one thing you would most like them to know about Indiana?
Rep. Austin:
It’s a wonderful place to grow up and to work. Yes, we face some challenges but also we have many positives that make us attractive to young people, families and entrepreneurs. I had the opportunity to travel to Taiwan and Japan several years ago as a part of a state delegation. When we met with business leaders who talked about why they brought their companies to Indiana, they indicated two things that set us apart: our Hoosier work ethic and the excellent education their children received. Unfortunately, some leaders forget to tell people the things they are doing well before they tell them why we need to do things differently.
So you want to learn more about vegetarianism/veganism? Or you don’t, but this article came up and you’re procrastinating at work/school/life so you’ll read it anyway? Good enough! This is meant to be kind of a brief intro to what this stuff is all about, and will respond to some of the main questions that generally come up in this topic. If there’s a particular area of vegetarianism/veganism (veg*nism) that you would like to know more about, let me know! I love talking about this stuff.
The Basics
A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat. They may still consume dairy, eggs, and possibly fish (but fish is really a meat). Vegetarians have been around forever!
A vegan is often defined as someone who “begins with vegetarianism and brings it to its logical conclusion.” Vegans attempt to consume nothing that originally came from an animal. This includes clothing, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, and of course, food. The term was coined by Donald Watson, an Englishman who founded the British Vegan Society in 1944.
But Why?
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll know that the question everyone asks you (along with the protein question) is “Why did you decide to become a veg*n?” People go veg for a variety of different reasons. The main ones:
For the animals
There is nothing “circle of life” about our modern production of meat. Animals are kept in terrible conditions for the sole purpose of being killed. This is generally where all the ethical arguments against eating animals live. Many people believe that there is no such thing as “humanely-killed” meat. Additionally, the principle of not using animals for our own gain (this can be extended to circuses, rodeos, and even pets) is often used in reasoning against using honey, pearls, and other things that we generally think of as not harmful to the animals.
For personal health
Eating more plants and fewer animals has been linked to lower cholesterol, higher fiber, lower rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and a host of other health issues. For more info on this, see The China Study.
For the environment
Factory farming is incredibly damaging to the environment. Livestock’s Long Shadow (pdf file), published by the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization in 2006, details the many harmful impacts that raising livestock has for the environment. One of the more interesting facts: all factors involved, livestock contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation.
ZOMG where do you get your protein?
I figure we’ll just tackle this one right off the bat. First of all, you probably don’t need as much protein as you think you need. The average American consumes about double the protein his or her body actually needs. (Source) So let’s just relax about that. The general formula to determine how much protein you need per day is your body weight times 0.36. So a 140-pound person would need about 50 grams of protein per day. Obviously if you’re an athlete and/or a pregnant or breastfeeding woman you’ll need more. Veg*ns can get protein from legumes, grains like rice and quinoa (kee-nwah), tofu, nuts, and non-dairy milks. However, it is true that while all meats offer complete proteins (they have the 9 essential amino acids which cannot be produced by our bodies), most vegetarian sources do not. Quinoa is one of the only plants that is a complete protein.
Aside from eating quinoa all day (which wouldn’t be the worst thing), us veg*ns can use what are called complementary proteins- where one source is missing an amino acid or two, another one has it, and when eaten together or during the same day, they complement each other. We already form complementary proteins in many of the foods we commonly eat: rice and beans, falafel in a whole wheat pita, peanut butter on whole wheat bread, cornbread and beans. Basically legumes + grains is a good way to go.
What do vegan zombies eat? Graiiinnsss..... graaaaiinnss!!
Some Random Nutrition Notes
Hopefully I’ll get to do a later post on veg nutrition, but for now a few brief things. Being vegan does not necessarily mean eating healthier. A lot of junk food is vegan (and delicious). But that’s not really what veganism is all about, so in between bags of Tings, have a leaf or something.
Even if you’re not looking to go veg, a good guideline for healthier eating is to eat the food as close to how it naturally is as possible. This means eating corn on the cob, not corn nuts. Using rolled or steel-cut oats rather than the instant oatmeal. Basically, when you go food shopping, you should look for food that has five or fewer ingredients listed, or better yet, just one! This way you can better ensure that you’re getting the most nutrition and the least processing possible in your foods. Now, I can’t ignore the cost issues here- it’s fucked up that buying junk food is less expensive than buying broccoli or something, but if you can try to eat more whole foods without going broke, it’s absolutely worth it for your body. Former Jezebel readers beware, but legumes seriously are the shit in this regard. They are cheap and incredibly nutritious. This doesn’t mean eating lentils for every meal every day, but maybe buy a bag of beans instead of that chicken breast. The larger societal and governmental issues of our food system can’t really be addressed right here, but I’ll include some links for those of you who want to read more on this (Food Inc. also addresses this issue).
So that about wraps this up. Do you have a particular food/meal you’d like to share with the group? Good books, articles, films, etc.? Let us know in the comments!
Meet Ugo. The love of my life. When people ask me what breed he is, I start to go down the list; boxer, German shorthair pointer, dane, and…. pit bull. And then “the look” rears its ugly head. You know, that look that says “well, he WAS cute, but now…um, gotta go!”. Some people literally back away so quickly, they trip. Others cross the street when they see him, or ask if he bites, from a block away. Truthfully, when I look at him, I can’t see the scary. He is the most gentle, loving, submissive dog I’ve ever met. His best friends are, usually, dogs a tenth his size and twice his age. With all other K9’s, he’s the awkward kid on the playground who REALLY wants to play with others, but just doesn’t know how. His blind, 11 year old “sister” Nanook, loves him like no other which is no small feat considering she is aloof, at best, with everyone else. I often wonder why not everyone is as enamored of Ugo as we are.
Then, I remember what those people see when they look at him. They see aggression, attitude and a thirst for blood. In short, they see a killing machine. They see a breed that began because of a human penchant for fighting. Not only were these dogs bred for fighting each other, but also for bull and bear baiting. Although, the latter has mostly vanished, the former is flourishing. Every year, 250,000 pit bulls are maimed or killed in dog fights (from HSUS) that earn humans millions of dollars, but are a death sentence for those unlucky enough to be on four legs.
In no way do I expect one article to change decades of stereotype and skepticism. All I am hoping for is that my words will help shift the “blame” away from the dog and towards a solution. A solution that provides us with the tools and figures to educate each other about the proper way to care for our K9 companions.
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