Subtitle: PETA can kiss my ass.

I’m so embarrassed about the way PETA has decided to use the Tim McLean murder as a tasteless PR opportunity. I know this isn’t the first time they’ve done this. In fact, there’s a lot about PETA’s PR that I find extremely questionable, distasteful or downright awful and I wonder at times if it’s really educating people about animal rights, or just turning them off of the issues completely.  From my point of view, it looks like the only people they tend to appeal to are the trendy and ignorant zealots.

I find it incredibly sad how people treat non-humans, particularly the ones that are raised to nourish them.  The main reason I am a vegetarian is that because there is such a lack of respect towards the creatures that we breed and raise to feed us.  However, that sense of respect I bestow to the animals of this world, I also have for humanity as a whole.  Being a vegetarian does not exclude me from being a humanitarian as well.  And you just don’t jump on tragedies to advertise your own personal cause, whatever it may be. PETA is no better than the Westboro Baptist Ministry that take their religious zealotry to new heights.  And this is why people, including myself, think PETA is a big joke and do more harm than good to the Animal Rights cause.

I would never say, stop trying to change the world. But I believe there are ways to make your point heard without resorting to extremism, zealotry and irresponsible tactics.

Update: I visited my two favourite vegan sites and visited the forums to see what fellow veggies had to say about this latest stunt. I’m pleased to say that I am not the only vegetarian that thinks this way.

Post Punk Kitchen Forums  - PETA’s latest stunt

Vegweb.com - PETA ad compares bus beheading to animal slaughter

Somebody in the blogosphere or where ever came up with the word “Staycation”. It’s a euphamism for “I have no money, so we’re going nowhere and staying home for our vacation.”  It’s an awful word and everytime I see it printed, I just cringe a little.  It’s become particularly popular lately because of the U.S. economy problems, as well as it’s eco-trendy because you don’t spend the gas that you use when you’re travelling.  I’m posting about it now because this post is probably the sixth time I’ve read that word in my daily blog reads over the past week and it’s bugging me.

However, the idea in itself… making staying home for your vacation sound better than it actually is… is kind of hokey but I’m personally a fan. You just don’t “stay home” per se. You make your home a lovely environment, plan fun activities with friends and family, maybe do a local tourist trap thing, make cocktails and lounge in your back yard, pick up a different sort of activity and relax.  I do this frequently when I take extended time off because I’m lazy, cheap and afraid of flying.   It’s just that word,  and i guess other euphemisms that make being broke sound less sucky, particulary the ones that incorporate the word “ghetto” (i’ve seen ‘ghettofab’ when it comes to describing cheap home decor)  annoys me and I may confront the person who actually decides to use it in a serious real life conversation. But seriously, say it aloud and it just one of those words that just doesn’t sound right, nor should you be able to take yourself seriously.

Ok, maybe I’m not. Today, after staying a little late at work again, I took off on my trusty bike to Petsmart so Thaddeus could eat tonight. Thaddeus is my oldest kitty, though he’s still pretty active and likes to express his dominance around the place. However, he’s stubbornly refusing to join the canned kitty food contingent of Niko and Aya. So, yesterday I ran out of the kibble and attempted to feed him some Whiska’s pouched tuna. He took a few nibbles and decided he wasn’t that into it. No doubt, Niko ate the rest.

Anyway.. i wasn’t able to get to Petsmart yesterday because I was at work until about 10pm. Today, I was determined to get there, because no one likes to see their kitty go hungry, and Petsmart is the only place close to me that has the crap that Thaddeus will eat. It was raining when I got in that morning, so I was wise enough to bring an extra change of clothes and wear my brand new Mark’s Work Warehouse rubber rain boots, which also look stylin’ might I add. The boots were an awesome idea. My pants and jacket were soaked, my socks were not.

Read the rest of this entry…

Angelina Jolie you’re a hypocrite. That’s right, I said it. I love you in movies, and I think you’re beautiful, and to some extent, I respect what you stand for. But you’re travelling to these exotic places, picking out exotic babies that make it seem more like a purse collection. There are thousands of children in your home country that are born in absolute poverty, that need the intervention of a millionaire celebrity godmother, children that will grow up hopeless, on the street or worse. Yes, it happens in America. I don’t think it’s the need to have children that drives you, Ms. Jolie, rather than the need to have international rescues to add to your repertoire. Saint Angelina indeed.

And all the trend followers of adopting children from whatever 3rd world nation is most fashionable of the week, this rant calls you out too.

Iranians hate 300, what?

Small reminder for people who get politically worked up about (not-so-big-budget) hollywood eye-candy flicks:

point 1: Ancient day Persians are not equal to modern day Iranians.

point 2: Ancient day Spartans and Grecians are definitely not equal to modern day Americans.

point 3: you’re right, there probably weren’t millions of Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae, but neither were there just 300 greeks, and chances are Xerxes didn’t look like a polished, bronze, pierced statue, just as it was unlikely that the Spartans went into this battle clad just in leather shorts (though I have read that Spartans did go into battle naked at times).

It’s a movie about half nekkid, super cut Italians with Scottish accents hacking through over-costumed and heavily made up sword-wielding stunt dudes led by an 8 foot tall body-mod afficianado with a Brazilian accent. How seriously do you want to take this as historical accuracy or propaganda even?

In fact, dare i say that the Persian Empire depicted in 300 has more in common with modern Superpower Americans, steam rolling smaller, poorer countries for the promise of easy access to oil? Hrmmmmmmmmmmmmm? (I’m being tongue-and-cheek here, I don’t necessarily share this view about most Americans)

Now for the sexy eye candy: