85 Articles

Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Million Acts of Kindness
(4 comments) I don't know about you, but I am always eager to read about inspirational accounts. Here is a man who provided one for me. His goal is to promote the doing of a million acts of kindness in one's lifetime. Doable? Only you can answer that.

Friday, February 5, 2010
Animal rights and Appreciating the Personal Computer
(4 comments) Some of us lived before the advent of the computer. I think we are the only ones who can truly appreciate them for the vast amounts of knowledge they provide us with. Today I learned that the expose of the Willet Dairy Farm cruelty reached many ears (TV) and many eyes - all other written media. What a blessing for those of us who want to learn, grow, and change things like the cruelty of factory farms.

Monday, January 18, 2010
Do We Really Need Fur Coats?
(7 comments) If we needed to kill animals for fur, few of us would object. But sadly, this is just not the case, and the fur industry seems to be still thriving despite the inherent cruelty associated with it and the many years of protests by people who care about the lives of animals and their suffering.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A Presidential Turkey Pardoning
Do we really need to eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day or any other day for that matter? CBS's Sunday Morning Offering this week was all about celebrating Thanksgiving with meat. How disappointing. Don't they have any vegetarian or vegan reporters? Don't they care about the impact of so much animal raising on the environment?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Is Corporal Punishment Always Bad?
I have been wondering for a long time re the decision to forego corporal punishment. Seeing what some of today's youth are guilty of makes me wonder even more.

Thursday, October 29, 2009
DNA/Rosalind Franklin
How many of you ever have heard of Rosalind Franklin? Somehow, I doubt there are many. And yet, in my opinion - this woman who died at 38 made a great contribution to our justice system with her science -which led to the use of DNA in solving crimes. Shouldn't we give her due recognition?

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Can a Win in Ohio Embolden Big Ag?
(3 comments) Big Ag is trying to make a power grab in Ohio by trying to write themselves into the Ohio Constitution. No state constitution was written to back the interests of any one group. Their move in this direction is frightening. Hopefully, the Ohioan voter will recognize this blatant attempt at control of all the farm issues in Ohio and will vote NO on Issue 2.

Sunday, October 4, 2009
Short-changing Our Bone Health with Milk
If you are not worrying about your bone health- maybe you should be. But please don't buy into the need for milk and dairy. Michael Castleman gives good reasons why this is foolhardy and unwise.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Buying American
When NAFTA was being bandied about during the Clinton Administration, I only know that people in Animal Rights were rightfully concerned. Animals would probably suffer as a result. It seems that the average Joe and Jane should have been concerned as well for different reasons.

Monday, September 28, 2009
Vote NO on Issue 2 if You Llive in Ohio
(4 comments) November is around the corner. Hopefully, we can get the message out to people of compassion that Issue 2 in Ohio is NOT like Proposition 2 in California which passed in November.

Saturday, September 26, 2009
I Was Blind but Now I See [Reposted]
(2 comments) Two lucky people - one a tot and the other a grown woman -both afflicted with problems met two inspirational doctors. Both owed their doctors much gratitude and responded well.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tiger Lily's Cruel Fate
There are so many cases of animal cruelty that you would think some of us would become use to hearing about them. No, thank God, that is not the case. Here is one particularly cruel case involving Tiger Lily, a kitten.

Friday, September 4, 2009
Who is Mucking up the Missouri River?
(2 comments) Anybody living near the Missouri River can answer the question re who is mucking up their river. The answer is Tyson and they were recently fined $2M for doing so.

Saturday, August 22, 2009
Inhumane Slaughtering - Does it exist in the US?
(12 comments) In the early 2000's I heard about some cows going through the slaughterlines alive - their appendages being cut off while alive - probably skinned while alive. How could this happen in America? Sadly, it still is happening. I have no respect for the people who are responsible for this horrible cruelty. If less animals were to be slaughtered- maybe this would slow down these terribly fast slaughter lines.

Thursday, August 20, 2009
Will the Reader's Digest Pull out of Bankruptcy?
I doubt there is anyone who has not enjoyed the Reader's Digest at one time or another. And hopefully there are many, many faithful readers like myself. I can't envision not getting it in my mail box each month. What about you?

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sarah Palin and Betty Sutton --Betty who?
(2 comments) Do you know whose idea it was to give "cash for clunkers?" I didn't til I read a post this morning on Cleveland.com.

Friday, August 14, 2009
California Dreaming....
(7 comments) There was finally some hope for our poor farm animals languishing in inhumane confinement in factory farms all over America. Californians took the leap and said--this was wrong and passed Proposition 2 last November.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
How Large is your Carbon Footprint?
(10 comments) I admire people like Dave Chameides who really do care about the environment. We would do well in trying to follow him in his carbon footsteps if we care.

Friday, June 26, 2009
Ohio Voters - Don't Let the Fox Guard the Henhouse
This week Farm Sanctuary sent out an e-mail message which said- "Don't let the Fox Guard the Henhouse." If you live in Ohio, then it is up to you and me to prevent Big Agribusiness from wresting complete oversight on how our farm animals should be raised. In my opinion- both the farm animals and the environment have suffered from their policies.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Lily Tomlin Speaks out for the Elephants
(10 comments) I am very happy that Lily Tomlin is helping In Defense of Animals get out the word for a hoped-for global awareness that elephants don't belong in zoos (or in circuses for that matter.)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Let Your Legislators Know How You Feel about Animal Legislation
(5 comments) It takes so little time to effect some good for suffering animals. I've copied the Humane Farming Legislative Guide I received which really tells how some of our legislators think. I hope you care enough to send some e-mails in their behalf.

Thursday, May 14, 2009
Horse Racing Cruelty
(13 comments) Why do we force animals to participae in "sports" which often causes them severe injuries and even sometimes death? If you are interested in gore, you may find it on football fields and in boxing and wrestling matches.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Disappointing Giveaway from Oprah
(11 comments) I was really disappointed to read about Oprah's recent KFC Giveaway. I naively believed her to be compassionate when it comes to CAFO suffering. I was wrong.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Precious Lives
(5 comments) Sometimes we don't realize how precious are the lives of our companion animals until we are about to lose one.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A Change from the Political
(5 comments) I am daily nourished by reading stories of inspiration. If you like to smile or laugh or even cry at touching moments, these events may do the trick.

Sunday, April 19, 2009
A New Respect for William Blakes' Auguries of Innocence
(13 comments) If you've never read William Blake's "Augueries of Innocence," you may want to. You may also enjoy the poem as much as I have - especially the first part which views creation with a knowing and loving heart.

Friday, April 17, 2009
The Death Nell of Puppy Mills
(9 comments) My title may be a little too optimistic, but I'm hoping that the work of Kim Sill and Last Chance for Animals will have a profound effect on the demise of the all too many horrible puppy mills which exist in our country.

Monday, April 13, 2009
A Righteous Gentile Couple from Slovakia
I never tire reading accounts of self-sacrifice and courage. Here's one such story of a Righteous Gentile couple from Slovakia who made a difference for one family. This family would never forget.

Monday, April 6, 2009
The European Union Leading the Way for Compassion
(7 comments) Kudos to the European Union and especially the British contingent for leading the way in banning cruel cosmetic toxicity tests on live animals.

Sunday, March 29, 2009
Let's Have a Humane and Compassionate Easter
(7 comments) As puppies and kittens are inappropriate "gifts" at Christmas time because they have needs which are not usually met in these circumstances, so giving children living bunnies and chicks at Easter time is only inviting needless suffering to them. Why don't parents get it?

Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Animal Cruelty Protests
(10 comments) I think if you are passionate enough about a cause, you will join a group of protestors who share your concerns.

Thursday, March 19, 2009
Tears of Joy
(4 comments) Maybe the 111th Congress will be the most compassionate ever when it comes to animal issues. Only time will tell

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Colleen Shaddox Shares Her Lenten Ideas
Stumped this Lenten season on what to give up? Colleen has some original thoughts on what you can do.

Monday, February 16, 2009
Are Rodeos as Cruel as They Say?
(8 comments) If you think that Rodeos are just pure fun and Americana, then there's a great link in this post to educate you to the contrary.

Thursday, February 5, 2009
Time to Get Rid of Plastic Grocery Bags
(7 comments) Can you part with the ubiquitous plastic grocery bag or are you one who looks at this attempt to help our environment as a "bone-headed" idea?

Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Compassionate Voice from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
(7 comments) The European Union has banned battery cages. America can well learn leassons of compassion from them.

Sunday, February 1, 2009
140-Year Old Lobster Released Back into the Ocean
(12 comments) Occasionally a lucky lobster is released from his "prison" tank to enjoy freedom once again.

Saturday, January 31, 2009
Whole Foods, a Trend Setter
(1 comments) Hopefully, Whole Foods attempt at banning the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags has been successful. I see little attempts to emulate them in this regard in my local grocery stores. We're in this together-so I hope it works.

Sunday, January 18, 2009
Musings on President-elect Obama
I wanted to cross/post a picture of a beautiful "black" swan stuck in the "Black" River in Lorain, Ohio. She was happily rescued by the Coast Guard. Unhappily, I was having problems in effecting this. So, I turned instead to another "black" topic - President-elect Obama.

Monday, January 5, 2009
Education for Peace: Greg Mortenson
(5 comments) Some of you may have read "Three Cups of Tea" - the story of Greg Mortenson and his concept: Education for Peace. If not, and you missed CBS Sunday morning this past week, I think you will enjoy reading about him here.

Thursday, January 1, 2009
Madeleine Pickens - Another "Wild Horse Annie?"
(2 comments) Madeleine Pickens may well be another "Wild Horse Annie" as her wonderful idea takes shape to save our national heritage and treasure - the wild horses and burros of the West.

Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Spirit of Christmases Past
(3 comments) Do oped writers and readers have time to put aside their usual political agendas to read some Christmas stories? I hope so. Here are some which may warm even the coldest of hearts. Just kidding. There are NO cold hearts on oped.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Bittman on Girth and the Environment
(5 comments) Tho not intending to become a vegetarian, writer Mark Bittman realizes the importance of a greener diet in his article, Simple Till Six: An Eating Plan for Busy People. He lost 35 pounds this way, and made a smaller footprint on Planet Earth.

Sunday, December 7, 2008
How Rare is Animal Cruelty?
(3 comments) WARNING: Graphic animal cruelty described. Last night I heard a TV news account of a Wisconsin dog actually frozen to the ground. His had a happy ending. Sadly, Nikko in 1998- also a Wisconsin dog was not so lucky. I am not trying to lay animal cruelty charges only at Wisconsin's door. Every state of the Union has its accounts of animal abuse.

Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thanksgiving Reflections
(8 comments) I almost missed reading the Opinion section of the Lakewood Sun Post, our suburban weekly. But I was glad that I did. Here's why.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008
How Much is that Doggie in the Window?
(8 comments) For a nation which purports to have a love affair with its dogs (and cats), how is it that we do so little to protect them from abuse in puppy mills?

Sunday, November 16, 2008
TNR-The Grey Twins and the Black Prince
(9 comments) TNR-(Trap,Neuter,Return)is a program which helps people like me to address the ever present problem of irresponsible people who let their unaltered cats roam outside freely and breed--usually causing them and their offspring much suffering and even death.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Do You Have to Kill a Turkey this Thanksgiving?
(48 comments) Imagine- you can start making a profound difference in your life and the lives of our food animals by starting out with a turkey-Less Thanksgiving.

Friday, October 10, 2008
Another Look at Palin
(2 comments) Can you "stomach" yet another Palin article? I hope so. Mine isn't very long, and maybe it covers nothing new, but you never know unless you read it.

Thursday, October 9, 2008
Sgt. Gwen Beberg and Rachet
You may have read the same e-mail account which I received today re Sgt. Gwen Beberg and her dog Rachet. If true--yet another reason to wonder about US Military protocul when it comes to befriending animals in Iraq.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008
A Special Guest on the Ellen Show
(2 comments) I don't watch the Ellen DeGeneres show every day. In fact - rarely ever, but this day I was clued in re her "special" guest and watched. I was glad I did.

Sunday, September 21, 2008
A History Lesson on Slovakia
(3 comments) We in America are going through some hard times, but I submit - they're nothing compared to what the people of Slovakia had to endure in their early history.

Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Week That Was
(1 comments) Journaling, I was bemoaning my past week, but it pales in comparison to the melt down on Wall Street and its implications as it applies to our daily lives.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Holocaust Hero: Irena Sendler
(5 comments) I never tire of reading profiles of special people. The life of Irena Sendler would probably have remained largely obscured and unknown but for the history assignment some very enterprising Kansas high school girls took to heart.

Monday, September 8, 2008
Humane Scoreboard of the 110th Congress
(4 comments) I would like the people who represent me in Congress to vote compassionately on not only people issues but animal ones as well. HSUS put out a Humane Scoreboard which I find invaluable. I hope you will too.

Saturday, September 6, 2008
Sarah Palin- Hunter
(9 comments) Some of us believe that the life of each animal is precious to him or her. I got the distinct impression that Sarah Palin is not one of us.

Saturday, September 6, 2008
Why Destroy?
(4 comments) I've read that Europeans rarely demolish their old homes or buildings. Thankfully, because of this, they have preserved a lot of rich history and probably saved beautiful pieces of architecture. We, on the other hand, seem to care next to nothing about history and tear down buildings willy-nilly. Personally, I prefer the old to the new - but then it seems I belong to a small minority.

Sunday, August 31, 2008
A Passion for Loggerheads
(3 comments) Two intrepid women find gratifying purpose in helping the loggerheads and so the environment. Their inspiring story may help us also to learn to appreciate the earth more fully as real and true stewards of it.

Saturday, August 16, 2008
No Beijing Olympics for Me
(10 comments) Do we even care that cats and dogs who are living, sentient beings like ourselves are skinned aive for their fur in China?

Saturday, August 16, 2008
Blackout 2003
(4 comments) A large portion of NE Ohio, Ontario,Canada and the NE--including New York City experienced a Blackout in 2003. Those of us who did now have a new profound respect for the gift of electricity.

Saturday, August 16, 2008
Greenpeace's 10 Reasons to Say No to Off Shore Drilling
(10 comments) I commend House Speaker Pelosi et al for fighting against Off Shore Drilling. I also believe that Greenpeace's 10 Reasons for saying no to it are reasons worth reading and considering.

Monday, August 11, 2008
No Beijing Olympics for Me
Are you blissfully watching the Olympics in a country where they skin alive cats and dogs for their fur?

Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Two HSUS California Initiatives for Farm Animals
If you could help 20 million suffering farm animals, would you take it? HSUS is providing us with the chance. Please take it.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Kudos to Spain
(1 comments) I have not thought of Spain as a country of animal concern. In fact, quite the opposite. However, with their parliament considering a resolution to grant legal rights to members of the ape family, I am changing my mind.

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Counting Calories and Health Tips
So much good information out there re our diets and health, but sadly we ignore so much of it too. Kudos to New York City legislators who are helping New Yorkers make wiser menu decisions in the restaurants they use.

Thursday, July 24, 2008
A Tribute to Mindy, a Pit Bull Dog
(2 comments) Another needless banning of pit bulls in Lakewood, Ohio. It is wrong for the media to just report pit bull bitings. Other dogs bite as well. The Center of Disease Control has not zeroed in on any specific breed responsible for dog bites.

Friday, July 18, 2008
2 Million Cats and Dogs Skinned Alive in China.
(14 comments) Can we do anything to stop the horrible skinning of live cats and dogs for their fur in China? For many of us, this is barbarism - plain and simple.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Open Letter to the Gates Foundation
(17 comments) I was devastated reading Martha Rosenberg's article on the Gates Foundation intending to use Heifer International to promote animal husbandry in the poor parts of Africa. I couldn't help thinking --when will it stop? We and the poor of Africa don't need meat to be healthy and it is not even cost efficient, good for the animals or the environment.

Friday, July 11, 2008
Rescue Ink and Phoenix
(1 comments) We all know that looks can be deceiving. Tight, ripling muscles on men never meant too much to me --but these men captured my attention and admiration.

Sunday, July 6, 2008
Congressional Earmarks and Medicaid Funding
(2 comments) Fiscal responsibility - a joke or a reality?

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
What's in a name?
I hope you are proud of your namesake. I am proud of both of mine.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Gandhi Remembered
(4 comments) All of us have heroes. One of mine is Gandhi and his "seven sins of the world" aptly expresses the condition we find ourselves in.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Should we ban pit bulls?
(15 comments) Should we be playing God by deciding to ban pit bulls from our cities, states, and even countries?

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Big Is Not Better
(4 comments) Big Pharma, Big Agri-business, Big CAFOs - Is BIG really better -- not in my opinion.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
A new citizen in June
I never witnessed the swearing in of new citizens until this past Friday. I was grateful for the experience which I am sharing with you.

Monday, June 2, 2008
Boycott the Chinese Olympics?
(6 comments) The 1988 Korean Olympics shocked us with the revelation that they killed dogs for food by oftentimes hanging them and beating them as they were dying to make the meat "tastier." Will the 2008 Chinese Olympics prove kinder and gentler to the animals?

Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Heroes Come in All Stripes
The NIH often liberally dispenses our taxpayer monies for questionable research which often causes cruel and unnecessary suffering to the animals. What can we do?

Saturday, May 17, 2008
CAFOs Have to Go
Hilary, Obama, and John McCain- what is your position on CAFOs? Your answer may well help me decide who I want to be the next president.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A Compassionate Sandwich
(1 comments) Do we really know how our food animals are raised. Do we even care?

Sunday, May 11, 2008
The "Joys" of Renting
(2 comments) Renters and landlords may each find something interesting and of use here.

Friday, May 2, 2008
A Holocaust Hero
(10 comments) You've probably heard of Schindler who was immortalized in the movie "Schindler's List." He amazingly was able to save a 1,000 Jews from the gas chambers of Auschwitz. But have you ever heard of Rudolph Vrba who probably saved thousands more?

Saturday, April 19, 2008
A Challenge for Al Gore
It is time for the State of Tennessee to stop allowing horse trainers use the "Big Lift" which causes much suffering to these poor animal.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Does your state need an upgrade to its Animal Cruelty Laws?
(2 comments) Thankfully many states are realizing the importance of upgrading their animal cruelty laws. I believe that we are long overdue in this regard.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Amazing Animals
For too long animals have been treated as second rate - sadly even by Christians who should know better. God doesn't make anything second rate. Hopefully, we will realize this and make their lives happy as we want our lives to be.

Saturday, April 5, 2008
Change
Everybody is agitating for change in government. I am hoping that all the states will upgrade their animal cruelty laws. It is time. It is past time.