Cats Decided to Befriend Us ...

The evidence bears out, it seems, that yes, wildcats 12,000 to 13,000 years ago decided to come on down to where all the agricultural goodies were and start feasting on the vermin, thus beginning their interaction with humans. I read it on the Washington Post. It was a great article, an easy read. There is an even better article over at LiveScience which is probably the source or inspiration of the WP article.


What I found really interesting is that today was the the day I was inspired to write about people who hoard animals out of the misplaced desire to help them was the day the world learned that domesticated cats self-selected themselves to live with humans. At one time, the arrangement was very beneficial to both parties. It should be the same now.


One problem is the over-population of kittens and puppies. There just aren't enough homes for all these little critters being born. Thus, all owners of animals have to take responsibility and get their animals fixed. For those on a budget, there are ways to get help. I know up in New England, I used Friends of Animals for certificates for my cats. They saved me!


If your pet isn't spayed or neutered, I'd really love to know your excuse. I guess if you are a breeder, that is a different story. I am talking about your basic mutts here. Cats like mine. Dogs like the ones I've had before. Because if your animal isn't a pure-breed, there is no reason I can think of except laziness.

If you own an animal, that animal should be spayed or neutered.

We'll beg if we have to!

Not Quite Noah's Ark - Animal Hoarding

If you have ever seen the television program Animal Cops, you may have seen an individual or couple guilty of animal hoarding. These are people who just collect cats and dogs, believing somehow that they are "caring" for the animals, when in reality these animals are being horribly neglected. In Pawtucket, Rhode Island a woman was found with over 60 cats in her home. As I recall, only about 13 of those cats were healthy and sociable enough to be adopted out. The rest were euthanized. (I hate the term euthanized; it's just a gentle way of saying 47 cats had to be killed - that is the harsh reality.)

It is believed that the people who amass such quantities of animals actually have a mental illness and I do believe it is true. I believe these people do actually believe they are caring for the animals. Since it is usually very evident when someone in the neighborhood has an excessive amount of animals and when they are not well cared for, shouldn't these people receive help before the problem becomes so excessive that these animals live their entire lives under abusive conditions and then have to be killed? It seems to me that we, as a society, should be trying to protect the innocent and defenseless, and that would be the animals, wouldn't it?

I guess it just hurts my heart to see the cats and dogs pulled out of these homes, seeing how scared and abused they are and then finding out that they were "euthanized." They knew nothing of love in this world, nothing of kindness - only fright, pain, darkness. I wish I had a solution.

At least I care for my critters. That's really all I can do. Those are my beastie babes above... three brothers... my ginger babes. From left clockwise, Cinnamon, Licky and Saurus.

Four inches taller but no place to go...

I did actually get myself some four-inch high heeled shoes finally. Two pairs actually. Its not that I'm a shop-a-holic type woman or anything remotely like that. I just so happened to stop into the local Kiwanis Club, which is our thrift store for the first time in months. They happened to have two pairs of great shoes in my size that I liked at prices that just couldn't be beat! A great pair of blue sandals with chunky heels for $4.50 and a black pair of stiletto heels that I've seen online for between $40 and $50, I picked up for $2.50. Now, if I can only find some place to wear them!

(This post references previous blog "The View from 4" Higher)

Where is the Outrage?

This was forwarded to me by a drunk conservative, one of the ones who admits in his drunken moments that he'd be happy to kill a hippie or two himself, Victims of Drug War Tactics. No one, however, could possibly think that all of the people on this list either deserved to die or more importantly should have died over the United States policy on enforcement of the "drug war," especially as regards marijuana. That anyone dies by law enforcement of marijuana laws (and I include police and DEA agents as well) is stupidity at its highest (pun intended).

What Would You Do?

Relationships can be fragile things. They definitely require work and a fair amount of compromise. I know of a relationship-buster involving, of all things, Myspace.

The male in the relationship has his bartender (a female) as one of his Myspace friends. Not only as one of his friends, but in his top friends. If you aren't familiar with Myspace, the account holder chooses whom to display on their profile page as their "Top" friends. You can have your "Top 8" or "Top 12" or any number increment of four up to 24.

The relationship between these two individuals is already on shaky ground. They used to live together, but because of his behavior due to his drinking they no longer live together. He has been told by his physician that if he doesn't stop his heavy drinking he will not live another 10 years.

The female, after one too many drunken abusive phone calls, elicited a promise from the male that he would remove the bartender from his Myspace page last Friday. It is now Wednesday. He has been back to the bar Monday night and Tuesday night. The female believes that it is hopeless. She believes that he has not decided to stop drinking and that the bartender is a symbol of his problem with alcohol and his denial of it. She has told me that she wants to keep on believing and she doesn't want the relationship to end because she loves him.

I think if someone really loves someone s/he keeps his/her promises. I think if alcohol is a problem in a relationship, the person with the problem either addresses it and gets help or the relationship is doomed. It is sad. It sucks. But it is also reality. Alcoholism hurts more than the alcoholic.

If you were the couple in question - what would you do?

Victory for Privacy

On Monday the Federal Appeals Court ruled that a probable cause warrant is required to search and seize emails. I found this information on Wired Blogs where you can even link to the .pdf decision itself. To think, we can actually expect privacy in our emails. This is the USA I love.

Father's Day and Art

Many thanks again to my significant other, Joe M., for directing me to Post Secret, an ongoing community art project. This Sunday the site was devoted to fathers and father's day. I was tremendously moved by the art displayed on the site. There is something so primal and moving about an image on a postcard with just a few words. It is folk art at its best. I'm also reminded of how many truly talented people are in this world.

Martin Sheen Mind Meld

Yesterday, I was on my little rampage about the drug laws (okay, pot especially). Today, I'm reading the news because, yes Sunday is the best day to do it. Of course, it is just not the same as getting lost in the Sunday paper (oh, the New York Times Magazine after reading the Providence Journal and the front section of the NY Times - heaven indeed!), but I am in Florida, so these minor pleasures I can no longer have satiated.

What did I just stumble upon, my random blog reader? Well, apparently according to the AP, Martin Sheen was just in Congress this week to ask for money for drug courts and treatment instead of jail as a drug court and the subsequent treatment saved one of his friends. He appeared this morning on George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week" about his friend and his appearance in Washington. I have to give Martin a big thumbs up for going to Congress and telling them what works.

If you would like to read the AP story, you can find it here.

Refeer Madness: 71 Years Later

I just watched the 1936 movie classic "Reefer Madness" which in no small part helped to criminalize marijuana. I haven't seen it for at least a decade and I had forgotten just how absurd it was. Here's how my TiVo sums up the description "Young people go from marijuana smoking to wild piano playing, hysteria and death." Wow. Especially considering that the THC content was so much less back in the 30s, I don't know how this was happening. But, then again, this was propaganda, so as with all propaganda, the truth really didn't matter that much.

The reality was that this was something black jazz musicians were using (and had been using it) and it starting creeping into the use of a minority of white folks. Hey, something to bridge the gap between the different cultures and ya know, we just couldn't have that. Plus, a new way to get power and money... Henry Anslinger was all over that.

What got me totally was the beginning of the movie, which I'm going to transcribe here (this flashes up as something to read):

The incidents and characters portrayed in this motion picture are purely
fictional and any similarities to actual occurrences and living or deceased
persons is coincidental.

[Next screen]

Forward:

The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you. It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers. Marihuana is a drug - a violent narcotic - unspeakable scourge - The Real Public Enemy Number One!

Its first effect is sudden, violent, uncontrollable laughter; then come dangerous hallucinations - space expands - time slows down, almost stands still .... fixed ideas come next conjuring up monstrous extravagances - followed by emotional disturbances, the total inability to direct thoughts, the loss of all power to resist physical emotions ... leading finally to acts of shocking violence ... ending often in incurable insanity. In picturing its soul-destroying effects no attempt was made to equivocate. The scenes and incidents, while fictionalized for the purposes of this story, are based upon actual research into the results of Marihunana addiction. If their stark reality will make you think, will make you aware that something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace, the the picture will not have failed in its purpose....

Because the dread Marihuana may be reaching forth next for your son or daughter ... or yours ... or YOURS!

While doing a little more research on "Reefer Madness," I found a wonderfully informative site which clearly shows how manipulated the public was on the issue of marijuana back in the 30s. Please, direct yourself to Hypnosis and Reefer Madness for a very cohesive analysis of why this particular piece of propaganda worked so well in addition to the research to show how the individuals within the government lied and placed their own facts and figures so that they could attain power and prestige.

Now that we're all clear on our history. The movie was complete fiction. Didn't happen. But, the hyperbole in the beginning is classic 30s, 40s, 50s overkill. We know that our drug policy was shaped on lies and misinformation, yet it is still in place today. Why? Isn't it time we examined the whys of our laws? We build so many jails, but there is no money for treatment for the people with the heroin addictions, the crack addictions and now the huge problem with meth that is turning up all over the Northeast. Jail 'em up seems to be the answer for everything. How does this help? And locking up pot smokers accomplishes what? Will someone please tell me?

The argument about marijuana being a gateway drug - you might as well argue that cigarette smoking, coffee and alcohol are gateway drugs too because I haven't met one drug abuser that hasn't used or is currently using at least one if not all three of those drugs as well. Thus, that argument is completely and totally moot. The very idea of a "gateway" drug is absolutely ridiculous from a psychological standpoint. A person is either inclined to use drugs, illicit or not or they are not. They legality of the drugs doesn't matter. Using marijuana isn't going to make someone a junkie unless that person is going to be a junkie anyway. There are more variables involved than just that and to pretend that there are not is living in a fantasy land. We all need to inhabit the real world here, folks, so c'mon, get with it.

I want new answers because the old answers haven't been working. I know we can do better. It has been over 70 years since "Reefer Madness" was released, but you know, you would be hard pressed to know it by our federal laws. I think its a shame.

Fly the Rude Skies with US Airways - Updated 6/28/07

When I bought my airline ticket to get from Florida to Providence, I had a few choices of airlines. I chose US Airways for a number of reasons, price and convenience being a few. The flight crew have always been friendly, making up for the sometimes sketchy time performance. However, this time, they have really dropped the ball - twice.

I booked my ticked the day before my departure; I'm spontaneous at times. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted my confirmation email. I realized this the morning of my departure. Since my plane didn't leave until almost 4:00 pm, I figured calling customer service at 7:00 am would fix all my problems. The woman was very nice, but could not find my reservation. She looked and looked and I just wasn't there. I was flummoxed. She was flummoxed. She asked a supervisor for help. The advice was to purchase another ticket. I looked and I couldn't get the exact same dates. I had to stay one more day to get the exact same rate. I was worried about this double booking and expressed my concerns. Because the dates were virtually the same, because I had called, because it was clear from the time I bought the second ticket that I hadn't missed the first flight, if I was charged for both tickets, I was assured that I would get a refund. Not a ticket, a refund. I made very clear that I didn't want another ticket or credit - I wanted a refund if charged twice. "Not to worry," I was told.

I returned to Florida and of course, the debit card was charged twice. I just got off of the phone with US Airways and... yes indeed... the rudest customer service in the world. I was just informed that (if I'm lucky) I will get issued a credit because I was listed as a no-show. I was on that plane, how could I be on it twice? I was informed that I could be lying about everything. This makes no sense. Everything I'm saying makes perfect sense with the timing of the credit card charges - why would I buy two tickets before the first plane took off? This is just crazy.

I had offered this young woman some advice on how to improve the database so that this kind of stuff doesn't happen in the future - i.e. point this flaw out to someone in IT, investigate the situation so that it doesn't happen again - but this was just ignored. Again, it was insinuated that I could just be lying. Everything I said could be verified via IP addresses, time stamps and nothing else would make sense except for what I am saying. I have no doubt that people try to scam the airline, but when I am 100% on the level and I'm assumed guilty from the get go, this is customer service at its worst, especially when the mistake was on their end from the beginning.

US Airways, I'm waiting for you to make this situation right with me. But, I'm not holding my breath. Oh, and I think you need to have a talk with Jenny down in customer support. She needs an attitude adjustment.
*************UPDATE**************
June 28, 2007
***********************************

The credit card which I charged to which I both tickets was credited one of the tickets yesterday! Yay! I did not follow up on this at all, except for writing this blog post.

Thank you US Airways for taking care of this.

I do still think Customer Service, Jenny in particular, needs an attitude adjustment in terms of treating customers like they are guilty instead of assuming they are innocent and then looking for the evidence to see what is what. Obviously, it is the evidence they go by, so why ever insinuate to a customer that s/he may be lying. It is just poor customer service period.

However, giving my money back for their error in a relatively timely error without me bugging them - good customer service!

Guess it evens out.

Triumph the Insult Dog and Tony Awards

Many thanks to Joe M., my boyfriend, for forwarding me this very funny clip of Triumph the Insult Dog at the Tony Award Show. Scattershot, irreverent humor at its finest, Triumph's moment of pure over-the-top "I can't believe this is happening" comes at the best place, the end. I hope you enjoy watching this clip as much as I did.

The View from 4" Higher

Being a tall gal at 5'8" or so, and also not especially into dressing up, I have never really before worn really high heels. That is before last week when I was visiting Cape Cod and staying with my girlfriend, whom I've known since we were both 13. She and I were going to go out to dinner along with one of our college roommates, since we've all stayed in touch. It was when the ex-roomie arrived in a beautiful outfit and gorgeous 4" heels and my gal pal from junior high began shuffling through the closet that I realized that my simple outfit of black jeans, loose shirt and casual sandals had left me me woefully underdressed.

We three gravitated into the bedroom naturally, talking and laughing. Casually a shirt was thrown my way with an easy command to "try that on." I just can't ignore one of those commands! The shirt was still casual, but much more form fitting.

Next, a pair of black high heel shoes with a four-inch heel. Wow. I could not believe those things. I shook my head. "Just try them," I was told. I slid my foot in and it did fit. I slid my other foot it and buckled that side up too. Then, I stood up. Oh my, was I tall now! I couldn't help but to keep my posture very straight. I also felt better about myself. It was rather incredible. I told my friends I felt like I was wearing my mom's shoes. They both laughed. I'm 39-years-old and am quite grown up, but just don't feel it inside. I don't think I ever will. I'm rather grateful for that, actually.

But, I do think I might be getting a pair of nice four-inch heels. I did like the view from up there.

Justice for Paris

I'm watching the circus, yah man, it's the only show in America. At least today, events turned out the way they should have, with the blond socialite heading back to serve her time in jail, where her law-breaking behind belongs.

I'm really quite sick of the media shoving this story down my throat. Since they are, I'm going to comment on it. Tommy Chong was on MSNBC earlier this morning to give his opinion on the whole three rings. Clearly they didn't expect someone with a brain. He was right on target suggesting perhaps we have better things to focus on as a country, such as the face that we are at war with no end in sight, we have an Attorney General whose ethics are questionable at best, and the country doesn't seem to be engaged in any particular dialogue constructive to making the United States a better place to live and work. Mr. Chong would perhaps understand about going to jail, as he spend nine months in a federal jail himself, but hey, since no one paid any attention when the government took away his personal liberty and decided it was okay for him to live under the conditions Ms. Hilton is now going to live under, it's no wonder he was also dismissed by the idiot talking head on MSNBC whom I only know as Cassandra or something similar sounding. She seemed like a moron when she asked Mr. Chong when she asked him if he had smoked anything this morning. Lady, have you ever seen someone who is high? Their eyes are red and usually slightly slit. Mr. Chong evidenced nothing to suggest he was under the influence of marijuana and it was a low blow to suggest that he was. Shame on you, lady.

Oh, by the way, this commentator for MSNBC keeps saying how she can't help feeling pity every time she sees the picture of Paris in tears in the back of the cruiser. I can't help wondering, does she feel pity every time she sees a young woman in the back of a police cruiser, or is it just the young, rich, white ones? It makes me a little angry. Paris already has a lot of free passes just because of winning the birth lottery. She really doesn't need any one's sympathy. Sure, she wants it. But, really, does she need it? She needs it like she needs more money. I'm not giving any. I think you're a sucker if you give any, but hey, it's just my opinion and I am one bad kitty!

Paris Hilton Saga

The ridiculous saga of Paris Hilton... I cannot believe I am even adding to the din over this, but it does bear commenting on at this point. Justice for the rich is different than justice for the poor. How much more evidence do we need? It is 9:49 California time and it has been confirmed that Ms. Hilton does not have to appear in court, but may testify by phone. Please. If someone breaks the law, there is a consequence. At least, that is the theory. However, as it has been noticed in this country, if you have enough money, you can break the law and actually not suffer any consequences at all. Remember a certain O.J. Simpson who was found "not guilty" (which certainly is not the same as "innocent" now is it?) of murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Thus, we know already in this country that with enough money, justice can be more than blind, she can be deaf, dumb and quite retarded.

Ms. Hilton actually did go to jail. She spent a night or two on that steel frame bed with the four inch mattress and toilet right in the same room. I believe the lights were on at all times as well. Please, do not think for one moment that I have any sympathy for Ms. Hilton as I do not. I think she needs to be back behind bars right this second. We need to somehow make sure that money does not once again render our lady justice more than just blind. If we do not, we make it that much easier for the rich to believe they can do anything, including murder without consequence.

Ms. Hilton is the one who put herself out into the spotlight. Now, she will serve a true purpose for living in the spotlight if there is any true justice in this country. Let that spotlight shine on her while she is in jail.

Silly Japanese Cat Golfing Game

From Aces Full of Links, I found this silly game which is nonetheless highly amusing. Don't expect to do well on your first go round, but do expect to have a laugh and a bit of fun.

Java Juice

My mom got a Keurig one cup gourmet coffee brewer for Christmas. Since this lovely appliance has been around now for six months, I've had ample time to try it out and also note how the Keurig has somewhat changed my parents lives for the better.

Personally, I love the brewer. It is extraordinarily easy to use. The selection of gourmet coffee available in the single serve "K Cups" is more than ample and all that I have tried have been delicious. It would be nice if the brewer made a slightly larger cup of coffee, but you can always make two "K cups" in a large mug or travel mug.

How has it changed my parents lives? They still drink coffee the "old fashioned way" in the morning. However, when they come home, they "treat" themselves to a gourmet coffee via the Keurig. My mom, a true coffee fanatic, will have two or three cups throughout the evening as she reads. I asked my father how he felt about the cost. He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. "Your mother loves this and I really like it too. It's a lot cheaper than going out for coffee and it makes us happy." I'm paraphrasing here, but the general gist is right on target.

The Keurig one cup coffee brewer starts at $99.95 from their website. However, I know my dad bought my mom's at a local warehouse club - it may have been BJ's or it may have been Sam's Club. Thus, if you are interested in this product, keep in mind, the website is not the only place you can find it.

This review is in no way a compensated endorsement. My opinions are mine alone and I receive no monies or other renumeration from Keurig for this post.

When in the Course of Human Events ....

The Declaration of Independence. We all pretty much know how it goes, at least the beginning ...

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and
Happiness...."

Some people are so angry, they have taken this notion from the Declaration of Independence to issue an arrest warrant for George W. Bush. I found this interesting, even if I think it is a bit over the top.
An Arrest Warrant for George Bush