Sir Bandelot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTcp26zsZPc Indeed. Your leader, I presume?

The legitimacy of this issue goes beyond the behavior of just one person, in this case the original poster. But since you insist that its important to know, yes I am a vegetarian. I do not believe that meat is unhealthy to eat, but choose not to eat it for the reasons you gave. However I am not overly fanatical about it. In other words sometimes I break the "rules", like when I visit other peoples homes. I will not insist that they prepare my meal separately, and then sit there sanctimoniously eating my vegetables while they eat meat, because I don't want them to feel that I am judging them. So at times I will eat it, because I know that such occasional "transgressions" if thats what I can call it, have very little impact on the larger issue. If it were up to me the whole system of industrialized food production and slaughterhouses would be reformed. I am no expert on how best to do that of course. But most people don't care much, what they want is a cheaper piece of steak and most people have more immediate problems to solve, than worry or even give a damn about animal welfare. That doesn't mean that the rest of us should ignore the problem and do nothing. And first of all, where there is something happening that's unreasonable or unnecessary, something that could be changed, it is right to do so. Like the chuck wagon races. Society's cruelty to animals reaches its culmination in the slaughterhouses, but it begins at the circus.

Yeah but I went to the farmer and asked him if he kills his cows humanely. He said yes. So I told him I'd only buy his meat if he whipped the cows first.

Sixth horse dies at Stampede; euthanized The show must go on. But not in the UK: Death of 6 horses stirs animal-rights debate at Stampede The League Against Cruel Sport began a petition, encouraging British members of parliament, to condemn the rodeo at the Stampede. The league also lobbied travel agents to stop arranging tours to Alberta during the 10-day-long Calgary event. League spokesman Steve Taylor says fellow Britons are “surprised they still have rodeos.” Rodeos were banned in the U.K. in 1934 — as a result of one of the league’s first actions. “People are genuinely shocked that this is still going on.” Taylor doesn’t buy the argument that the rodeo should be supported because of its roots in farming tradition. The league, he points out, successfully lobbied for the ban against another long-standing tradition that it also deemed cruel: fox-hunting in the U.K. Calgarians, looks to me like it's time to grow up and join with the rest of us in the real world.

I would not be too sure about that because, it's possible that at relativistic velocities, and in certain regions of the universe where gravity dominates, 2 + 2 actually equals 3.99999999999. Believing its always 4 is just a mathematical abstraction. According to the second law of thermodynamics there has to be a slight loss or degradation in every transaction. The preservation of absolute values regardless of the number of transactions is merely an illusion.

Pamela Anderson: Calgary Stampede 'cruel' MONTREAL - Pamela Anderson was asked Thursday what she thought of the death of a fifth horse at the Calgary Stampede's renowned chuckwagon races. "I think this is very cruel," the former "Dancing With the Stars" contestant said of the race, which is one of the main attractions at the Calgary event now underway. "I'm not a fan. I never have been." The disdain of the former "Home Improvement" cast member echoes that of a growing number of animal welfare organizations, who say the event is cruel to animals. Protests have spread as far as Britain. Anderson, who gained fame as lifeguard C.J. Parker in TV's "Baywatch" in the 1990s, is an outspoken animal-rights activist who says she has cared about critters since she was a child. Anderson said she tries to advocate for animals wherever she goes, saying she talked her father out of being a hunter when she was a child after she and a friend saw a dead deer being cleaned. "We were all traumatized because there was this deer hanging upside down dead, no head, dripping into a bucket. I simply panicked and convinced my father to never hunt again," she said. "It was my first time that I realized speaking out worked and I haven't shut my mouth up since then." There you have it. More animals dieing every day, it seems. And if Pamela is not going to take it lieing down, then neither should you or me.

Yes you've made that quite clear, time and again

State execution is appalling, especially in these circumstances. I think countries like Iran use these methods to keep the people living in fear. It probably does not matter at all what she did. or when. Suspect these things are happeneing all the time, and we are only hearing about it now as part of the US propaganda machine to demonize their opponents. Example China executes thousands each year. But Obama did not even mention it when he visit there. Just smile nice, and give handshake

I'm wearing my rubber boots, so you two guys can crap all you want.

Yes keep cracking that whip, Marlboro Man. In defending the contrary view the way that you have, only bolsters my argument. We need only look at the calibre of people here and what views they're defending, to make any real assessment

I wholeheartedly agree and that has always been my attitude towards pet ownership. For that reason we have never owned a pet before. I made an exception for Thomas (cat) because he would have been left to die. THese creatures have become dependant on us by the society we live in, and how they are born in captivity. The same applies to domestic livestock, ie. cows etc. In this case there are things we do that are necessary and can't be avoided, like raising cows and slaughtering them for meat. We need to do what's necessary, but the things we do that are un-necessary should be stopped. If not for the sake of the animals then mostly for what it does to us, in our attitude toward treatment of animals which I think ultimately relates toward our relationship with the environment, and other human beings.

I don't think the state will try to block it. Or would they? But a crystall-nacht type of event could. The whole issue is becoming so emotionally whipped up by certain types and the media, would not be surprised if the place is attacked by terrorists. And no I don't mean from the middle east.

In my case from the start means when he was actually chosen. Up to that point it's just all talk, as far as we little people are concerned. I don't think that Rae has a real shot at the leadership, but you never know. My comment was more directed at the notion that he WANTS it, and he acts as a barrier to other potential leaders in the party who might actually be credible. Not that there seem to be many choices. No one seems to be being "groomed" for the future of the party. It's another failure of the party leadership to not be looking that far ahead. But then one could also say the saem thing about the Conservatives.

Right from the start when he was (s)elected, I thought the choice was surprising and probably a move they would come to regret. Dion was a supreme embarrasment, but to follow him up with Ignatieff only compounds the error. What they needed was someone with enough charisma and leadership ability to make people forget about recent party blunders (and it's a big task) but they've failed again. These people are on a roll. But there does not seem to be a lot of quality choices for them to make. The selection of leader is entangled in power plays and cronie-ism. Bob Rae is a ghoul.

He spends most of his evenings outside, but always comes back the next day. Sleeps all day on a chair. Yes he's fussy about his meals. I on the other hand have to go to work. I guess in freedom there's always some trade-offs. But we won't be skinning or eating him (unless absolutely necessary)

Anderson Cooper, big expose, Haiti still completely paralyzed. Millions displaced by the quake still living in tents, no electricity, no light, no running water. Orphanages without food. YET WAREHOUSES STOCKED WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF GOODS, ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. Some of it still from the original deliveries made and held in storage, since January. Cooper reports that out of 5 the Billion dollars pledged to help Haiti in those first glory days after the quake, less than 100 million has been delivered. A lot of this money was donated by private citizens and groups. Where has the money gone? Clinton says some governments have held on to the donated money to make interest off it, during this time of economic restraint. US- pledged 1.15 billion. Delivered: 0 Venezuela 1.32 billion. Delivered 0 Canada 378 million. Delivered: 0 France 170.9 M Delivered: 0 World Bank: 266 M, Delivered: 0 Brazil 163.5M, Delivered 45 M Norway 107 M, Delivered 31.2 M Then they showed several football-field sized warehouses full of dried and canned goods. I mean FULL. And some long-haired white dude was in charge of the place. Anderson asked him why the food cannot be delivered and he gave some kind of bullshit excuse, like we don't got a truck, we're not paid, or something like that. He looked nervous and shifty eyed. He looked like he was on drugs. Anderson arranged to have a truck deliver a load of these goods to the orphanage he had visited. Truck packed full of goods, doesn't even make a "dent" in the huge amount stored in this one warehouse alone. Seems to me that all you people who don't see any problem, are simply living in a fantasy world. If you were one of the people who gave some cash, hope it made you feel good because it only was used to line the pockets of criminals. And no, I don't just mean the guys at the warehouse.

Ignatieff is just about the best thing that could happen to Stephen Harper. Most people thought that Dion was the ultimate but then along came Ignatieff, wearing those fancy made-in-Quebec cowboy boots!

We live with one and he has taught me just how intelligent and aware animals are. Having this cat has shown me that animals are worthy of more respect and understanding than many humans give them credit for, and also how arrogant people are to think that we are all that has consciousness, thoughts, feelings and memories. Such shows where animals are put on display for entertainment are not the worst things that we do, but they contribute to our sense of entitlement. I think it appeals to those who can only see themselves. The message is, just take what you want and do what you want, because it amuses. Nature made us what we are and we have fought against nature, to control it... but we cannot control ourselves.

Well as a matter of fact, I got a phone call just the other day, was someone from the Schreiners Circus. They asked me if I would be willing to sponsor a kid to go to the schreiners circus. I thought for a moment and almost was going to say "sure", but then I asked him "Do they have animals in that circus?" and he says, yes, elephants and horses. So I politely told him I can't donate to them for that reason. He seemed to be very understanding about that. After I hung up the phone, I thought to myself "Bread, not circuses".

But, but, the poor horses are so CUTE! I'm not trying to tackle or solve anything, just wanted to raise the issue. My view is, leave the friggin animals alone, damn you all and your entertainment, but that is just my view. I'm not on a crusade.

4 horses dead, rider injured at Stampede "There are animal deaths of one sort or another at the Stampede almost every year and the Stampede continues to make various excuses for these deaths, but it is part and parcel of what happens at rodeos" "There have been over 50 chuckwagon horses die since 1986 at the Stampede." "We feel that event is putting the horses under unnecessary stress." In addition, more than 50 members of Parliament signed a motion in the British House of Commons asking the Canadian government to improve how animals are treated during the event. "We know some people have different views about animals and we respect their right to hold those opinions, but we trust that they will respect the opinions of the millions of Calgarians, Canadians and international visitors who admire and respect the Calgary Stampede." Here we go again, time to round up the animals and force them to trot all in a row, nice and pretty like. Gee even other countries are noticing how backwards Canada is, in some places. Personally I don't get the appeal, what makes these yahoos call this "entertainment". Remoinds me of the roman colliseum, where gladiators fought against captured animals for "sport". http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/Bandelot/chuck0715_210.jpg Wow did you see that critters head come apart? Thats entertaining... http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/Bandelot/3e61c784.jpg What a brave, talented guy http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/Bandelot/marlboroman.jpg Yeah, he's a real man, cause he's got a whip http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac101/Bandelot/0011cc74_medium.jpg

I thought the final game was boring and anti-climactic. Both teams played too carefully, no on willing to make any bold moves or take chances. Sad in a way, I was beginning to think that this world cup match would generate more enthusiasm for soccer in north america. But now I have my doubts. I also was not impressed by the number of "dives" and melodramatic acting by some teams. Think this too would not st well with many north american viewers. There was some controversy about the goal. Was it offside, or not? They only showed it once on the replay, which I thought was a little odd, and the commentator sad "clearly off-side,".

Or both... like some others, JBG?

They're religos leaders are teaching them democacy is un-islamic.

Didn't you say that you were divorced? Zing