Rabbits: An education

I recently watched a video (below) that AIB TV uploaded to Youtube about the House Rabbit Society.
It was very informative and made all the main points about rabbits and the people who buy them.
Some of the points they make are:

• Rabbits are often an impulse buy
• Doing your homework before you purchase a rabbit
• Many people purchase rabbits because they think they're cute and when they get older they are often neglected. (Again, impulse buy.)
• Domestic animals are not wild animals, they rely on humans to care for them
• Rabbits are not the easiest animal to care for (I would not recommend them for small children or as a first time pet)
• A rabbit's personality changes as they grow older

This may all seem like common knowledge but I assure you, it isn't. At least not from what I've seen.
Most often I see people purchase a cute baby rabbit for their child and as soon as the rabbit gets older they leave it in it's cage for the rest of it's life. Rabbits are one of the most neglected domestic animals because people don't educate themselves on how to properly care for them. If you know how to care for them they can be one of the best pets you've ever had. People who have grown to really love rabbits say they are like a cross between a dog and cat. They're very personable, inquisitive and happy-go-lucky animals.

Please take the time to watch this video and visit the House Rabbit Society website and spread the information and education to others. Thank you!

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Burnt out

I really don't mean to sound pretentious or belittle anyone's intellect. We all have different levels of intelligence and I can appreciate different points of view. But sometimes I come across someone who is literally too crazy and stupid to talk to. Before you jump on me for being an egregious asshole, let me explain.

I try to have a reasonable, rational, logical discussion with them and then they start talking about magic and the supernatural. They claim these things as facts and when asked to provide proof, their typical response is, "Prove that it didn't!"

It would seem that the average person has little to no understanding of basic science. How things work within the realm of science. And that's fine, I'm perfectly happy to tell them the correct information on those little basic things or point them in the right direction if I'm unable to give them a sufficient answer. But when I finish explaining, it's like it has gone in one ear and out the other and then they shit on it.

How am I not supposed to be incredibly frustrated with these people? People who are supposed to be adults and expect to be treated as such. How can you go about making incredulous claims, say that they are personal, but expect everyone else to take you seriously?

Simply ignoring them doesn't seem to work for me, I have this strong urge to correct false information when I spot it. This comes at a price most times. For instance when you see a spelling mistake and correct it for someone, they sometimes think of you as a "grammar nazi" and think you're attempting to make them look or feel stupid. Since when has it become unacceptable to correct error? Is being uninformed, uneducated and willfully ignorant the new trend?

Matt Dillahunty once said, "I want to have as many true beliefs as I can and as few false beliefs as I can." 

This is something we should all aspire to.

Dr. Norman Finkelstein moved me to tears (vid)

This man is incredibly brave for speaking out. I truly admire him for being so selfless and rational.

OMG Facts! :D

Here are some interesting facts I learned today:

1) Anatidaephobia is the fear that somewhere in the world, there is a duck watching you.  

They are all watching us...

2) You can't hum while holding your nose closed.

Try it, it's true!

3) Women speak about 7000 words a day. The average man averages just over 2000. 

Yea, so there!

4) A Rubik's cube has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible configurations.

With 6 colored sides, 21 pieces and 54 outer surfaces, there's a combined total of over 43 quintillion different possible configurations. To put that into perspective: if you turned the Rubik's cube once every second it would take you 1400 trillion years to finish to go through all the configurations. If you had started this project during the Big Bang, you still wouldn't be done yet. 

5) When you put a seashell next to your ear, it's the sound of your blood surging in your veins, not the ocean.  

My childhood, oh my precious childhood T_T

6) The Bible is the number one most shoplifted book of all time.

Oh the irony!

7) Your tongue cannot taste food without saliva.

In order for food to have taste, chemicals from the food must first dissolve in saliva. Once dissolved, the chemicals can be detected by receptors on taste buds.  

8) Dogs do NOT have cleaner mouths than humans have.

However, you are less likely to get sick from kissing a dog than you are a human! This is due to the fact that many of the bacteria in a dog’s mouth are species specific and are therefore harmless to human beings. 

9) The evolutionary ancestor of whales could walk on land.  

Ok I technically already knew this but still, it's interesting dammit! 

10) During Prohibition, the U.S. government poisoned alcohol to keep people from drinking it.

In an effort to stop the bootlegging, federal regulators ordered the manufacturers of these industrial alcohols to add deadly poisons to their products. As a result, by the time Prohibition had ended, an estimated 10,000 died from being poisoned by their own government.

Source: http://www.omg-facts.com/

Crazy Christian Cunt

It was a hot summer Sunday in 2008. My mom's pastor was leaving the church that day and a new one was replacing him. I had known this woman named Marian for most of my life as my mother dragged me to church every Sunday and Wednesday. Marian was a very tall elderly woman who always dyed her hair an unnatural shade of brown.

She had called the night before and asked to speak with me. She wanted to know if I would like to attend church with her and my mom to see the pastor off (I never met this pastor). I respectfully declined but she insisted. I said, "Maybe, but I don't know", just to humor her. She must have mistook my "maybe" for a "yes" because the next day all hell broke loose (slight exaggeration).

It was early evening and I had just woken up because I'm a total lazy ass and I love sleeping in on Sundays. In the middle of egg making I hear my mom coming up the stairs and another pair of footsteps as well. My mom walks in with Marian behind her. Marian then proceeds to walk past me (she didn't see me, I was in the kitchen and she was in the dining room), through my house and to my bedroom saying, "Where is she?" My mom says, "Now Marian." Marian realizes I'm in the kitchen where my mom is.

Marian sees me and gives me a friendly hug. She was a bit peeved that I didn't attend church with her this morning and proceeded to make dialogue with me.

MARIAN: Why didn't you go to church with me today?

ME: Well I didn't say I would, I just said "maybe".

MARIAN: You said, "Yes, I will."

Me: No, I didn't. I said, "Maybe, I don't know."

MARIAN: No, you told me "yes".

ME: Marian, no I didn't. I may not remember perfectly well but I know I didn't say "yes".

MARIAN: Well what's wrong with your memory?

ME: Nothing, I just have a really bad short-term memory apparently.

After insulting me she then decides it would be a good idea if she, my mother and I all huddle together and pray. I was clearly uncomfortable at this point and was looking to my mom for help but of course to no avail. 

MARIAN: Larissa, do you believe in Jesus as your savior?

(Fuck.)

ME: Well, I haven't gone to church or been a part of all that for a long time.

MARIAN: Do you believe in Jesus?

ME: Well...

MARIAN: Do you believe in Jesus? (Much more sternly this time)

ME: No, I'm actually an atheist.

MARIAN: What?! Where do you think you came from?!

(Note: I'm extremely socially awkward and when confronted I clam up and say stupid things. Not to mention she had a firm grip on my shoulder the entire time.)

ME: I don't know? It's just what I think.

MARIAN: Let me tell you of the story of the rich man and the poor man.

(Oh, here we go.)

MARIAN: The rich man goes to heaven and the poor man burns eternally. Do you want to burn eternally? In fire?! I want you up in heaven with me! Let's go into the living room and you can get down on your knees and commit your life to God.

ME: No, no, that's not necessary. I'd rather not.

(She then looks at my mom, then back to me.)

MARIAN: Your mother is so good to you, and you don't have a job, you're staying here!

At this point I've had enough. I tried to get her hands off of me because she was holding both my shoulder and arm. She held on. I tried to leave but she wouldn't let go of me. Finally I managed to get away because at this point I was on the brink of tears from being so humiliated.

I waited in my room until she left and then I came out, bawling, and yelling at my mom. I asked her how she could just stand there and not help me. I was so angry at her for not sticking up for me. My mother may not be the most understanding person in the world, but she knew why I didn't have a job and why I was staying in her home. 

Nothing ever came of this and I've since let it go. I've only told a couple of people. I'm not one to dwell on my bad experiences or to use this as an excuse as to why I'm an atheist. I'm not even mad at my mom anymore. Grudge holding helps no one and only seems to hurt the holder of the grudge. I just wanted to write this down to share my experience.  

 

Our Founding Fathers

Washington didn't actually say this, it was Joel Barlow (Treaty of Tripoli)

The left side of this photo is quite common to those who, let's face it, don't know what the hell they're talking about. Excuse me, unenlightened well-meaning Christians. So let's get down to it and clear a few things up:

Thomas Paine wrote The Age of Reason, a book which criticizes established religion and challenges the Bible. He famously called the Bible "mythology". He did believe in God but didn't hold to Christian beliefs, he was a deist. He was an immigrant from England and it was actually Benjamin Franklin that suggested he emigrate to America.

John Adams was a Unitarian, which means he didn't believe in the Holy Trinity, he only believed that God was one person, not three (He was raised as a Congregationalist). He was very much against orthodox Christian dogma. One of his most famous quotes, "This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it”. In contrast however, he said this about Thomas Paine's criticisms of Christianity, "The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity, let the Blackguard Paine say what he will."

James Madison was an Episcopalian "During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution." Context - Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments (1785)

Thomas Jefferson coined the phrase, "separation of church and state" in 1802. He called the gospels "defective" and "doubtful" and made many references that make it clear that he, like Thomas Paine, believed in God but didn't hold to Christianity. "Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law."

The Pledge of Allegiance was originally written in 1892 by a man called Francis Bellamy. It read: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." The phrase "under God" wasn't added until 1954. Bellamy was a Baptist minister and a Christian Socialist.

These men were all secularists and all supported the separation of church and state. They were some of the most important men in the history of the United States. And if you just so happen to hear someone saying things like the late Jerry Falwell did, please refer them to the First Amendment.

The Virtual Battery Cage

Here is a link to see the virtual battery cage through the eyes of a battery cage hen:
http://www.animalvisuals.org/empathy/virtualbatterycage/index.php

1. In the United States, an estimated 95% of egg-laying hens are intensively confined in battery cages.
2. As of December 2008, about 300 million birds are confined in battery cages, almost one for every U.S. citizen.
   USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service. (2008). Chickens and Eggs. Retrieved December 16, 2008. page 1.
3. Each cage confines 5 or 6 birds on average, but sometimes up to 10 birds.
   USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services. National Animal Health Monitoring System. (2000). Layers '99. Part II: Reference of 1999 Table Egg Layer Management in the U.S. Retrieved December 16, 2008. page 22: The average number of chickens per cage is about 5.6.
   
   Shields, Sara, and Ian J.H. Duncan. (2006). An HSUS Report: A Comparison of the Welfare of Hens in Battery Cages and Alternative Systems. Retrieved December 18, 2008. Under "Cages and Alternative Systems," it states that the most commonly used cages hold 5-10 birds per cage.
   
   Compassion Over Killing. (2005). New COK Investigation Leads to Criminal Charges of Animal Cruelty: Excerpts from the Investigator's Log Notes. Retrieved December 18, 2008. Notes from Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at Ebenshade Farms in Pennsylvania, investigator noted that most of the birds were overcrowded in cages, with as many as 10 birds per cage.
4. Voluntary industry guidelines specify a minimum of 67 square inches per hen. This is an area smaller than a standard sheet of paper.
   United Egg Producers. (2008 Edition, published 2003). United Egg Producers Animal Husbandry Guidelines For U.S. Egg Laying Flocks. Retrieved November 15, 2008. page 11, paragraph 1.
5. Like any animal, chickens are highly motivated to perform natural behaviors. These behaviors include nesting, perching, scratching, foraging, dust-bathing, exploring, and stretching. Caged chickens are denied all of these natural behaviors, causing them severe frustration.
   Shields, Sara, and Ian J.H. Duncan. (2006). An HSUS Report: A Comparison of the Welfare of Hens in Battery Cages and Alternative Systems. Retrieved December 18, 2008. This document provides a summary of natural chicken behavior and how it is frustrated by battery cage confinement.
6. Battery hens suffer from serious health problems, such as respiratory disease from constant exposure to ammonia fumes and fecal dust; osteoporosis, bone fractures, and prolapsed uteruses from being bred to lay eggs at an unnaturally high rate; and foot disorders, sores, and injuries from contact with the cage wire in outdated cage systems.
   Shields, Sara, and Ian J.H. Duncan. (2006). An HSUS Report: A Comparison of the Welfare of Hens in Battery Cages and Alternative Systems. Retrieved December 18, 2008. This document provides a summary of diseases and health problems battery chickens suffer.
   
   The Humane Society of the United States. (2008). An HSUS Report: Welfare Issues with Selective Breeding of Egg-Laying Hens for Productivity. Retrieved December 19, 2008. More detail on osteoporosis and cloacal prolapse resulting from selective breeding.
7. As a response to the lack of foraging opportunities in the barren cage environment, chickens sometimes engage in feather-pecking of their cagemates. So, before they are 10 days old, the ends of their beaks are seared off with hot blades.
   United Egg Producers. (2008 Edition, published 2003). United Egg Producers Animal Husbandry Guidelines For U.S. Egg Laying Flocks. Retrieved November 15, 2008. page 4: Guidelines for beak trimming.
8. Beak mutilation causes acute and sometimes chronic pain.
   Shields, Sara, and Ian J.H. Duncan. (2006). An HSUS Report: A Comparison of the Welfare of Hens in Battery Cages and Alternative Systems. Retrieved December 18, 2008. page 5: "Abnormal Behavior: Cannibalism and Feather-Pecking."
9. For every egg you buy, a hen will be forced to endure these conditions for over 32 hours.
   USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service. (2008). Chickens and Eggs. Retrieved December 16, 2008. page 1: Egg production for October 2008 was 2,276 eggs per 100 layers. This is 22.76 eggs per month per bird, which translates to 32.68 hours per egg, given that October has 31 days.
10. Chickens are confined for about a year and a half before their ability to lay eggs declines, then they are killed.
    USDA/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services. National Animal Health Monitoring System. (2000). Layers '99. Part II: Reference of 1999 Table Egg Layer Management in the U.S. Retrieved December 16, 2008. page 23: The average age of laying hens entering battery cages is 17.5 weeks. Page 29: The average age of laying hens at slaughter is 101.5 weeks. 101.5-17.5 = 84 weeks, or about 19 months.
11. Eggs are not a necessary part of a nutritious diet, and there are many healthy, affordable alternatives that make it easy to leave eggs off of your shopping list for good. Some good egg alternatives include applesauce, bananas, commercial egg replacer powder (such as Ener-G Egg Replacer or Bob's Red Mill All Natural Egg Replacer) ground flaxseed, tofu, or vinegar and baking soda. 
    For more information about how easy it is to replace eggs, see the following links:
    

    • HSUS: Endless Eggless Options
    • EggIndustry.com: Egg-Free Products & Recipes
    • About.com: Egg Substitutes
    • Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: Cooking Without Eggs
12. The egg industry cannot be trusted to make responsible decisions regarding the welfare of chickens, because it has a profit motive to sacrifice their interests. There are currently no U.S. federal laws that protect the interests of chickens used for food.