Actors James Franco and Kevin Nealon have teamed up to end the use of primates in medical research. Please visit PCRM.ORG, one of our favorite charities, to learn how you can help by supporting a crucial piece of legislation that would finally limit or end this ridiculous research.
Cruel conditions and relentless intrusive procedures on chimps and apes DO NOT SAVE LIVES. You will, not ever, find groups of children or anyone that are alive today because of these atrocious acts perpetrated on animals. The ends do not justify the means.
To argue that this will endanger people because we need the animals to do live experiments and vivisections on is ludicrous, uninformed and really just plain ignorant. Do the research yourselves if you don't want to believe us. But we will ask you now, where are the cured people, the saved children from all these years of research? Nowhere.
Betty White is all the talk today for her 90th birthday, so is Muhammad Ali for turning 70 and Jim Carrey is celebrating 50. However, most of our b'day accolades are for Big Ben Franklin, our most beloved Founding Father.
Ben Franklin was just plain awesome. So what if he had multiple wives and syphilis?
Here are some of the reasons why Ben was so freaking awesome:
Clerk Postmaster Alderman Governor Ambassador SCIENCE - Noted 18th Century Scientist - Rediscovered Electricty INVENTOR - Stove, lightning rod, bifocals, snorkles and too many others to list MEDICINE - Founded 1st U.S. Hospital BANKING - Well known for maxims on thrift AGRICULTURE - Introduced several crops to U.S. PRINTING - Noted Colonial printer - "Patron Saint of Printing" ELECTRICAL - Experiments and theories INSURANCE - Started 1st insurance company HEATING - Franklin stove COOLING - Had three methods of cooling EDUCATOR - Involved in founding two colleges OPTOMETRIC - Bifocal glasses POSTAL - First postmaster LIBRARIES - Started 1st circulating library JOURNALISM - Wrote for several early newspapers PUBLIC SAFETY - Started 1st police department PUBLIC SAFETY II - Started 1st fire department RELIGION - Introduced idea of prayer in Congress MUSIC - Invented musical instrument - glass armonica GOVERNMENT - Held numerous positions: MILITARY - Colonel in Militia MASONIC - Grand Master of Pennsylvania DIPLOMAT - Ambassador to England Minister to France COMMUNITY SERVICE - Street lighting, paving and cleaning UNIONS - Started Leather Apron Club BUSINESSMAN - Owned and operated several businesses PHILOSOPHER - Started American Philosophical Society ABOLITIONIST - Started Society to Abolish Slavery SALESMAN - Expert at marketing and sales MERCHANT - Operated store as part of printshop HUMORIST - Considered America's 1st writer of humor TRAVELER - Traveled extensively throughout U.S. FORECASTER - Published Poor Richards "Almanack" FUND RAISER - Originated matching contributions idea SAILING - Designed "sea anchors" CARTOONIST - Drew 1st cartoon in an American newspaper LINGUIST - Studied several languages and designed a phonetic alphabet CARTOGRAPHER - Mapped the Gulf Stream and Routes for the post office PHILANTHROPIST - Organized fund raising and contributed to many worthwhile causes MENTOR - Acted as a counselor and guide to many of his contemporaries
He started the first police dept., the first fire dept., the first hospital, the first insurance company, the first library that gave out books! He invented street lighting and was the first ecologist of the modern era - by inventing the Franklin stove that conserved wood!
For the longer more comprehensive list go to: Ben's Wiki Page
Also born January 17th:
Actress Betty White is 90. Actor James Earl Jones is 81. Talk-show host Maury Povich is 73. Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor is 64. Actor-comedian Steve Harvey is 55. Singer Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles is 53. Actor Jim Carrey is 50. Actor Naveen Andrews of Lost is 43. Musician Kid Rock is 41. Actress Zooey Deschanel is 32.
Wow. How much do we love James Earl Jones - Happy 81st James!
Q: What is the penalty for getting caught with a SHITLOAD marijuana for sale in Alabama?
A: It's MANDATORY LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. No questions, straight to jail FOR YOUR ENTIRE NATURAL GOD CURSED LIFE.
Q: What's the Ohio penalty for beating your 6-week old baby until he's blind and has permanent brain damage?
A: Eight years - tops. Parole eligibility not disclosed but is an option.
This is what's fucking wrong with this country. Period.
Some asshole in Ohio did this to his kid and only got an 8 year sentence - the MAXIMUM ALLOWED BY LAW. What the flipping fuck? Are you serious?
The Judge in this case was fucking appalled as well saying this: 'You destroyed your son’s life and he’s ruined. He’s blind,' Ruehlman told McRoberts.'(He) won’t be able to function or hardly walk. Six weeks old, beat this kid, page after page of (his) injuries. Broken ribs, Broken skull. Six-week-old little baby. Damaged brain and you only get eight years.'
Fuck you Rick Santorum and Sarah Palin and everyone who is "for the children". NO YOU ARE NOT. If you were, we'd actually have laws in this country that punish those who hurt and molest kids.
Instead you are all giving millionaires tax breaks and working on NOTHING!
War on Drugs? How about we start a new war? The War on Stupidity and Senselessness!
This shit is fucking ridiculous.
Back in the day, Americans knew how to handle this stuff. It was called "this guy got the shit beat out of him before he even saw a court of law". It was ordinary people DOING THE RIGHT THING. Not vigilantism - going out and killing bad guys - but good old fashioned sense. The cops should have worked this guy over. For the little boy who will now need US, (you and me the taxpayers), to pay for his medical care FOR LIFE.
Where is the accountability in anything these days? This is bullshit.
6 weeks old and his own father beat the shit out of him.
The father's name is Nick McRoberts. He's in prison in Ohio and gets out in 8 years. Keep looking over your shoulder, Nicky boy. When the inmates are done fucking you up the ass 7 times a day, every day, for 8 years, you'll have the American Public to deal with.
We'll update with news on the baby and any fund raisers for him.
Brett, 35, "has never met another chimpanzee he doesn't consider a friend." Brett is well-known for his paintings - one of his pieces is in the permanent collection at the NOVA Art Museum in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. - CBSnews.com No word on what procedures were used to torture Brett for the 35 years he was held captive and used for "research". But he is FREE now and in a sanctuary enjoying life and retirement. Look at his gorgeous face! We Love him!
The practice of using primates (chimps and apes) for medical research is finally, POSSIBLY, reaching an end in this country! "Chimpanzee research is rarely necessary for medical studies and should be on its way out", says the Institute of Medicine.
Hallelujah!
Proposed criteria says that studies that test new drugs or give animals diseases can only be conducted on chimps only if other animals or people can't be used first, and if foregoing the chimp studies would hinder progress against life-threatening or debilitating diseases.
The panel also advised the government to limit use of chimps in behavioral research, saying such studies must provide insights into the brain and behavior that otherwise are unattainable. If behavioral research requires chimps, researchers must use techniques that minimize any pain or distress.
Still not a total ban. And it's sad. The United States of America, who should be setting the gold standard for moral, ethical, logical, humane and decent conduct for the world is still one of only TWO COUNTRIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD that continue utilize and torture primates for science. It's embarrassing how medieval we are.
New Zealand became the first country in the world to give primates civil rights and ban procedures on them. THE ENTIRE WORLD followed with the "European Union banning such research last year."
Why is the United States so backward?
We NEVER thought we'd be able to say this but....Kudos to Glaxosmithkline - "GlaxoSmithKline recently adopted a policy ending its use of apes and chimps in research."
Fucking A and Amen!
Not all is good: "This report was triggered by backlash over the fate of 186 semi-retired research chimps that the NIH planned to move to an active research lab in Texas to save money."
We must fight for them. Live animals used in research is ethically and morally despicable. THE ENDS DO NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS. What is the point of using the "saving children" excuse when we've lost our souls and humanity in the process? Animal research is passe and obsolete. The United States needs to get with the program.
On November 24, 1971 a man by the name of Dan Cooper successfully hijacked an American airplane and got away with it and the money.
Cooper's escapade is undoubtedly one of the most successful single handed heists in history. True, he only took $200,000.000 but in 1971 dollars that was over a million. And his legend has endured all this time making him kind of a folk hero even though today he would be branded a terrorist.
People are in awe of Cooper and how the hell he managed to get away with it. Or did he? Does his body still lie undiscovered in the vast wilderness of the Pacific Northwest? Perhaps a Bigfoot found him, nursed him back to health and has held him captive all this time?
D.B. Cooper no matter what the outcome will always be legend. Because he got away with it. He might be dead but he is not nor ever was caught and prosecuted. We still root for this guy. Fuck it.
Most of all, we root for him, because no one got hurt. He was a nice hijacker. The guy was very polite to the flight staff (well, except for frightening the stewardesses with a bomb!) and even let them eat dinner. He also released all hostages after receiving the money.
This story is a doozy and all the more entertaining because the details are amazing. Personally, we think he did get away with it and lived for a while but is probably dead now. We may well never know the truth of who exactly D.B. was.
Was the identity of Dan Cooper based on a French comic book named DAN COOPER?
Dan Cooper, 1955 French Comic Book Hero
It's one of the FBI's most annoyingly unsolved cold cases of all time. And one of our personal faves.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was shot to death this day in 1963.
It was a beautiful Texan day and no one, but the idiots that killed him, had any idea what terrible things were to come.
WARNING: The following is extremely graphic.
Look how Jackie tries to flee the car after her husband's head is blown apart all over her. It's still so sad.
Never forget these 2 things about that day and night:
1) The Secret Service that were supposed to physically ride on the back of the car and run beside it using specifically installed handles attached to the car were intentionally CALLED OFF at the last minute.
The secret service guys were so pissed they kept waving their arms in the air - 3 times to be exact - in exasperation and confusion. Why were they being called off by their boss? REPEAT: Why were the Secret Service Agents supposed to be riding ON THE BACK OF THE CAR ITSELF being called off by their boss? Here's the video to prove it.
And 2) FACT: Right after JFK was assassinated the United States Treasury was plundered. The paper money that used to read "Payable to the Bearer on Demand" became a useless "Federal Reserve Note" and rumors abound to this day that Fort Knox was emptied out in one night.
Brad Meltzer's Decoded just did a great episode on Fort Knox. No one has been allowed in to view the "gold" since the 1970's. Nope, nothing shady there!
The assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the death of this great country as we knew it. All of the evils that have befallen us over the years can directly be traced back to that beautiful yet tragic day in Dallas.
Shelia Schaffer with Charlie, Penny Herald with her dog Liberty and Adam John Riniker with his dog Freedom
American soldiers are returning from Afghanistan and bringing war torn dogs home with them.
As any animal lover will tell you, you form more than just a bond with a pet. And when that pet has suffered along with you that bond becomes unbreakable.
The dogs go through a grueling process of travel and quarantine. It takes months for them to reunite with the soldiers who love them. But when the reunion process happens it's MAGIC.
These soldiers are spending their own money to have the dogs they bonded with flown to the US to live a happy life here. A life filled with food, love and hugs.
Awesome!
Read the article to see even more pictures and to read this heartwarming story. Daily Mail News Article
On this day in 1975, one of the United States' most tragic maritime disasters occurred on Lake Superior.
The Supertanker Edmund Fitzgerald was lost at sea with all hands. 29 men died in what would be one of the most mysterious Great Lake shipwrecks of all time.
Lake Superior, known for its rough seas and terrible winter storms, claimed the Edmund Fitzgerald in 80 mile an hour winds and 25-foot high waves. The supertanker was not unlike the Titanic as far as the notion of "it's too big to be lost at sea". It sank fast, without sending out a single distress call. This wasn't 1875 but 1975 and the suddenness of the tragedy surprised everyone. The ship was equipped with state of the art everything...radar, sonar, communications. To this day not one body has been recovered.
The ship, discovered at the bottom of the lake a few days later, sits a silent tomb. Home forever for the crew of 29 that perished so suddenly and horribly that November night. The Son of the Late Great Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel, brought The Calypso to Lake Superior and were the first crew to use a submersible to dive to the ship, in 1980.
What made the wreck so mysterious was the circumstances of how it sank so fast without sending a distress call. Not one SOS. It was so weird that people came up with every theory under the Sun including Alien Abduction.
It has been determined in the intervening years that the hatches were insufficiently closed and that water poured through them, compromising the ship. One thing led to another and within minutes, all were gone. The Captain, Ernest M McSorley, was a veteran seaman. It probably surprised the hell out of him, too.
In 1995 the beautiful golden Bell, engraved with the ships name, was brought to the surface. It is now housed reverently at The Great Lakes Shipwreck museum.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is home to an entire exhibit for the Fitz. Be forewarned - "The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald" is on a loop. (God Bless Gordon Lightfoot!) If you can't handle the song...wear earplugs. But go. Whitefish Point, Michigan is as beautiful and wild a place in all of North America and it's AWESOME. We don't even have words to describe accurately the majestic views of Lake Superior.
The museum is hosting it's annual Edmund Fitzgerald tribute later today that always concludes with a prayer and a ringing of the original Bell 29 times, once for each man lost.
For those of you old enough to have FINALLY gotten the Gordon Lightfoot tribute song out of you head...sorry... Here it comes again. It's a friggin classic!
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead When the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed When the gales of November came early
The ship was the pride of the American side Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin As the big freighters go it was bigger than most With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms When they left fully loaded for Cleveland And later that night when the ships bell rang Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.
The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound And a wave broke over the railing And every man knew, as the Captain did, too, T'was the witch of November come stealing.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait When the gales of November came slashing When afternoon came it was freezing rain In the face of a hurricane West Wind
When supper time came the old cook came on deck Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya At 7PM a main hatchway caved in He said fellas it's been good to know ya.
The Captain wired in he had water coming in And the good ship and crew was in peril And later that night when his lights went out of sight Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does anyone know where the love of God goes When the waves turn the minutes to hours The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay If they'd put fifteen more miles behind her.
They might have split up or they might have capsized They may have broke deep and took water And all that remains is the faces and the names Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings In the ruins of her ice water mansion Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams, The islands and bays are for sportsmen.
And farther below Lake Ontario Takes in what Lake Erie can send her And the iron boats go as the mariners all know With the gales of November remembered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The Guy Fawkes, V for Vendetta Mask, is the new face of Occupy the World
The 5th of November: the only night of the year where people everywhere openly celebrate Treason!
Remember, remember, the 5th of November The Gunpowder Treason and plot; I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'Twas his intent. To blow up the King and the Parliament. Three score barrels of powder below. Poor old England to overthrow. By God's providence he was catch'd, With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip Hoorah! Hip hip Hoorah!
A penny loaf to feed ol'Pope, A farthing cheese to choke him. A pint of beer to rinse it down, A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar,' Burn him like a blazing star. Burn his body from his head, Then we'll say: ol'Pope is dead.
To properly celebrate Guy Fawkes Day rent the movie V for Vendetta, prepare a nice bonfire and firework celebration for tonight with an effigy of 'ole Guy to burn, and don't forget to plot to overthrow your government of choice!
Occupy!
Facundo Arrizabalaga/AFP - Getty Images - Demonstrators Occupy London on 11/1/11
The only known picture of Charlie The horse that will never be forgotten and may yet be vindicated. His death may change the world...for horses.
The Blogosphere is blowing itself up over the death of poor Charlie the New York carriage horse. AND FOR GOOD REASON.
Necropsy results are sort of in...no cause of death yet...but plenty to be upset about. The necropsy was conducted at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and reported that Charlie, the gorgeous white horse, had been "suffering from a pronounced, chronic ulceration of the stomach and a fractured tooth."
Poor Charlie was in undeniable severe pain for God knows how long before he just collapsed and died on the street 10/23/11.
Animal rights activists are up-in-arms over this needless death. Especially in light of how poor his health had been. And rightly so!
Carriage horse owners have vehemently denied they mistreat their horses BUT THE PROOF IS IN THE AUTOPSY RESULTS! When was the last time Charlie had his teeth looked at? The one tooth was cracked open and the horse had a bit in his mouth. Undeniable cruelty.
We're calling for the neglectful owner(s) to be charged with cruelty, neglect and be shut down. We will not abide.
Read Mayor Bloomberg's updated response at globalanimal.com! Hint: It's just as insensitive and outrageously stupid as his other comments. GlobalAnimal.com
If you care at all about these poor defenseless horses PLEASE visit the ASPCA against horse drawn carriages petition page! It only takes a second to add your voice to the growing chorus. Mayor Bloomberg needs to hear us! ASPCA Petition Against HDCs
A candlelit vigil was held for Charlie on 10/27/11
His father John. Unarguably one of NYC's most famous residents. Ever.
Flashback 1971 - a young John Lennon moves to New York City to live with his love Yoko Ono. It's 4 years before little Sean was born to them. In England, little Julian is only 9 years old. John is about to start his new life by protesting the injustices of the world.
Flashforward 2011 - Sean Lennon regales the Wall St. Occupiers with his rendition of Madonna's Material Girl.
We always loved Julian the best, but yesterday (no pun intended), Sean showed all of us what a cool fucking cat he really is.
Sean Lennon and Rufus Wainwright, NYC 10/23/2011
Julian, wrote one of the greatest songs in history. We know if John had heard this song and its environmental message he would have been so f'ing proud. You nailed it here, dude. This song was released in 1991. Wow.
We are a rock revolving Around a golden sun We are a billion children Rolled into one So when I hear about The hole in the sky Saltwater wells in my eyes
We climb the highest mountain We’ll make the desert bloom We’re so ingenious We can walk on the moon But when I hear of how The forests have died Saltwater wells in my eyes
I have lived for love But now that’s not enough For the world I love is dying (and now I’m crying) And time is not a friend (no friend of mine) As friends we’re out of time And it’s slowly passing by Right before our eyes
We light the deepest ocean Send photographs of mars We’re so enchanted by How clever we are Why should one baby Feel so hungry she cries Saltwater wells in my eyes
I have lived for love But now that’s not enough For the world I love is dying and now I’m crying) And time is not a friend (no friend of mine) As friends we’re out of time And it’s slowly passing by Right before our eyes
We are a rock revolving Around a golden sun We are a billion children Rolled into one What will I think of me The day that I die Saltwater wells in my eyes
We're not sure who these people are but they are rockin' it big time for Halloween. They went with "party house" for Halloween and not "haunted house" but because they did it right, we'll let it pass. WTG, people!
"After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over. The coming months will be another season of homecomings. Across America, our servicemen and women will be reunited with their families … This December will be a time to reflect on all that we've been through in this war...with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops. With our diplomats and civilian advisers in the lead, we will help Iraqis strengthen institutions that are just, representative, and accountable. We'll build new ties of trade and of commerce, culture and education that unleash the potential of the Iraqi people. We'll partner with an Iraq that contributes to regional security and peace, just as we insist that other nations respect Iraq's sovereignty. I would note that the end of war in Iraq reflects a larger transition. The tide of war is receding."
