If you are wondering what the title of this blog means -it seems that Ringling Bros. and the Staples Center in Los Angeles have reached a new low.
I mentioned in the previous blog post, 'Oh, the Games People Play' the comic books we hand out to people who are going to attend the circus. They are a big hit with families - even grandmothers come back after getting a comic book and ask for a couple more comics for their grandchildren who live in another city or who could not make it out. In fact, these comic books were such a hit that Ringling Bros. apparently teamed up with Staples Center employees to take away the comic books from children as they entered the door. It did not stop there, one man who was going to attend the circus came back to where we were handing out the comics to tell us, 'They will not let me enter the arena with your comic book. They said I have to give them the book before entering.'
I was not shocked when I heard this because it is not uncommon for Ringling to try to stop us from getting the truth to the public about how they abuse, hit and beat elephants. What I was wondering was, 'Are they taking the comic books directly from children?'
They were taking the books directly from children - check out this video. (I recommend using the full screen mode for this video -just right click on the video and click 'fullscreen mode'
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and here is a thanks to all the wonderful people who I have met during my travels -
Thank you!
If you are like me and would much prefer an adequate supply of food for the next month rather than staring at your new expensive sofa then this is written for you. This is also written for you if furniture stores give you the willies and you prefer to be trendy and green and recycle.
Lucky for you that the world is brimming with glorious thrift stores and antique stores full of endless possibilities! Thrift stores are treasure chests-- overflowing with everything from antique tables to charming little tea cups and vintage decorating books.
Moving to Virginia a few years ago, I was fresh out of college. I didn't have much money and I only had a car full of possessions to decorate my new apartment. Early on I picked a theme: bright, vintage, and eclectic.
I visited a few local thrift stores and purchased two end tables that were similar in size and shape, yet totally different colors. I also scored a small paint-chipped bookshelf. The total cost was $15. On my way home with the tables I stopped by a K-Mart store, and for $6 I had a can of paint specially mixed in a funky shade of plum. For the next couple of hours I sanded down all 3 and then gave them coats of purple passion until they were exactly as I wanted. After they dried, I had the most beautiful matching set. All for just over $20! However, if you are not much for DIY, you can also find furniture that is in perfect condition for just a little more.
In addition to the fixer-uppers, you can also find many other fun things to spruce up your living space. There is nothing quite like spending a Sunday afternoon with your significant other on the living room floor spinning through a pile of retro 80's vinyl. My record player was only $10 and works like a champ. I have managed to find countless vinyl classics as well, ranging from .25 to $1 each. (yes, even Wham!).
Buying used items doesn't have to mean buying someone else's garbage either. With each item you also get the rich history which is hidden in each article. If you're lucky you may even score a haunted item! I often stare at my vintage dining room chairs in all of their napalm-orange-poppy glory and hope that there is the ghost of an old woman hanging out with me while I type. I need some new crochet skills, so I hope she knows how and will get busy on hooking me up with that as well.
So there you have it. The time is now to roll up your sleeves, bust out the sandpaper and paint--that ugly flaking mess in the corner is about to become your new coffee table!
I am now in Fresno, California getting ready for another fun filled week of the 'games' Ringling likes to play with us, the people who actually tell the truth about what the animals on tour with Ringling endure.
Before I go into the story about the silly and sometimes aggressive things, Ringling does to try to shut us up.
It is great to see reporters cover both sides of this issue because so many times Ringling tries to 'buy' their way into having the media only report on their side and leave out the voice of the people who protest against Ringling. I would like to share with you the wonderful media that Bakersfield reported on that includes the 'other side' of Ringling.
First, for my friends who love Univision - Here is a clip from Noticias 39 (http://www.univision.com/portal.jhtml)
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Second, is courtesy of CBS News 29 (http://www.eyeoutforyou.com/news/local)
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Ok, on with the blog!
To give you a little background on what I do during a demo - I stand on the public sidewalks along with other activists near the venue and we hand out leaflets and cute comic books to the kids. We do not do anything that would be considered aggressive. Our main goal is to be there to answer any questions people may have about the circus and the abuse that goes on behind the scene. Some activists also hold posters instead of handing out leaflets.
Ringling Bros. normally sets up a booth to sell their items directly in front of the doors of the arena, which is always away from where we hand out leaflets. This is normally the routine until this past Sunday. Some brainchild that works for Ringling thought it would be a great idea to set up their booths where we stand.
Before I continue, I must say the comic books are a total hit with the parents and the kids- plus it's free.
So, everyone knows - well, everyone but Ringling Bros. - that if you give people a choice to buy something or to get something for free - most people will take the free item over the item that is being sold. Ringling found this out the hard way.
Since Ringling set up next to us we continued to do what we do - give out free comic books to the kids and leaflets about Ringling to the adults. Everyone who walked by took our free stuff and did not buy anything from the Ringling booth. It got to the point where the Ringling employee approached an activist and was not too happy with the choice he made to set up next to us. The clip you are about to see plays out like this. I was handing out leaflets and I turn around and see the Ringling employee pulling his booth back away from where we were - he only moved the booth roughly a foot back. Then when I looked back again I saw him step up to one of the activists and say something, that is when I turned on my camera, and as soon as he noticed he was on film he backed off.
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Bakersfield, California was great! Starting off the demos with an interview with the local paper, Bakersfield Californian-You can read the article here here.)
The first night's demo went very well (they all did)-we had a ton of local activists come out but a special thanks goes out to the Network Against Animal Circuses and two locals who after the demo hooked me up with a place to eat and good conversation. (No, I am not just saying that because they told me they read Psychosomatic Rants-I can't help it if they have good taste in blogs.)
Since I have a little time to spend on this post-I would like to do a flash back moment to when I was in Phoenix.
Insert flash back music-(you know I really should create some flashback music for these moments.)
It was the last day in Phoenix-Ringling Bros. was done with their abusive shows and it was time to walk the elephants from the arena to the train. As I was filming the elephants before they were being loaded onto the train a friend of Ringling Bros. started yelling at me. The reason I say 'friend' is because earlier, before the walk, I saw this man talking and hanging out with Ringling employees. So, they were apparently buddies. Anyway, he starts off yelling at me saying things like, 'You know what PETA stands for right?!' and then he spouted off the typical line that want-to-be comedians say after this lame 'set-up'. Then he starts going off on telling me and the volunteers who were helping me that we... well, just watch and see.
WTF?!-I love how he said, when the volunteer said, "elephants in the wild walk 25 miles a day!' and he replies, "No they don't -not in captivity! -You don't know anything about elephants!"-When I heard that, I had to do everything in my power not to laugh at this stupidity, for lack of a better term. It totally amazes me that this is what we are up against and how much they miss the point and can't see past their pocket books. That is the only reason they have animals in the circus. Ringling has said it themselves in several interviews-that without the elephants there would be no Ringling Bros. It is so bizarre how they go to such extremes to protect their wallets and how the animals have to suffer and endure beatings to protect those pocketbooks.
While you watch the video and are listening to that guy rant about nothing-pay attention to what the elephants are doing. Notice that sway motion they are doing. This swaying motion is not normal for elephants in the wild. Some circus directors tell the public that elephants have to sway in time with their heartbeat while they doze and that the movement has a calming effect on them or some other lie.
This stereotypic behavior is not part of an elephant's natural range of behaviors. In the wild, elephants don't develop neurotic behaviors, since they are not bored and depressed from being confined and hit all the time.
The elephant keepers call these stereotypic movements "weaving". Weaving, rocking, or head-bobbing are signs that their physical and psychological needs are not being met, as is typical with bored, frustrated and shackled elephants in circuses.There are elephants in circuses who sway very gently from side to side or forwards and backwards, without lifting their feet. Others have a ground-covering weave, legs spread, accompanied by a swaying of the trunk. There are even some elephants who display a rapid circling of the head or alternately take a step forward and back again.
If, for instance, an elephant seeks physical contact with another elephant and is prevented from doing so due to being chained up, she may react by displaying stereotypic behavior. The elephant will begin weaving and will continue to do so until she has reached her goal, i.e. until she is able to touch the other elephant, or until distracted by a new stimulus. If she is not allowed to satisfy this key stimulus either, the circle of disappointment begins again and the elephant may degenerate to a sad, frustrated elephant.
The healthy appearance, activity level, and natural behavior of elephants, such as those in sanctuaries with hundreds of acres to roam, is usually a clear indication that their needs are being met. Abnormal behavior patterns in elephants traveling with Ringling and other circuses or even in zoos can also be the effect of an environment that does not challenge them to keep active, does not give them choices about their daily lives, where a poorly executed circus trick results in beatings, or where there is a lack of positive stimuli.
Elephants in circuses lack the everyday challenges and pleasures of life in the wild. As you can see, every single one of the elephants with Ringling are showing this type of unhealthy behavior. So referring to the last paragraph in the interview above-when Ringling invites everyone to 'to see for themselves that the animals are in excellent condition." Well, here is my video of 'seeing for myself.' When Ringling says 'excellent condition', do they mean bored, frustrated and abused elephants? - Because that is all I see!
I am going to do everything in my power to call for the biggest boycott ever against Ringling Bros. and any other circus that torments these gentle giants. If I am coming through your town, please come out and help.
A huge thanks to everyone who I have met on my travels and are doing what they can to help put a stop to the abuse caused by Ringling Bros.
WOW! It has been crazy busy the past week. So let me bring you up-to-date. I arrived in Phoenix, Arizona last week. It was hot as hell -on average it was 112 degrees -fun times. I was hungry so I stopped at a Taco Bell and when I was getting out of my van a truck pulled up behind me and the guy (redneck type) driving the truck yelled, "HEY!" So, I answered, "Yes?" and he continued in a harsh voice, "Are you eating at taco bell?" I said, "Of course" and that is when he went off on a rant saying, "Do you know the meat in taco bell came from an animals" and started going off on me about how I shouldn't eat there and how hypocritical I was for eating animals. Once he finished his rant I looked at him and said, "Excuse me sir, but what animal does a bean come from? You have heard of a bean burrito?" He paused for a second and looked like he was getting more pissed. Then he turned to me, flipped me off, and drove off real fast. HAHA
Its been non-stop since I have hit the road -I will have videos and photos up soon.
So until then have a wonderful fourth of July.
Thanks to everyone who as been I have met during my travels and everyone who has taken the time to help spread the word.
You can now put my blog on your website, myspace or wherever - with this widget.
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they thought about going vegetarian but thought it was too difficult, I wouldn't be writing this blog right now. I would be sea- kayaking and frolicking in my wealth instead.
Tonight while I was making my breakfast for dinner- vegan pancakes -I couldn't help but gawk in awe at the perfection. Then, I realized that I don't even know how to make "traditional" pancakes -the kind made with animal products. And why would I? These vegan ones are damn perfect and aren't gonna raise my cholesterol and no one had to sit in total darkness for over a day to make eggs for me.
When I overhear people talking about veggie food, its often pointed out that we eat large quantities of sprouts, wheat grass, and beans. I hate sprouts, cannot remember the last bean that I ate and am not even 100% sure what wheat grass is. Today I ate this:
Coffee
Iced Tea
Mock Turkey club sandwich
Green Beans and Corn
Popcorn
Pancakes
Like anything, there is good veg food and bad. Some veggie burgers taste like sawdust while the majority are quite yummy. The same applies to tofu, soymilk, soy cheese, and the like.
If you happen to be someone who tasted some poorly prepared tofu years ago and have since sworn off veg food based on that one experience, I implore you to try again.
And even then, poorly prepared tofu is still a million times nicer than a slab of flesh from the slaughterhouse laced with fecal matter. Flesh is flesh. Its in a pretty package at the grocery store, but its still made up of tendons, capillaries, veins, and blood -just like you. Your leg would probably look similar under plastic wrap.
So here is my most favorite recipe for pancakes. They have always turned out wonderfully fluffy and fun. Make a gigantic batch for all of your friends on a lazy Sunday and fall into a food coma:
1 1/3 cup plain or vanilla soymilk (Silk is good)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
Combine all ingredients until the batter is smooth.*using a non-stick skillet, heat the skillet using a med/low flame. When pan has heated, pour about 1/4 of a cup of batter in the center of the pan and make sure it is as level as possible. When the cake looks like it is setting up, usually just after a few seconds, you will start to see air bubbles. When the bubbles fill the entire area, you can flip it. This will take about 30 seconds or less. After you flip it, wait another 30 seconds and Voila! Serve with whatever you like with your pancakes.
