Would anybody like a book written by me??
Category: Blogging

OK, maybe it's not actually a BOOK...but a friend had a good point when they said that if something were to happen to this profile, all my blogs for the past 2 years or so would go *poof* and disappear.

I may not be a professional writer, but I would hate to lose all those ramblings and topics...so I'm going to go ahead and copy them into Microsoft Word...with each blog being a "chapter".

So, since I'm going to do it anyways, I thought I'd ask people here if they'd like a copy of it when I'm done (which shouldn't take long).

If you'd like me to send it to you, just message me with your Email address to send it to.

I'm turning comments off here, b/c I don't want people having to show their Emails off to everybody...so just message me with it if you'd like the "book".

I'll do the song lyric game soon. :P

8:10 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos

List your favorite musical artists...AND a poll:
Category: Music

First thing's first:  I'm going to do a "lyric game" in my next blog.  Simply put, it's a quiz in which I give a line or 2 from a song and you have to give the title and/or artist of that song.  (Extra credit for getting both title AND artist.)  I used to do these a lot on a message board I posted on and they were very popular, so I hope people here like them as much as I do.

That said, I want you all to help me choose which era of music to choose songs from.  Whichever era wins will have the most representation...and so on.  

So go to the poll at the following link and vote!

Here is the poll....vote!

Thanks for your vote, and I really hope you participate in it...I may post it in a couple days at earliest!

Anyway....on to the main point of the blog.  What are your favorite artists, if you had to pick them??  You don't have a minimum or maximum to select, and you don't have to give a reason....but I definitely will.  I'll also give choice songs as a bonus...here we go in NO particular order:

The Beatles

The greatest band of all time, selling a staggering 1.4 billion records worldwide...the Beatles are a must.  Where do you even start naming favorite songs here??  Their level of influence is absolutely ridiculous, as is their song catalogue.  I think my favorite album would be Magical Mystery Tour, followed by Abbey Road and Let It Be.  Songs??  Yikes...well, "Eight Days a Week", "Hey Jude", "I Am the Walrus" and "Hello Goodbye" are a great start...

Lynyrd Skynyrd

When it comes to southern rock, people either think of Skynyrd or the Allman Brothers.  For me, there's no contest.  They have one of the most distinctive sounds in music.  You don't even need to have ever heard a song before to know in 5 seconds that it's a Skynyrd song.  People know them best for "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird", but my favorite by far is "Call Me the Breeze".  I also love "I Know a Little" ...it has a great groove to it.

Beastie Boys

It may show my whiteness, but I think it shows I can at least be a little hip.  The Beastie Boys are in my top 3 favorite bands of all time.  Their album Paul's Boutique is routinely mentioned as one of the best hip-hop albums of all time.  They've gotten older but what they release is still quality.  Favorite cuts would include "Shake Your Rump", "Intergalactic", "Triple Trouble" and "So Whatcha Want".

Rod Stewart

Sure his songs in the 80s were rather cheesy, but a few of them were catchy.  Where Stewart was at his best though, was in the 70s, when he was one of the best rockers out there.  That being said, his Unplugged album (released in '93) is one of the better albums I've heard.  If you want a good intro to Rod, try "Hot Legs", "You Wear It Well", and "Every Picture Tells a Story".

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Of bands that people would call "modern rock", I believe that RHCP are the best.  There is little that they've released that I have not liked listening to.  What's amazing is just how great they've remained throughout the years.  While groups like Metallica have (in my opinion) reached high levels of suckitude in recent years, they keep on going.  In fact, their last album is one of their best.  Favorite songs would include "Around the World", "Give It Away", "Tell Me Baby", "Higher Ground".

Soundgarden + Rage Against the Machine = Audioslave

Soundgarden and RATM were both awesome bands, but maybe not enough individually to make the top 10.  However, these are my rules so I'm going to put them together since their parts made up another awesome band, Audioslave.  While the breakup of Rage is still a musical tragedy to me, at least Audioslave was a hell of a good way to salvage the parts.  Fave songs would include "Cochise", "Be Yourself", and "I am the Highway".  Oh, and from rage: "Testify", "Guerrila Radio", "Down Rodeo", and "People of the Sun".

Hall and Oates

The best duet ever in my opinion, and backed up by numbers that state they are the best selling duo in music history.  Sure, they are pretty much known for late 70s and 80s hits but that's enough for me.  However, I have to wonder why Oates was even there...did he ever sing lead?

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)

A very underrated, in my opinion, 70s group.  They have "Orchestra" in their name because they actually incorporated an orchestra for most of their songs.  As a person who can actually appreciate orchestral music, I've always found it to be a perfect fit.  Many today probably don't know them, which is a shame.  Favorite songs are "Don't Bring Me Down", "Hold On Tight", and "Rock n Roll Is King".

So those are mine!!  You can rip on my musical taste if you'd like...but list yours too for everybody else to see!

3:09 AM - 52 Comments - 35 Kudos - Add Comment

Lindsay Lohan, and her lesbian buddy are both twits.
Category: News and Politics

So apparently the new story regarding Lindsay Lohan and her lesbian friend (although, looking "her" I'm not sure if that thing is really a female) is that PETA protesters threw flour at poor Miss Lohan while she was in Paris to watch the lesbian spin records at a nightclub.

The biggest travesty of the night, of course, was that she was apparently playing songs like "I Kissed a Girl" at this club.  Such actions should be considered assault on the ears....

However, yes the biggest story was that Lohan got some flour threw on her because she was wearing fur. 

Yeah, the first thing that goes through my mind is that PETA are a bunch of kooks.  They have a lot of problems internally and tend to go way over the line sometimes.  Their leader is also flat out insane.

At the same time, it's hard to feel sorry for anybody who wears fur.  It's well documented how the animals suffer and how they "live" while being "farmed" to only be killed for their fur.  It's absolutely senseless and I'm glad to say that wearing fur isn't nearly as popular as it used to be.  Maybe it's because most people have come to their senses...I'd hope to think so.  So in that respect, because tons of girls who have no minds of their own actually look up to Lohan, it'd be nice if she'd actually make a choice that doesn't involve such cruelty.

I know what you're thinking.  "Lindsay Lohan is still popular?".  Well, you know when you fart and it stinks really badly at first??  That was Lindsay when she first came out.  She was everywhere, and everything she was in basically stunk.  Yeah, we all laughed at her...just like we laugh at a really bad fart at first.  But then the fart lingers...it sticks around long after its really funny or useful.  That's Lohan right now.  Her career is basically in the tank, but she's only in our senses because of past "work" she's done.  Much like a greasy fart, she'll go away eventually and we'll all be the better for it.

In the meantime, we have to deal with her.  And we have to deal with her lesbian lover too.  She posted a petulent little blog here on Myspace that I quit reading about 5 sentences in, because it was clear she wasn't very well educated and that she wasn't going to have anything really of any quality to say.

Remaining so indignant about this is sad, though, from my perspective.  Surely she has a heart.  She may not have talent but she has to have a heart.  The fur industry is so wrong.  Yes, we kill animals for meat...but eating is a need.  It provides nutrients to us.  It fulfills one of the basic needs of living.  Wearing fur does not, it's only done for style purposes and to show off wealth.  To kill animals just for that, to me, is pretty criminal.

9:47 PM - 30 Comments - 29 Kudos - Add Comment

My thoughts on the recent celebrations....
Category: News and Politics

So, imagine this:

There's a child born to a black father and a white mother.  This child's father takes off when the child is 2 years old, and only comes back once throughout the child's life.  So, the child doesn't really even know his father.  However, the white mother and grandparents are largely responsible for his upbringing.  He lives with them until he goes off to college to his destiny.

So what do you call this child, who is biologically 1/2 white and 1/2 black, but was raised around white people?

Do you call him black??  Is that the one word answer that's acceptable?  Is all the white heritage shit down the drain because his deadbeat father was from Africa.

I'd say no, but you couldn't tell the throngs of people jumping up in down in Harlem, LA, and various black colleges down south that when Obama won the Presidency on Tuesday.

Look, I voted for the guy.  I was happy he didn't make his campaign based on race and didn't spout out civil rights quotes wherever he went.  It seemed more about inclusion than anything.  I'm OK with that.

But, when a candidate of a certain race wins 95% of the vote of his race, there are obvious questions as to how 19 out of 20 people could vote for somebody without a large number of those people voting for him JUST based on race.

I'm convinced that Obama could have came out and said that he had a shit-eating fetish and liked to smack hos around and still gotten at least 90% of the black vote.

But, people will say I'm just insensitive and since white people have been holding them back for so many years that they're entitled to vote for somebody based on race and not issues.  OK, whatever.

When I see people saying that this is "their election" though, and saying that this is "the first step" towards racial equality, I have to draw the line.

First off, I said this in a bulletin already and I'll repeat it: blacks are 12% of the electorate.  45% of whites voted for Obama.  It is no one group's election, it's AMERICA'S election.  Further divisiveness by claiming the election for one particular group of people is damaging to a country that needs unity.

Secondly, it isn't a "first step" at all.  Equality is here.  It's been here.  Bill Cosby said this exact same thing and was basically told to get the fuck out of town for daring to question that they shouldn't be feeling a sense of entitlement anymore.

So there I sat, watching the returns.  The guy I voted for won.  Then people started opening their mouths about how this was ever so "historic" and how it was "theirs" and how this just proves that America is inclusive.  And then, I saw Jesse Jackson crying....which royally pisses me off because that's the same hypocrite that said he wanted to "cut Obama's nuts off" a few months ago.

I'm hoping he can fix this country, believe me.  But people just need to cool it.  A few things need to be ingrained in all of these people's heads (and not just black voters):

1)  Obama is not God and he doesn't shit gold bricks.  I've seen way too many people using pointless slogans like "Hope won".

2)  Congress is more important than the President, so I hope you're happy with our congressional makeup.  They pass the laws.  Remember that their approval rating was 14% (!) before the election.

3)  Obama is not the first black President.  He's the first bi-racial President.  I'm still waiting for the first President raised by black people though.

4)  President Obama, President Bush, or President McCain...remember this: you still control your destiny and whether or not you're successful in life. 

Thanks for reading. :)

5:14 AM - 72 Comments - 88 Kudos - Add Comment

3 quick things....not all political in nature.
Category: News and Politics

1)  As posted in a bulletin last night, a person gave me an idea to make a banner for my pet food site so that people could put it on their profile if they'd like to help support people making better nutritional choices...so here it is:

I tried to make it at least somewhat visually appealing, but don't make fun of me for it!  I'm not an artist. :)

2)  No matter who wins tomorrow, no gloating from either side....well at least when it comes to me.  If Obama wins, I'll refrain from acting like a jackass to McCain supporters and vice versa should be true.

3)  Now....my main issue I"m having....

Apparently there are calls going out, telling voters that they can vote over the phone, or that the election has been extended a week due to heavy turnout.  Of course, they're all lies propegated to make people not vote. 

There are also very partisian efforts to get thousands of ballots thrown out in a few states due to minor technicalities.  I say partisan because typically the blocks of voters in question are known to go one way or the other, so the other party tries their best to get votes thrown out to damage the other party's numbers.

Last election, there was an effort by the GOP to jam phone lines at Democratic party centers in NH so that people couldn't call for rides or ask questions.  People have since went to jail for that.

This all leads up to my point...

Say what you want about each other.  Call Obama a terrorist, call McCain senile.....do what you have to do no matter how ludicrous...but do NOT infringe on people's rights to vote.

It's absolutely sickening to me that people are using dirty tricks to deny people their biggest right as Americans: voting.

I haven't done any reading up on how much this happens in other first world countries, but I'd be surprised if the same crap happens there on the same scale it does here.  Anybody caught trying to trick somebody with the intention of preventing them to vote should go straight to jail and bend over.....without any lubricants.

3:37 PM - 24 Comments - 26 Kudos - Add Comment

Here’s my platform if I ran for office.
Category: News and Politics

The political season's got me in the mood to think about just what I'd run on if I were to run for office.  I know I'd be bluntly honest, which is why I'd never win, but it's nice to dream anyway.  People want somebody to lie to them and dodge questions the candidate doesn't feel comfortable with but....I wouldn't do that.  It'd be fun for sure.  Here's my platform:

1)  Abortion stays legal.  Any pro-lifer is free to tell me what we'd do with the over 1 million babies who'd be born yearly in this country if abortion were outlawed.  Adoption?  Give me a break, there are already plenty of kids looking for homes, so adding a million more yearly isn't going to help.

2)  You want to die?  Fine.  Last I checked it's YOUR body.  Euthanasia should be legal.

3)  Prostitution should be legal.  The legalize it takes away the unsavory elements that come with it, namely the violence that comes with pimps and the unregulated health checks they may (or may not) have.  Legalization can ensure we can tax it, that they would have mandatory check-ups and STD testing, and would drive the pimps out of the business.

4)  Speaking of legalizing, marijuana should be legal.  I've yet to hear a really good argument as to why this is illegal, yet alcohol is legal.  Alcohol causes thousands upon thousands of deaths yearly, but marijuana does not.  Perhaps it's fear of the unknown, but people need to get over their fear of it.  I'd much rather have 1 million potheads out there than a million drunks.  Again, legalization means taxation and regulation.  Keep the laws on the books about driving while impaired, too.

5)  If anybody in my administration said "drill baby drill" they'd be kicked out.  The future is alternative energy.  Either we invest in it heavily now, or we fall behind in the 21st century.  Drilling now doesn't pay dividends for years, and when it does, it won't be enough to solve our woes.  So I say "invest baby invest", and you can keep your drills.

6)  Anybody mentioning "flat tax" in my administration is kicked out.  Flat taxes kill the poor and pamper the rich.  I want it the other way around.  The rich SHOULD pay the highest rates, as they currently do, and I'd ensure that the tax rates on poor and middle class did not go up as long as it could be humanly avoided, but I won't promise the same on the top 1%.

7)  In regards to energy and climate change, I oppose drilling in ANWAR, and we are absolutely causing the global warming crisis.  America is more to blame than any other country.  This is, again, why investing in alternative energy is so important.  Every year we hear about bigger chunks of the arctic falling into the ocean...parts of Greenland are now showing dirt where they have been covered with ice for hundreds of years.  THis is a crisis.  There need to be tough standards on fuel efficiency for cars in the meantime until alternative sources can be established.

8)  Iraq is a pointless quagmire...set a timetable to leave.  The government there has a surplus, plus has been itching for us to decrease our presence.  To fight the war on terror, Afghanistan is more where it's at.  MOderately increase troop presence there, and drawback from Iraq.

9)  In regards to gun control, the 2nd Amendment is outdated and was written for a different time.  There need to be tough laws for gun ownership, and there also need to be bans on certain types of weapons.  No private citizens need semi-automatic weapons.  Also, gun dealers who fail to follow the law would be open to severe (and I mean SEVERE) penalties. 

10)  Stem cell research (and science in general) needs heavy funding.  All federal restrictions towards the funding of it need to be dropped.  There are few better ways to spend money than to help people live better and longer.  This includes heavy funding for cancer research, and not just breast cancer.

11)  Gay marriage amendments to the Constitution are an abomination.  I'll never be for limiting freedoms in the Constitution.  The last time that was done (Prohibition), it was repealed.

12)  I will continue to support the death penalty.

13)  In education, it isn't that we don't fund our schools, it's that we cannot entice the right people to become teachers because of the pay and how restrictive No Child Left Behind is.  I'd remove No Child Left Behind and let the states be the judges of educational progress, and create a plan to help fund teacher pay increases across the board.  I also oppose performance based pay for teachers, because I feel it is unfair to judge 1 teacher from a certain district against another when the situations are often much different.  Test scores aren't the only way to judge how good a teacher is.

And that's where I'd start.  There's more, but it's a good beginning. 

2:57 AM - 54 Comments - 62 Kudos - Add Comment

No matter how much we disagree, please don’t let your kids become like this.
Category: News and Politics

I think it's hard not to want to punch this little girl in the face, but the real blame goes with the mother, who is standing by laughing while she calls Obama a "monkey".  If you look, in the opening seconds, the little girl is making monkey gestures and then says that "we don't need a monkey President."

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vagD-4AH4Vc

I used to have a lot of prejudice within me, actually.  Then I moved down here, where the mix is a lot greater than where I'm from.  My only friend here is black, and I honestly don't even like being in all-whites areas here, because they are often times very snobby and uppity.

So what I see above really angers me.  I can't believe that mother would allow that.  Well actually, I can believe it.  America of 2008 still has a lot of America 1958 in it.

I hope other people are with me when they say they'd slap the shit out of their kid for that.

11:47 AM - 79 Comments - 67 Kudos - Add Comment

Here are some dirty words and phrases for you.
Category: News and Politics

Sooooo we're nearing election day again, and there's been a slew of "dirty" words and phrases thrown about....let me know if I'm missing any.

"Socialist"

This is the latest McCain buzzword regarding Obama.  They throw it around like it should sting as much as being called a "faggot" or a "bastard child".  It's as if when somebody is called a socialist there's supposed to be a collective GASP from the crowd and shouts of "OH MAH GAWD!!  He's one of...THEM!!  He's a SOCIALIST!!".  What the hell is so wrong with being a socialist?  Most European countries would be considered socialist and guess what??  Many of them have higher standards of living than we do and have longer life expectancies.

I sit here and watch the news....McCain or Palin at rallies, spewing out how big of a socialist Obama is...talking to a crowd of people who would really BENEFIT from a lot of socialist policies.  After all, the people who benefit MOST are the people who don't make as much....and last I checked, Joe the Plumber was up to his eyeballs in debt.

Only in America could somebody really have to backpedal and defend being called something like a "socialist".

"Spread the wealth"

This is another current buzzphrase (is that a word?) used by the McCain/Palin ticket that's meant to rile people up against Obama. 

Yes, they're actually trying to use the argument that it is BAD to try to help out the poor and middle class people of America.  WTF??  Yet, conservative crowds EAT this up!  However, again, most of them would BENEFIT from Obama's plan! 

And if you make over 250K a year, then guess what....a 3% (current Obama proposal) tax increase is really not going to sting.  If that stings you at that income level, then you've stretched your credit far too thin and you're living on plastic and loans.

Conservatives love to get up on their soapboxes about this and say that it discourages the "American dream" and penalizes "success".  Two things:

1)  I'd rather make 250K a year and have a few extra percentage points tacked onto my taxes than make 50K a year with tax rates currently what they are OR EVEN WITH a tax cut.
2)  If you are really wealthy and do not feel that, as a mamber of a society, that you have a responsibility to help others out, then you're just a self-serving greedy prick.

"elitist"

I've heard conservatives clamor on about how "elitist" Obama is.  I guess it must be because he can speak for 15 seconds without flubbing, or because he made something of himself and graduated at the top of his class at Harvard.  However, I'd like to think that it'd be good to have a President who was top of his class versus somebody that was....oh....5th from the bottom of his class like John McCain.

You know, I've never understand the American mentality of "I want a President that I could drink a beer with".  This helped get Bush elected twice.  Sure, Kerry and Gore were much brighter, but they didn't have personalities.  However, Bush...well....you could have him over for a kegger, some coke, and strippers! 

Newsflash America:  Being accomplished and educated are good things.  Quit throwing around "elitist" at politicians as if it's so bad that they have much more intellect and education than the common person.

What, do you want "Joe the plumber" as your next President?

2:43 AM - 46 Comments - 25 Kudos - Add Comment

If you’ve already seen my new website, this’ll be repetitive for you.
Category: Pets and Animals

There.  So I assume I'm posting this to people who either didn't get an Email or bulletin from me informing them of my newest website that's attempting to help animals.

Alright.  I'm an animal lover, and I've decided to do what I can to help them live longer.  At least when it comes to cats and dogs, that is.  I've posted a spreadsheet before....but then I decided I'd do better than that.

So I got my own simple domain, and went through the painstaking task of moving all reviews over to it, formatting it, writing new HTML code, and writing new reviews I didn't already have.

(By the way, if you just want to go to the website w/o my blathering here, it's at:  http://www.petfoodratings.net )

Since I started putting out this info, quite a few people have switched.  I've been told how much healthier and happier their animals seem.  To me, this is verification I'm doing the right thing.  I won't make a dime off this website, but that's OK as long as it's helping the cause.

So if you either have animals or know people who do, I'd appreciate you taking a look and passing this information on.  As I've said, information only does any good when people see it.

Also, I do respond to suggestions to improve it...I've already implemented 2 suggested changes by people.  It's evolving....

So again, that's http://www.petfoodratings.net .  If you can help spread it to people who need the information, that'd be great.

**ONE MORE THING**  If you view this page and like it, you can Email me a picture of your pet(s) to petfoodratings@hotmail.com , because I am going to create a gallery of viewers' pets. :)

4:36 PM - 13 Comments - 24 Kudos - Add Comment

If McCain somehow wins this election, I’m not ashamed to say...
Category: News and Politics

...that I will openly hope for bad things to happen to America. I know it won't teach anybody anything about their choices, history shows us people never really learn lessons anyways, but to see people start pointing fingers and blaming everybody else when things get even worse would be satisfying to me. Yes, Obama voters would be affected too, and that includes me. I consider that a sacrifice to be made to show the people who put McCain in office just how golly gee wonderful their choice was....to have 4 more years of the same old BS.

Here's what I want:

- I want the stock market to crash so hard, that people will WISH that it was as good as it is now.

- I want the dollar devalued enough to where I could wipe my ass with dollar bills when I run out of TP, and nobody would question my judgement.

- I want gas to be around 8 dollars a gallon like it is in other parts of the world.

- I want global warming to get increasingly obvious and worse, just so I can hear Sarah Palin's excuses as to why she still doesn't believe it's man-made.

- I want our global standing to diminish to such a pitiful level that people with American backpacks in foreign countries aren't loathed anymore...they're pitied and laughed at.

- I want to be able to insult the average American in other countries, like I did when I was in Saint Lucia, and have people not even afraid to agree with me. I'd prefer them to come out and say, "Yeah, you all are pretty fucking stupid. We may be in a 3rd world country, but you'll soon be joining us."

- I want President McCain to do what he planned with leaders of countries he doesn't like...which is to refuse to talk to them and try to impose sanctions...only to have the leaders say back to him, "Like we're going to listen to you?? We may have problems, but look at YOUR country!"

- Speaking of that, the next time we try to impose our way of life on other countries who aren't interested, I want our "friends" in other developed countries to take us aside and say "Seriously....they're fine as they are. No really, they'll be OK. I think you have some problems to attend to back in the USA."

If you think I'm kidding, I'm not. I will wish all that ill and more upon this country of racist, homophobic, xenophobic, religious zealots who care more about the lives of unborn children than the people who are already here. I will sit back, and I will laugh. I will turn on the TV, listen to Billy Joe Bob from rural Kentucky tell us why he's angry, only to chuckle at who he voted for. That'll be satisfying. Oh wait, will Sarah Palin call me "un-American" for this?? Screw her and her Alaskan Secessionist Party.

3:19 PM - 112 Comments - 56 Kudos - Add Comment

Tonight, all your eyes shall be on Nashville, Tennessee.
Category: News and Politics

Welcome to Nashville!

The capitol of Tennessee, the "Athens of the South", "Music City", and tonight the host of the 2nd Presidential debate at Belmont University.

I'm pretty excited about it.  A guy at work and I are discussing going to the university to see if we can get on camera when Chris Matthews and the bunch are there.  I'd love for them to ask my opinion. 

Nashville's a great choice.  It's fairly centrally located (within a day's drive of 2/3 of America's population), and is a blue city within a red state.  Nobody can claim home court advantage here. 

The forecast says it may be rainy tonight, so that could relegate me to the couch to watch it but regardless, I'll have my eyes fixed to the screen. 

So what are you all looking for to happen tonight??  McCain to finally blow his top and hurl racial epithets at Obama??  Ha.  I think it'll get more contentious than the first but no KO blows on either side.

Oh, and you can see where I work in this picture...to the left of the building with the glowing white top on the far right.  That's where I toil the days away.

3:14 PM - 25 Comments - 25 Kudos - Add Comment

The Dow is below 10,000. You should be elated, like I am.
Category: News and Politics

What??  An American happy that Wall Street and the economy are crashing and burning??  Fuck yes I am.  And it's for the good of country, too.  Why??  Simple...

Poll after poll shows that people trust Obama over McCain in regards to the economy.  McCain's the one who admitted he didn't know much about the economy.  McCain, by far, is more aligned with Bush in regards to fiscal matters.  He fought for deregulation of the banking industry...and of course...there's the Keating 5 incident which is coming back out now.

So I opened up MSNBC...the main headline was "DOW TUMBLES BELOW 10,000".  Lowest level in 4 years.

I LOVE IT!

Burn baby!!  The worse it gets, the bigger the landslide in November!!  Woohoo!!  I'll gladly trade some economic hardship if the country isn't absolutely screwed over the next 4 years by Grumpy and Dopey.  I mean, John McShame and Sarah Failin. 

Obama/Biden '08

3:24 PM - 39 Comments - 42 Kudos - Add Comment

As I just posted in a bulletin, regarding your pet’s food...
Category: Pets and Animals

Just a follow-up to the blog about cat and dog nutrition....if you want to see a side by side comparison I've made up with scoring:

Then Email me at christopher.eng@state.tn.us for a spreadsheet I just made that compares many of the major brands of food, along with premium brands you can find in pet stores NOT named Petsmart and Petco (for some reason, those stores carry mostly bad food).


I've done a ton of research into what's good and what's bad. I've devised a scoring system based on the top 10 ingredients that either gives or takes away points based on what's in it. Depending how good or bad the ingredients are, the amount given or taken away is increased. The key to it is at the bottom of the spreadsheet to explain...

The highest score given is 35.5 ....and the lowest is -39. I've color coded them green for great...yellow for OK...orange for not so good...and red for awful.


The ingredients are listed on the spreadsheet from left to right for each food for your viewing.


Also, I found some prices...and gave you an average price per pound. It's interesting seeing how a GREAT food can cost less per pound than some overhyped food that is comparitively pretty bad.. (ahem, Science Diet and Iams).


So...Email me at christopher.eng@state.tn.us and I will send it to you. :) I'm happy to share this...to help people help their pets!

9:31 PM - 12 Comments - 20 Kudos - Add Comment

I have located two of the biggest idiots in the USA. (Political commentary)
Category: News and Politics

So I went to the Smoky Mountains this past weekend, which I enjoy for the quaint town of Gatlinburg and the great scenery of the mountains.  The people who go there?  Eh, it's very hit and miss...emphasis on the miss.  If they found out we didn't believe in God, they'd probably tie us to stakes and force us to watch one of their many Bible-themed musical productions they have there.  If you've been there, you do know what I'm talking about.

So we were at a strip mall, and we came out of the pet store....as we backed up, I noticed the bumper stickers on the car that was next to us.  Inside this car was a very trashy, greasy, huge woman.  The driver, who came out shortly after we did, was perhaps the most redneck looking guy I saw all week...and that is saying something in the hills.  Of course, they had a handicapped sticker...I"m guessing her handicap is not being able to stay away from Burger King drive-thrus.

Anyhow, these bumper stickers...well I could just explain them, but why not SHOW you??  Heidi's camera phone did the work...and here is a picture:

You probably can't read the red one on the right, but it says "Obama 2008: Starvation & Death".  That's ludicrous, obviously, but it's so bad it's unintentionally hilarious.

The one on the right is readable.  Yep, apparently Tennessee is for Jesus, not Obama.

So what's the insinuation??  Of course, it's that Obama isn't a Christian...he's one of those evil Muslims and he's plotting to become President, open the doors to Arab nations to send terrorists in, and make us all start reading the Koran.

Let me say one thing....and I will not back down or apologize for this:

If you believe that Obama is a Muslim, you are a fucking idiot and shouldn't be allowed to vote.

There are NO facts to back it up.  None.  He was put into a Muslim school for a short time in Indonesia as a kid, but that was his father's doing.  After that, he was raised solely by his mother who was....a Christian.  He has attended Christian church for decades....he isn't a fucking Muslim.  If you insist on saying he's Muslim, just be honest...come out and say:

I'm a closed-minded racist and I don't want a black man as President, but since it isn't as accepted to be against blacks, I like to say he's Muslim b/c he has a funny last name.  Oh, and I didn't get past the 8th grade.  Isn't Fox News swell?

I stewed about this for a while...and Heidi asked me, "You're really pissed off aren't you?".  Here was my response...pretty close to word for word:

"Heidi, I try to see the world as they do, but I just can't.  They are so fucking stupid and ignorant that I can't even force myself down to their level.  I'm reasonably intelligent and well-read...I know the issues pretty well...so to even attempt to get into their mindset isn't possible.  I mean, what's it like to be THAT simple-minded??  I can't even believe I share DNA with these people...it's like they're another species altogether."

There it is folks...America 2008!! 

2:25 PM - 60 Comments - 51 Kudos - Add Comment

All people who own dogs or cats should read this....
Category: Pets and Animals

It absolutely shocks me what's allowed to be put into pet foods.  Sure many pets aren't exactly finicky eaters...but either are many children for that matter.  Also, a child has the advantage of growing up and being able to ask you, "Why the fuck did you feed me such garbage?".  Pets don't really have that ability...they're solely dependent on you for their nutrition.

Oh, and what "nutrition" it is in most households....

Pet food companies know most pet owners either:

A) Are not aware of ingredients in pet foods and what they mean.
B) Do not care and have an attitude of "Well if they eat it, it's fine."
C) Cannot afford a good food for their pets. 

The number 1 selling dog food in America is Ol Roy from Walmart.  It may be ignorance....but if it's a budget thing, how fair is it to force an animal to eat un-nutritious shit just b/c you can't afford anything better??  Is it OK to make a child eat mac and cheese & ramen noodles all day??  Sure you can subsist on these things but it isn't GOOD for them.

So with that in mind...I've written a guide here to help...and many of those brands that you think stand for high-quality don't.  I've done tons of research...I've read up on ingredients...I've read other reviews, which tend to agree with one another because the ingredient lists don't lie...and I"m going to condense it for you...

Here's a shitty food's ingredients (brand to be named later):

Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), rice flour, beef, soy flour, sugar, sorbitol, tricalcium phosphate, water, salt, phosphoric acid, animal digest, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, sorbic acid (a preservative), L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried peas, dried carrots, calcium carbonate, calcium propionate (a preservative), choline chloride, added color (Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 2), DL-Methionine, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin B-12 supplement, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, copper sulfate, biotin, garlic oil, thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, sodium selenite.

Here's a quality brand's ingredients:

Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Potatoes, Salmon Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor. Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Tomato Pomace, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Rosemary Extract.

What's it all mean??  Good question....first let's look at...

Stuff to Avoid:

Corn, Soy, and Wheat:  These are hard to digest for cats and dogs and add almost nothing nutritionally.  In fact, if you see "corn gluten" that's especially offensive b/c it is the least nutrious part of the corn being used for that.  Not only is it lacking in nutrition, it's also a leading cause of food allergies in pets.  Number 1 cause??  Wheat.

These are called "fillers".  So, if you see fillers like these in the top ingredients....we have a problem.  It means you're feeding your animal food that is majority filler.  They're eating something in which the majority does nothing for them.

Animal "by-products":  Often you'll see turkey or chicken by-products in cat and dog food.  But what does it mean??  Allow me...

These by-products are basically everything left over that humans would not eat.  This includes: necks, feet, organs such as intestines, and blood.  In some cases, especially chicken, FEATHERS make it in the mix.  Oh, and heads.  Yep, animal heads.  Yummy.  Seriously, I know they aren't as finicky as us humans...but c'mon.  This is the lowest of the low in quality of meats.  If that's your top meat product, the food was made very cheaply and nowhere near as good as a product with actual meat in it.

Corn syrup or sugar:  You'll see this in some really cheap foods.  There's no reason to put sugar in your pet food.  Needless filler.

Brewers rice or brewers yeast:  Simply put, these are leftover ingredients from the alcohol-making process bought cheaply by pet food companies.  Rice is a good grain, but NOT if it is an alcohol leftover.

Animal Digest:  Basically a soup of animal parts you wouldn't want your pet to eat.  Skins, random organs, etc....very cheap and not good.

Beef tallow:  Pure beef fat....100 percent fat, baby.  That heart clogging and cholesterol laden stuff you wouldn't even go near.  The main use for it is soap, by the way.  Again, animal fats are MUCH better if they are NOT from red meats...that goes for you AND them.

Now the good:

Meat....specifically with "meal" after it:  If the label says "chicken meal", this is actually better than if it just says "chicken".  Why??   Chicken meal means that the water is already extracted.  If the word "meal" isn't present, they are putting it in the ingredient list by weight BEFORE water is extracted....and water is 80 percent or so of the weight, so it's a little misleading.  But don't get me wrong...any meat that is NOT a by-product is good to see.

Potatoes or rice:  Potatoes are about the best source of carbs they are, and they're necessary.  They're easy to digest as well.  Rice is the best grain for pet foods, as it is the most nutritious and very easy to digest...and not the source of allergies.  Keep in mind that cats do not require ANY grains at all as they are obligate carnivores...but if there's grains present, rice is the best you can get, along with oatmeal.  Much better to have rice and oatmeal vs corn, soy and wheat.

Fruits and veggies:  These are too expensive for some cheap shit food to have in them, but they are good for them as they're good for us. Some foods have carrots, cranberries, blueberries and apples in them.  If you see this, chances are the food is a good one.

I hope this was educational....and that you at least take an interest in what your pets eat.

For the record, the shitty food above was Beneful.  Most people think it's good. Facts are, it's a cheaply made food just like Iams, Science Diet and Dog Chow.  Don't believe me??  Look at the labels...those foods all get 1 star out of 6 star ratings for their ingredients...they're awful.

The good food listed was Wellness Core, which is what I am feeding my cats.  They love it.

Good cat foods I know of:

Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul
Wellness (any variety, including Core, which is grainless)
Innova
Natural Balance
Orijen
California Natural

Dog foods:

Natural Balance
Wellness
Innova
Merrick

If you wanna pass this on, it probably is a good idea...it's woeful how little some people know.

You can also reply with what you found when you looked at the bag of food your animal eats....what did you find out?

Oh, and have people contact me directly if they have questions.  I do want to help. :)

12:27 AM - 47 Comments - 53 Kudos - Add Comment