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On Abortion and the Eating of Meat

I have friends of all kinds, and that includes one friend several readers were shocked to learn of several months ago: a country-music lovin’ woman who has fur coats. Now, she’s not the typical country-music lovin’ woman; she’s from the…

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On PETA and Linguistics

Into the category “Why didn’t I think of that?” I must put PETAs campaign (for lack of a better word) to get The Associated Press to recognize that nonhuman animals are living beings by transitioning from calling them “it” and…

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Does Reporting Injuries Help Greyhounds?

I haven’t had a Gray Matter in a long time. I have worked the welfare vs. rights debate, the kill vs. no kill debate, and the all important: what car to buy-decision. But yesterday I did something that I don’t…

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Atlanta Falcons in the (Bad) News Again

I’ve recently admitted to knowing close to nothing about sports that involve people (I probably know too much about the “sports” involving nonhuman animals). But I do know that Michael Vick plays for the Atlanta Falcons, which I just learned…

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On Oprah, Purebreeds and Carnivores

Yesterday’s Oprah Show Loving Our Dogs got a few things right. The training segment, with Tamar Geller was great. Thank heavens Oprah took the opportunity to support a style different from Cesar Millan’s. And the nanosecond Tori Spelling was on,…

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On Vegan Accessories and the Today Show

I don’t watch much television, but I was alerted to a segment on the Today Show about vegan accessories. And pardon my surprise, but I guess I just didn’t realize exactly how far out of the mainstream I am. Though…

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Northern Ireland Makes Us Look Good

I have been known to criticize the US for, well, lots of uses and abuses (that’s for all of you from yesterday!) of animals and the way we talk about them. And China and Spain have certainly been the target…

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When is Abuse Abuse?

I’ve been haphazardly working my way through the alphabet, discussing words that have particular meaning to people interested in animal rights. I’ve addressed The C-Word, The F-Word, The S-Word, and the past weekend has brought inordinate discussion of The A-Word:…

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On Veganism and Earth Day

Veganism is a powerful vehicle for social, cultural and environmental change. Today is Earth Day, and if you are interested in making Earth more habitable for all creatures, now and in the future, the single most important action you can…

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Why I’m Pissed at Alec Baldwin

Now, I don’t have children, but I did take care of my one-year old goddaughter for over a week last year in my spectacularly child-unfriendly house, and I now understand the frustration that precedes child abuse. And I grew up…

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More Cognitive Dissonance from America’s Farmers

Listening to Slaughterhouse Shortage Hits Natural Beef Industry on NPR reminded me of Cognitive Dissonance at the Niman Ranch, wherein I deconstructed the word “sacrifice,” as in “We ask the ultimate sacrifice” of animals. Clearly, we ask nothing; we simply…

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The Inevitable: Cooking for the Dogs

In answer to your e-mails: Yes, I have finally begun to home cook after being profoundly disappointed by even “high-end” dog food (I’ll discuss feeding Emily the FIP-kitty later). I still recommend some kibble, such as Timberwolf Organics, to people…

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It’s March of Dimes Season

At the grocery checkout yesterday, with people bustling and chatting all around, the cashier asked if I would like to add a donation to the March of Dimes to my bill. I responded, “No way,” as if to say, “of…

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Should Dogs Be Tax-Deductible?

In a letter dated April 4, 2007, a citizen of Bayport NY wrote to Congress proposing a new law that would allow taxpayers to claim dogs as dependents. Read it. The letter writer and her husband do not have children…

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On the Blogger’s Choice Awards and Linguistics

Okay, this is the deal . . . Apparently, my nomination for Best Education Blog has been nullified, and for good reason. As a representative wrote me earlier: Specifically pertaining to the “educational” category, after reviewing many of the nominated…

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