A n i m a l   W r i t e s © sm

The official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter

  

 

    Publisher   ~ EnglandGal@aol.com                                         Issue # 02/16/00

        Editor    ~ JJswans@aol.com

    Journalists ~ PrkStRangr@aol.com

                     ~ MRivera008@aol.com

                     ~ SavingLife@aol.com

 

 

    THE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:

  

    1  ~ Science From The Heart by Marc Bekoff - bekoffm@spot.Colorado.EDU

    2  ~ A Guy Thing?  Really? by MRivera008@aol.com

    3  ~ BMP Gets Whales on U.N. Forum Agenda

    4  ~ Zebra Love from sdurbin@tulsa.cc.ok.us

    5  ~ Lawyers?  Or Lawyer Friends?

    6  ~ Intriguing Recipe by Zerbeena@aol.com

    7  ~ Procter & Gamble Buys Iams and Eukanuba byKMBwolf@aol.com

    8  ~ Song For Baby Ruth by parogers@mindspring.com

    9  ~ Quote To Remember

  

 

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Science From The Heart

by Marc Bekoff - bekoffm@spot.Colorado.EDU

 

from Boulder Camera - February 13, 2000

 

"Back off man, I'm a scientist." This bumper sticker has been percolating in my brain for many years. Here's why.

 

Science supposedly tells us why things are the way they are.  However, science isn't value-free. Numerous prejudices are embedded in scientific training and thinking. Scientists, as humans, have individual agendas -- personal, social, economical, and political.

 

I'm a scientist. I study animal behavior and am interested in the health and integrity of individuals, populations, species, and ecosystems.  I love what I do; it's fun. Because I have a utopian dream of reconnecting humans with the souls, spirits and hearts of other humans, other animals (anima = soul), and with inanimate landscapes, and because I'm a sentimentalist, some think my science is flawed -- too "soft," too subjective, not impersonal. I believe science should be more open to individual's world views. There's so many diverse problems it's unlikely there's only one sound scientific method.

 

Historically, scientists have been placed on pedestals by non-scientists and scientists themselves. Scientists were trusted, their autonomy and authority unquestioned. Most worked in a safe, insulated microcosm. Those who questioned science were considered anti-intellectual, perhaps Luddites. After all, scientists busily discover cures for countless diseases, the structure of the human genome, how to make weapons for global destruction, ways to get to the moon and elsewhere, how to generate and process information faster, how to engineer better food, how animals behave, and how nature works. Alas, how to make our lives longer and presumably better. And indeed science has chalked up innumerable successes. But it can do better.

 

Nowadays more people, including some scientists, question science.  Non-scientists are more aware and inquisitive, but aren't anti-intellectual. Rather, many feel science hasn't delivered. They're also concerned with the politics, economics (rush for patents, financial gains), and arrogance of science. Indeed, scientists make errors, and it's our fallibility that keeps science afloat. Increasingly science isn't seen as a self-justifying activity, but as another institution whose claims on the public treasury must be defended.

 

What about science and nature? While we've learned much about nature, one reason traditional science often falls short is that it fragments the world. Reductionistic science dissects, disembodies, and splits wholes into parts. It produces linear, mechanistic views of the universe and objectifies and devalues animals and nature. Science reduces the dynamic multidimensionality of our interactions with nature into static, dimensionless flatlands, rather than stimulating the understanding and appreciation of variegated landscapes. However, we aren't very good at reassembling wholes -- reconstructing Humpty Dumpty. We often discover wholes are greater than the sum of their parts and we're unable to understand how whole systems emerge from complex interdependent interactions among their constituents. Laudably, the National Science Foundation now supports a program in biocomplexity. Macroecology and the Biosphere project are good examples of large scale holistic thinking. 

 

Reductionist science also misrepresents the world. This has serious consequences for the quality of knowledge we gather and for how we interact in and with nature. Reductionism promotes alienation, isolation, and disconnection. It forces a separation between the seer and the seen -- a false dualism. Science often makes nature less magical and impedes our truly sensing, feeling, and understanding the scope of the amazing world within which we live.

 

Holistic and more heart-driven science is needed, deep science that's infused with spirit and compassion. Holistic heart-felt science reinforces a sense of togetherness and relationship, family and community, and awe. It fosters the development of deep and reciprocal friendships among humans, animals, and other nature. It helps us resonate with nature's radiance and lessens our tendency to think, egocentrically, that we're at the center of everything. Geologian (the term means student of earths processes) Thomas Berry, author of "The Dream of the Earth," stresses we should strive for a benign presence in nature. Native Americans are proud to claim that "animals are all our relations." Animals and inanimate landscapes need to speak for themselves. Trees need love too.

 

I often wonder what science might have become had its history not distanced and elevated humans from nature. My own idealistic dream is to live in a world in which humans perceive themselves as a part of nature and not apart from her, a world in which humans whose spirits have been robbed or squelched by living amongst steel, concrete, asphalt, noise, and a multitude of invasions of their private space reconnect with other humans and raw nature - with the fragrances of wild flowers, and the sounds, sights, odors, and touch of other animals and inanimate environs; a world in which sensing is feeling.  We're an integral part of nature, one with nature, and have unique responsibilities to her. We must take care when we try to redecorate nature. Nature has much to offer when we open our hearts to her boundless and breathtaking splendor. She's our unconditional friend and reconnecting can help overcome alienation and loneliness.

 

We need to reinforce creative, passionate, and bold dreaming, and resist narrow thinking that claims there's only one way to do "good" science. Allowing individual idiosyncrasies, interdisciplinary collaborations, holism, and heart to inspire science will make it more exciting, creative, attractive to students. All scientists should be open to this. But some still resist the notion that science is value-laden and some don't want to impregnate science with feeling. Nonetheless, the Nobel prize winning geneticist, Barbara McClintock, stressed that scientists should have a feeling for the organism with which they worked, and she worked on corn!

 

Questioning science will help insure that we won't repeat past mistakes, that we'll move towards a world in which humans and other animals share peaceably the beneficence of nature. Magnificent nature -- the cacophony of her deep and rich sensuality -- will be respected, cherished, and loved.

 

Marc Bekoff teaches in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology at CU-Boulder.

  

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A Guy Thing?  Really?

by MRivera008@aol.com

 

Ignorance is one of the evils of our society.  We hear college-educated adults make racially insensitive jokes and we understand that education is not always an antidote to ignorance.

 

However, for the sake of homeless animals destined to die in our nations pounds, ignorance about sterilization is insupportable.  I guess being a female I am incapable of understanding the reasons that some highly-educated and intelligent men exhibit totally moronic attitudes when it comes to the sterilization of their male animals.  If you have a friend or partner that refuses to have his male dog or cat neutered, here is some ammunition for the argument for sterilization.

 

As a humane educator, I meet many responsible people who insure their animals are vaccinated and medically treated when ill or injured.  As an incentive to pet sterilization, government agencies sell rabies tags for sterilized animals at a rate significantly lower than that charged for intact animals.  This proves that we, as a society, are in agreement that we need to stop the overpopulation of unwanted pets.  When we bring this fact to the attention of some male owners, however, we inexplicably get the response that, “I couldn’t do that to him”.

 

Gary and Jayne, some friends of mine, have a mixed-breed male dog.  Gary is an attorney, presumably well-educated and intelligent.  During dinner one evening, they discussed their dogs’ habit of running away, but rationalized that it wasn’t really a problem since he always came back.  I was surprised to learn that the dog was not neutered.  I offered that the dog would stay home and not be contributing to the overpopulation problem if only they had him neutered.  To be sure, this dog is running about the neighborhood mating with bitches in heat and contributing to litters of unwanted puppies.

 

After explaining the health benefits and social responsibility of male dog neutering, Jayne declared “Oh, Gary is against that.  It’s a guy thing”  Gary, with a straight face and in all sincerity, agreed.  He “just didn’t think it was right”.  He allowed that my arguments were sound, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do this “thing” to his dog, and wouldn’t allow his wife to take the dog in for surgery either.  In light of the fact that I wasn’t entertaining the mountain-man character in Deliverance, his statements seemed unbelievably absurd. 

 

This is not the first time I have heard this song and dance!  I hear it over and over again from men just as smart as Gary, and I don’t “get it”.  Women don’t seem to have this little hang-up when it comes to spaying their female dogs and cats.  They just do it. So what’s this seemingly testosterone-produced point of view?  Are men living vicariously through their bitch-in-heat seeking mutts?  Are they projecting their own feelings of sexual prowess or failure through their canine buddies?  Would Sigmund Freud himself have any enlightening thoughts were we able to present him with this very strange phenomenon?

 

There is no response that I can think of to the statement “I’m a guy, I couldn’t do it to him.”  This non-argument defies logic, so cannot be adequately debated.  A gentleman recently brought to our clinic his best friend, an eight year old Giant Schnauzer diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.  The man wept openly for his friend who was to meet death much sooner than necessary.  I couldn’t help but wonder how many times over the past eight years this man had been urged to have his dog altered.  For reasons known only to him, he “just couldn’t do it”. 

 

So here are some facts about neutering: 

 

* Always done under a general anesthetic, neutering is painless.

* Patients usually return to normal activity within 24 hours. 

* Discomfort is minimal; most animals don’t even require pain medication. 

* Altering animals virtually eliminates the risk of testicular cancer. 

* Unsterilized animals are more likely to be killed by cars as a result of straying from home. 

 

There is nothing virile about a friend dying by the side of the road, having been hit by a car; or having to undergo chemotherapy or, worse, dying of prostate or testicular cancer before his time because his caregiver had some archaic hangups about altering him.  There is no shame in crying in a vet’s office for a terminally sick friend, but how do you explain to him that you “just didn’t think it was right” to have had a five-minute surgery which would have avoided the sad ending.

 

Prostate and testicular cancers are not the only risks eliminated by altering.  Unneutered dogs also have a higher incidence of perioneal tumors, venereal disease, transmissible venereal tumors, prostatitis or benign prostate hypertrophy.

 

Why put a friend at risk?  Why not save his life and make him happier and healthier? 

 

A frequently asked question is whether the neuter operation is similar to a vasectomy in a human. It is not.  A vasectomy simply removes the route of testosterone to the penis; the testicles stay intact, and testosterone continues to be manufactured and released into the system.  When an animal is neutered, the testes are removed (orchiectomy).  This eliminates testosterone, and the animal no longer has the hormones that make him want to breed.  It is much kinder to take away the dog’s urge to mate when he is unable to do so.

 

Personality and behavioral changes, if they occur at all, are positive.  Neutered males fight less with animals they meet.  Altered animals remain loyally protective to their families because their home becomes more important to them.  New animals being added to the household are more quickly accepted.

 

Some may argue that only female dogs have puppies and therefore are solely responsible for the pet overpopulation problem.  “It’s not my pet having babies, it’s not my responsibility to find homes for them all!” While female dogs and cats can only have one litter at a time, male animals can impregnate many females every day.  To those who respond “Atta boy, Rex!”; spend a day at the euthanasia room of your local pound.  Set aside a few hours, there are a lot of animals to kill.

 

But, you argue, “but he never goes out”.  Please forgive the anthropomorphization, but, how would it feel to have this incredible drive to procreate, to relieve sexual tension, but have no outlet? Canines and felines have the same sexual drive that humans do, but they can’t masturbate or practice family planning.  As a result, they experience incomprehensible frustration.   

 

Another favorite argument is “it’s not natural”.  Get real.  Dogs haven’t been “natural” for centuries.  Are Boston Terriers or Standard Poodles really “natural”?  Any resemblance to ancestral wolves has long been carefully and profitably bred out of the domestic dog we know today.

 

A guy thing?  Really?

 

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BMP Gets Whales on U.N. Forum Agenda

 

"People's Resolution" could be the Turning Point.  After years of effort and negotiation, Breach Marine Protection has finally got the great whales onto the United Nations Millennium Forum agenda. The breakthrough came after the UN decided to hold a Millennium Assembly in an effort to forge better links with its citizens.

 

A proposal prepared by BMP to replace the current 1946 International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) -- with a Convention based on the Conservation of whales and other cetaceans -- has been commended to the UN Secretary-general, Kofi Annan. BMP believes that the massive world-wide support for the now four year old 'People's Resolution on the Abolition of Inhumane Commercial Slaughter of Whales' was a deciding factor. For years, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has declined to debate the 'People's Resolution', little wonder as Secretary Ray Gambell has consistently refused to place the 'Resolution' on IWC meetings schedule.

 

"We are absolutely delighted that our Report has been recommended to the UN," said David Smith, BMP's Campaigns Director and joint coordinator (with Andy Scollick) of the 'People's Resolution' from its inception. "So much hard work from many quarters has gone in to formulating both this Report and maintaining the 'People's Resolution'. This is great news for millions of people around the globe."

 

BMP's submissions are summarized in the UN Link 2000 report 'A UN for the 21st Century' prepared by the UNGA-Link UK, and are placed alongside this Project's recommendations on Human Rights, the Elimination of Poverty, Peace, Security and Disarmament and Environmental Sustainability. The summary states:

 

"A fundamental environmental fact is that human beings share the planet with other living creatures and that life exists in a web of mutual dependency. We are outraged by "man's inhumanity to man", and some of us no less so by the inhumane slaughter of whales for commercial profit. Over ten million people from forty different countries signed the People's Resolution to abolish this slaughter of defenseless creatures in the natural world. Recommendation: The United Nations should heed the voices of those millions of people and promote an International Convention for the Conservation of Whales."

 

"If Mr. Annan accepts our proposals we have the concerned international community to thank; any victory for the whales will be their victory." said Smith. "To all the individuals and organizations who have signed-on to the 'People's Resolution', BMP extents its heartfelt appreciation. This could be one hell of a         blow for democracy," he added.

 

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) currently operates on the 1946 International Convention on the Regulation of Whales (ICRW). Note the word 'Regulation'. This convention was formulated in the harsh days of post-second world war. Because the populations of all whale species had been so depleted by the greed of whalers -- some to the point of extinction -- regulation on the numbers slaughtered, the type of killing gear used etc. was vital.

 

But the intent of the ICRW was to regulate whale 'stocks', so that more whales can be killed later. That is why the current world-wide Moratorium on whaling is just that, a moratorium (temporary halt), not a permanent ban. Under the 'rules' of the ICRW, the IWC can lift the Moratorium whenever it pleases. That Convention is now 54 years old, its 'rules' are not for the our world. Can you imagine a 21st Century disarmament convention being based on 1946 weaponry? It is also scientifically ignorant, e.g. in places the Convention refers to whales as 'fish'! The ICRW's interpretation body, the IWC, is riven with politics and self interest, consequently its rulings have little to do with whales.

 

The Breach Marine Protection Report calls on the United Nations to replace the ICRW with an ICCC, an International Convention on the Conservation of Cetaceans.

 

  contact:

 

  Breach Marine Protection

  3, St John's Street

  Goole

  East Yorkshire

  DN14 5QL

 

  Tele./Fax: +44 (0)1405 769375

  Mobile: 0973 898282

  e-mail: BreachEnv@aol.com

 

  'People's Resolution on the Abolition of Inhumane Commercial Slaughter of

  Whales': http://www.Breach.org (please note our new website location).

 

  United Nations: http://www.un.org

 

  International Whaling Commission:  

            http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice/

 

Source: Breach Env@aol.com

 

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Zebra Love

 

Interesting animal story in our local paper today. A man has a farm in a rural area north of here where he keeps some exotic animals including a pair of zebras.  (This would be central Wisconsin.)  A neighbor woman got in the habit of visiting and feeding carrots and treats to zebras and the other animals.

 

Well, she was gone a few days, but when she came back for a visit she was met at the gate by the man's donkeys and one of the zebras, but not the other. The one who came (the female zebra) was very agitated and kept making this awful, distressed noise. The woman went in the barn to find the male, but he was nowhere to be seen. The female kept acting very agitated, trying to get her attention.

 

The woman ran outside, and the zebra came with her and started down a path.  The woman ran down the path, and the zebra kept running ahead and looking back to be sure the woman was following. The zebra ran to the creek, which was mostly iced over, and started across. The woman didn't want to go out on the ice, which was sure to be unsafe, but then she saw the male zebra out there. He had fallen through and was trapped in ice about up to his chest. He'd been flailing around and cut himself on the ice, and was in desperate straits.

 

The woman got people to come, and they attached a rope to the zebra, which fortunately was wearing a harness. Somebody got on a cell phone and got a neighbor to come out with his truck, which had a winch. They managed to pull the zebra out and get him on solid ground -- he'd been mired in the mud of the creek bed, so pulling him out was doubly hard. He collapsed and was able to do nothing but shake, so they had to get a second truck out there that could lift him aboard. Then they drove back to the barn another way, which really distressed the female zebra.

 

They got a vet there who stayed with the zebra until he warmed up and stabilized, and he survived, much to the relief of the people and the female zebra, who got lots of appreciation for her role in the rescue.

 

What a good story about animals caring for each other, using their intelligence, and communicating with humans! Thought you might like it.

 

Source:  sdurbin@tulsa.cc.ok.us

 

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Lawyers?  Or Lawyer Friends?

 

Are you a lawyer, or do you have friends and family members who are?  If so, please consider becoming part of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) network.  And please forward this request on to anyone who could help.

 

Through its Special Prosecutor Program (SPP), the ALDF provides experienced trial attorneys who volunteer to handle animal cruelty cases for their local District Attorney's office.  ALDF is currently working to expand the SPP program into major U.S. metropolitan areas.  Your help is crucial!

 

To learn more about ALDF programs, visit their web site at:  http://www.aldf.org

 

To work with ALDF in the Special Prosecutor Program, call Joyce Tischler, Dana Campbell or Eileen Stark at 1-800-555-6517.  ALDF's snail mail address is: 

  ALDF; 127 4th St., Petaluma CA  94952-3005

 

Source:  Artemisd123@hotmail.com

 

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Intriguing Recipe

by Zerbeena@aol.com

 

A bizarre yet yummy meal: Stuffed mushrooms with papaya salsa and last minute curried rice.  Please, don't ask me how I came up with this combination, because I've been questioning this myself!

 

  Stuffed Mushrooms

 

            Stuffer sized button mushrooms

            Boxed Falafel mix (such as Fantastic Foods)

            Diced onions

            Minced Garlic

            Extra virgin olive oil

 

Make falafel mixture according to package directions (which only requires adding water), and set aside. The mixture has to sit for about 15 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

 

Wash the mushrooms and break out the stems, leaving the cap in tact.  Scoop out any extra if you want more room for the filling.  Chop and smash the stem parts, squeezing these bits in paper towel to extract as much liquid as possible and place in a bowl.  Add diced onion and garlic to taste and place in bowl.  Add about an equal part of falafel mix to what's in the bowl and mix well; using your freshly washed hands is the easiest.  Wipe the mushroom caps with olive oil, and stuff them with the mixture, packing it down, making the stuffing level with the top of the mushroom.  Either grill or brown the mushroom tops (meaning stuffing side UP!) in a pan.  Transfer the mushrooms when golden brown to a baking sheet and place in the oven for about 45 minutes, lightly brushing the top of the stuffing with olive oil.

 

Remove mushrooms when the tops are browned and the falafel mixture looks kind of crunchy.

 

  Papaya Salsa

 

            Diced papaya

            Diced sweet white onions

            Minced garlic

            Minced jalapenos

            Chopped fresh cilantro

            Red wine vinegar

            Squeeze of fresh limes

            Cumin or chili powder

            Pinch of salt

 

All of this is to taste, and you could coarsely chop all but the papaya in a food processor.  The salsa should be very chunky and not like liquid.  This salsa should be good refrigerated for a day or two.

 

  Last minute curried rice

 

            Leftover white rice

            Olive oil

            Water or veggie broth

            Curry powder

            Parsley

            Chopped green onions

            Raisins

 

Put a little olive oil in a preheated pan.  Add all ingredients (again, to taste) except raisins, making sure you don't dump too much broth in so you don't have mush.  Sauté for about 10 minutes or so until it seems the flavors and liquid have been absorbed.  Basically, think of the texture of fried rice, and that's pretty much what you're aiming for.  Add raisins, mix, and then transfer to a bowl, sprinkling more green onions on top.

 

Serve each plate with a mound of the rice placing 2 or 3 mushrooms on top of the rice.  Put a generous portion of salsa on top of the mushrooms, and Voila!  This can be served with either a side of green vegetables such as spinach, chard, etc. with balsamic vinegar or a salad.

 

Bon Apetit!

 

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Procter & Gamble

Buys Iams and Eukanuba

by KMBwolf@aol.com

 

As of August 11th, 1999, Procter & Gamble purchased Iams for over $2.3 billion.  "Iams is a terrific business strong innovation, leading brands, global growth, talented people," said Durk Jager, P&G's president and chief executive. "It fits well with P&G strengths, including expertise in health and nutrition. Iams will be an important contributor to accelerating our growth."

 

Clay Mathile, chairman and owner of The Iams Company, had to say: "This is an exciting growth opportunity for our products and people because P&G understands and respects Iams' mission, which is to enhance the well being of dogs and cats.  With P&G, we can further advance that mission around the world."

 

Procter & Gamble has already started one of the largest advertising campaigns Iams and Eukanuba have ever seen, as managed by Saatchi & Saatchi. Television commercials are on the rise, and pet supplies stores have been given special in-store coupons specifically for Iam's customers, as well as sending representatives to stores to train employees of P&G's goals for Iams, as well as the benefits of the foods.

 

And for the first time ever, Iams and Eukanuba dog and cat foods will become available in grocery stores. Though the price will remain quite high as compared to store brands, P&G is confident in higher sales.

 

With this expansion of Iams, P&G has also marketed their other products in pet supplies stores, such as the much debated Febreeze, and Swifter, a tile "broom" for hair removal.

 

P&G is treading on our territory. They have bought out the leading dog and cat food company, knowing full well that many companion animal guardians are Iams' customers. They have us locked in a corner: If we boycott Iams and Eukanuba foods, our animals will suffer.

 

But we will not let this be a victory for P&G. Instead, we shall show them that they cannot beat our spirit. Letters and calls of disapproval must be sent to P&G and Iams, as well as pet supplies stores supplying P&G's products. We must tell merchants why we are upset. We must tell Iam's that we are disappointed that a company that boasts caring for animals would be bought out by the world's leading animal-testing company.

 

Procter & Gamble might have Iams now.  To change that, let your voice be heard.

 

  http://www.pg.com/cgi-bin/cgiCareers/pgnews/bin/list.cgi

  http://www.pg.com/about/overview/facts.htm

 

  P&G Contacts:   Don Tassone -- (513) 945-8170     Linda Ulrey (513) 983-8975

  Iams Contact:     Bryan Brown 937/264-7416

 

  The Procter & Gamble Company

  PO Box 599

  Cincinnati, OH 45201

 

  The Iams Company

  7250 Poe Avenue

  Dayton, Ohio 45414

  Phone: (800) 525-4267 - Fax: (937) 264-7264

 

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Song For Baby Ruth

by parogers@mindspring.com (Patricia Rogers)

 

"Does cute things."

That's what the lady wrote;

before she died.

 

Three by five cards.

After each cat's name

she wrote a description.

 

Baby Ruth.

Gray and black tabby.

Female.  Spayed.

Likes soft food.

Does cute things.

 

A letter arrives.

Certified.

Sandy has died.

At fifty-four.

Please, she had asked.

Please promise

you will find them homes.

 

They are old now

and they were "hard to place"

when they came to Sandy

So many years ago.

 

Years of walking

to the store

to get their food

and litter.

 

Years of carrying them

to the vet --

on foot;

or asking someone

to drive her.

 

No car.

No license.

An ex who left her

with nothing

but twenty years

of promises.

 

No one ever said

Sandy

did cute things.

But she must have once.

 

How else,

in the end,

thin and in pain,

tired,

too tired

to talk,

could she have

carefully added

to the description

of the little cat

"does cute things."

 

(The Above Is A True Story)

 

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Quote To Remember

 

  "Custom will reconcile people to any atrocity."

                              --George Bernard Shaw, preface to Killing for Sport

  

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Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com

>

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