Statistics

This blog had 1,349 visits during September, which is an average of 44.9 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 79.2.

Kristof

My friend Mylan linked to an op-ed column by Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York Times. Let me make a few comments.

1. Kristof says that "SeaWorld [marine park] denies the claims [of mistreatment], which isn't surprising since it earns millions [of dollars] from orcas." This is cynicism. Kristof should address SeaWorld's argument, not question its motives. How would he like it if his readers questioned (or speculated about) his motives? (For example: Does Kristof own stock in a rival company?) Charity requires that good (or at least benign) motives be imputed to arguers. Cynicism is the imputation of bad motives. Cynicism is not argumentation; it is the evasion of argumentation.
2. Kristof writes: "The juxtaposition of the two reviews made me wonder: Some day, will our descendants be mystified by how good and decent people in the early 21st century—that's us—could have been so oblivious to the unethical treatment of animals?" Good question! I would replace "animals" with "fetuses."
3. Kristof writes, by way of apology for his "hypocrisy," that he eats meat ("albeit with misgivings") and has "no compunctions about using mousetraps." Eating meat and using mousetraps are as different (morally speaking) as night and day. Using a mousetrap can be justified by defense of self or property (though there are more humane ways of getting rid of pests). Eating meat cannot be so justified. Nobody needs to eat meat in order to survive or flourish. This shows that Kristof has not given much serious thought to the topic of the moral status of animals. He knows just enough about the topic to be dangerous (since he has a large audience).

Now you see why I don't read Kristof. Had Mylan not linked to his column, I would not have read it.

Statistics

This blog had 866 visits during August, which is an average of 27.9 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 58.1

From The New York Times

In Response to Nicholas D. Kristof's column "Can We See Our Hypocrisy to Animals?"NYTimes readers urge consistency in our treatment of and concern for animals here.

From Sunday's New York Times

Can We See Our Hypocrisy to Animals? by Nicholas D. Kristof

Statistics

This blog had 1,070 visits during July, which is an average of 34.5 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 55.5.

Veganism

Want to kill your cat? Feed him or her a vegan diet.

Statistics

This blog had 1,406 visits during June, which is an average of 46.8 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 62.6.

Vegetarianism

According to the Wall Street Journal, vegetarians live longer than meat-eaters.

Statistics

This blog had 2,060 visits during May, which is an average of 66.4 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 89.2.

Green Energy Kills

Cockroaches

Idiocy never sleeps.

Vegan Food Groups

Roscoe and Surya

Statistics

This blog had 2,364 visits during April, which is an average of 78.8 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 111.3.

Humor

Statistics

This blog had 2,049 visits during March, which is an average of 66.0 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 102.4.

Animals

According to the Guardian, the new pope (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) took his name from Saint Francis of Assisi (depicted above), who is the patron saint of animals. This would be a wonderful opportunity for the Roman Catholic Church, which has 1.2 billion adherents, to drive home the point that animals are not resources for human use but fellow denizens of the planet, with lives, a good, and a dignity of their own.

Statistics

This blog had 2,196 visits during February, which is an average of 78.4 visits per day. A year ago, the average was 104.3.

Farmers

Many viewers were moved by Dodge's Super Bowl commercial "So God Made a Farmer." This rich parody, God Made a Factory Farmer, dispels the myth of the family farm in a humorous, but accurate way. Very funny and so true!