tagged w/ Daily Mantra
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Richard Gere and Archbishop Desmond Tutu teamed up to lend their support to the people of Tibet at a protest rally in San Francisco last night in anticipation of today's Olympic Torch sprint through the city. "We must tell the leaders of the world, 'For goodness sake, for God's sake, for the sake of your children, our children, for the sake of the beautiful people of Tibet, don't go,'" said Mr Tutu who urged Bush to abstain from attending the Olympic opening ceremony during his address to the crowd. Gere, like the Dalai Lama, stressed the importance of peaceful protest. "I hope that a point is made, but non-violently," said Gere.
Meanwhile Tibet's Chinese-appointed governor warned of "severe" punishment for protesters who cause "trouble" on the torch's journey through the Himalayas to Mount Everest next month. "For these separatist forces, the Olympics in Beijing will be a rare opportunity," Governor Champa Phuntsok said in Beijing (as reported by The Daily Mail). "Therefore they wish to create major troubles or incidents. I don't doubt they will create trouble during the torch relay in Tibet....During the torch relay in Tibet and in climbing Mount Everest, if anyone should attempt to disrupt or undermine the torch relay, then they will be dealt with severely according to the law."
Such rhetoric only serves to heighten the irony that China is hosting the games. They are clearly missing the point of an event whose stated goal is to "strive for a bright future of Mankind. In spite of the differences in colors, languages and races, we share the charm and joy of the Olympic Games, and together we seek for the ideal of Mankind for peace." Clearly we could do with sending China to "charm" school in order to optimize the "joy" of the Olympics.
The torch's trip around the planet, which has raised much proverbial and literal hot air (and a projected 11 million pounds of CO2 by journey's end), is serving a greater purpose than could possibly have been anticipated, with the flame shining a global light on China's unacceptable attitudes to human rights, though, given our own recent transgressions, human rights violation is certainly a sport that we could seriously compete with China in for the dubious honor of gold.
http://www.dailymantra.comRichard Gere and Archbishop Desmond Tutu teamed up to lend their support to the people... more
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A similar thing happened to me about a month ago. My husband and I have three accounts with our bank, two personal and one business. I've have a relationship with our bank for over ten years, and during that time none of the accounts I've managed had ever gone into the red. With a longtime track record of being a model customer, I was therefore very upset when the bank chose to penalize me when a snafu occurred.
One of our checks was accidentally deposited into the wrong account, which caused it to go overdrawn when checks we had written cleared. Even though we had more than enough money to cover the checks over the three accounts we had with the bank, the bank decided to return three checks, which, if they had cleared would have created an overdraft of less than $250. The bank then charged us $36 per check for the privilege of refusing to honor them. In addition, we faced check return and late payment fees from our car insurance, phone and credit card companies because of the bank's actions.
I was particularly upset that the bank hadn't bothered to call me (which they did regularly to confirm other transactions), or taken my highly responsible banking record into account before they decided to bounce the checks. Had they called, the situation could have been resolved instantly with a transfer between accounts. Instead, it seems to me, the bank saw an opportunity to make a quick buck ($108 actually) and took it, charging me fees, and putting my good credit, and car insurance policy, at risk in the process.
My initial complaints fell on officious and intransigent ears. The bank refused to refund the charges, insisting that they "couldn't" rather then "wouldn't" do it. Luckily for me, they'd erroneously mailed someone else's overdraft notice in the same envelope as mine, so with this as leverage, I agreed to do the right thing and hand over "John Doe's" letter on condition that the bank did the right thing and rescinded my fees.
But the episode left a very bitter taste in my mouth, and got me thinking about those less fortunate than myself, for whom the system is particularly unfair. Just one of the three fees the bank had taken from my account, without my permission, was the equivalent to the best part of a day's pay for someone on minimum wage. Put the three together and it's well over half a week's salary for the hard working poor. How can that be fair?
With such sharp practices these banks are no better than loan sharks. And with the economy in crisis, such money generating policies are likely to increase as the banks desperately try to claw back the funds they've been forced to write off due to the mortgage fiasco we're in the midst of right now. Once again the consumer is paying (dearly) for the mistakes fat cat, big business has made.
So what can we do? Certainly it's all our responsibilities to refuse to take such treatment lying down. The banks are only able to charge such outrageous fees because on some level we allow them to get away with it. Next time you get an unfair charge, call the bank on it. You may be able to afford to eat it, but the person standing in line behind you might not, and, as a society, we stand or fall together. If one employee refuses to help, refuse to be brushed off. Ask to see their superior, and if they can't help, ask to see theirs. Threaten to close your account down and take your business elsewhere, and DO IT if they fail to offer an acceptable resolution.
If all else fails, take a leaf out of Hatch's playbook, and take your bank to small claims court. As Ralph Nader says, "If a million consumers filed a million small claims court actions a year against the banks, the banks would either try to abolish the small claims court or try to improve their performance." Perhaps it's our responsibility to put that theory to the test. Once we've knocked the banks into shape, my next raison d'être will be local councils and the parking fines they charge. Try paying those on a minimum wage!A similar thing happened to me about a month ago. My husband and I have three accounts... more
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"You can't take it with you," is a platitude that's often wheeled out when referring to wealth and earthly possessions. But the meaning of this worn out phrase is driven home at the point when you have to clear out an elderly or recently deceased person's home. All the things that they saved for best and never used, are sent to be used daily by strangers via Goodwill, and often the only footprint left from such precious life is the trinkets that are left behind.
Having been brought up by parents who grew up during World War II when commodities were scarce, I was always taught to treasure and value my possessions. Perhaps too much. My books were treated with such reverence that they appeared as if unread, my toys always looked like new, and everything was carefully and neatly put away in cupboards and draws.
When I grew up and left home, my things began dictating my life as I struggled to move my vast collection of stuff around with me. In a sense I became entombed by my things, as opposed to the pharaohs who entombed themselves with their things. But unlike the pharaohs, when I chose to move on to my next life across the Atlantic here in America, I had to leave the things I'd grown over-attached to behind. This separation from my stuff of life, though painful at the time (since it also represented stability and security), was the most freeing experience. It's one that has profoundly changed my life.
I vowed I would never again accumulate enough stuff to entrap me. It's enough to go through life weighed down with emotional baggage, without physical things adding to your load. And now, after my Granny moved into care at the start of this year, I'm seeing that the burden of her stuff has been passed on to my parents to bear. Every spare day my Mother and Father make the two hundred mile round trip to the place my Granny once called home. They spend their days there sorting through rooms full of stuff, making piles for family members, Goodwill and the trash collector. How sad, that in the twilight of my Granny's life it's her things that demand the bulk of their attention. But it's work that has to be done since the house she can no longer afford alongside nursing home fees must be cleared in order for life to move on.
Moving to America gave me a unique perspective on how much stuff actually gets in the way of life. The only things I miss from the stuff I left behind in England is my music collection. Not the physical vinyl, paper and plastic of my records and CDs, but the melodies and lyrics that made up the soundtrack of my young life. With any new music now compressed into MP3s, the most valuable possession to me is the data in my computer's hard drive, which also contains photographic memories and echoes of my thoughts, such as the words that are printed here. I often joke that my computer's memory is an extension of my mind, and my mind and my computer's carefully stores memories (which are religiously backed up) are the only two things that I really wouldn't care to lose.
"You can't take it with you," is a platitude that's often wheeled... more
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These two brothers raised a lion from a baby at home in London. When it got too big they released it to an animal preserve in Africa. A year later they returned to try and find it to see how it was doing. They were told by authorities and the wildlife people the lion would not remember them. Happily for the brothers, the experts were wrong.
Be warned, this short video has no sound, but it's well worth watching.These two brothers raised a lion from a baby at home in London. When it got too big... more
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Al Gore, the man that puts the (renewable) power in Powerpoint, debuted is brand new slideshow for TED.com, a website which showcases the finer thinkers on our planet. In his presentation, the eco Yoda talks about how global warming is a global conflict that requires the mobilization of political will. He also shows how climate change may be far worse than scientists have previously predicted, and provides a feast of food for thought for the flat-earth brigade, who, despite overwhelming evidence, still think that global warming is a myth. He challenges us to raise our sense of urgency in this culture of distraction, and provides workable ideas for change. Above all, he drives the point home that everything starts with a change in political culture, which in turn starts with activist citizens. We’ve changed our light bulbs, now let’s change the world.
Al Gore, the man that puts the (renewable) power in Powerpoint, debuted is brand new... more
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The United Nations has designated April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day. U.S. car manufacturer Chevvy have therefore teamed up with Autism Speaks to help the non-profit organization raise funds for research into the causes, prevention, and treatments for this baffling condition.
All month, Chevy invites you to raise money for autism with just one click. Just point your mouse HERE, hit the button, and watch the virtual tour of the new 2008 Chevy Malibu (while fantasizing about the hybrid you really want), and a donation will be made to Autism Speaks. As an added bonus, they'll also hook you up with a free 30-day trial of XM Radio Online.
http://www.dailymantra.com
The United Nations has designated April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day. U.S. car... more
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by Nicole
Two separate studies published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine have found that Tai Chi can help control type 2 diabetes. Both sets of researchers, working independently at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan and the University of Queensland in Australia, found that a 12 week exercise program based on the ancient Chinese meditative martial art form boosted the immune system and significantly reduced blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the (over) developed world. Over 20 million Americans suffer from the condition. Type 2, which is linked to obesity, accounts for 90-95% of diabetes cases in America. Over the last fifteen years the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has doubled, and the Center For Disease Control predicts the incidence of diabetes will double again by the year 2050, which means a lot of Americans should start practicing Tai Chi's gentle movements and controlled breathing.
"Exercise helps people with diabetes by improving the control of blood glucose level, as well as minimizing the complications of diabetes," says physician and Tai Chi expert Dr Paul Lam, who was ahead of the curve, producing a Tai Chi for Diabetes DVD in 2002. "Stress is shown to make the control of diabetes worse and relaxation is especially beneficial. It is well established that tai chi reduces stress and improves relaxation."
The CDC estimates that nearly one third of the 20 million-plus Americans with diabetes do not know they have it. Find out if you're one of the 6.2 millions American that has yet to be diagnosed by clicking HERE to take the American Diabetes Association's Risk Test.
And since Tai Chi has been found to be beneficial for numerous other conditions, including ADHD, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's, even if you’re not at risk from diabetes, you may want to consider giving Tai Chi a try. Unlike most martial arts, it’s primarily a non-contact discipline and is suitable for people of all ages.
http://www.dailymantra.com
by Nicole
Two separate studies published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine... more
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Enjoy this seasonal mocumentary on the migration habits of tropical sun-loving penguins from the jokers over at the BBC.
http://www.dailymantra.com
Enjoy this seasonal mocumentary on the migration habits of tropical sun-loving... more
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This is kinda cool. Click on any YouTube featured video and you get the video for the Rick Astley classic "Never Gonna Give You Up."This is kinda cool. Click on any YouTube featured video and you get the video for the... more
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Pictured is a laundry label sewn inside an item that was manufactured by a boutique American company for sale in France. When translated, the label says:
Wash with warm water
Use mild soap
Dry flat
Do not use bleach
Do not dry in the dryer
Do not iron
We are sorry that our president is an idiot.
We did not vote for him.
http://www.dailymantra.com
Pictured is a laundry label sewn inside an item that was manufactured by a boutique... more
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April Fools' Day is upon us, and whether you're pouring salt in the sugar bowl or tasting some suspiciously salty cereal yourself, the day's developments are worth taking with, well, a grain of salt. So, how did this springtime foolery begin?
Stories of April Fools' Day's origin are as riddled with tricksters as the holiday itself, but the most credible explanations involve the transition from the Julian calendar (in which the New Year coincided roughly with the celebration of the vernal equinox from March 22nd to April 2nd) to the Gregorian calendar we use today. Those who opposed or had simply not yet heard of the New Year's change, became fodder for the faux New Year's pranks that ultimately begat today's April hoaxes.
By this explanation, April Fools' Day traditions first appeared in France, where Charles IX decreed January 1st as the New Year in 1564 - 18 years before the official transition to the Gregorian calendar. In France, the fooled fellow was known as an April fish or poisson d'Avril, in a nod to Pisces, the recently completed zodiac sign, and a popular French prank involved placing dead fish on the backs of friends. Sound suspiciously unsubtle? French children now attach paper, fish-shaped stickies to their friends' backs, while French bakeries offer fish-shaped sweets in April celebration.
In the United States, what we lack in April Fools' history, we make up for in large-scale modern pranks. In 1988 physicist Mark Boslough published an article claiming the Alabama Legislature had changed the value of Pi to 3.0. Ten years later, Burger King claimed, via an ad in USA Today, to have developed a "Left-Handed Whopper" whose condiments dripped out the right side. Amusingly, not only did customers order said burger, but some requested a traditional "right-handed burger" as well.
The definitive American pop culture prank, however, may be the full-page ad placed in the New York Times in 1996, claiming Taco Bell had purchased the Liberty Bell to reduce our nation's debt, renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Without missing a beat, then White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry responded that a similar arrangement had renamed the Lincoln Memorial as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.
Perhaps Mark Twain said it best, "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." We at Daily Mantra hope you enjoy!
http://www.dailymantra.com
April Fools' Day is upon us, and whether you're pouring salt in the sugar... more
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According to new statistics released by The Vatican, there are now more Muslims in the world than Catholics. "For the first time in history we are no longer at the top: the Muslims have overtaken us," said Monsignor Vittorio Formenti, who compiled the figures for the church's 2008 yearbook.
The Vatican estimates there are around 1.13 billion Catholics worldwide, while United Nations figures put the number of Muslims at around 1.3 billion. However if all denominations of Christianity are clumped together, Jesus still tops the charts, with an estimated 2.1 billion followers in total.
Formenti noted that while the number of Catholics in proportion to the world's population remains stable, Islam's popularity was increasing due to higher birth rates. In an interview with the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Formenti said, "While Muslim families, as is well known, continue to make a lot of children, Christian ones on the contrary tend to have fewer and fewer."
Despite The Vatican's no waste policy when it comes to sperm, it seems that Catholics have some serious shagging to do if they're to regain the top spot. Certainly it seems Gabriel Archangel, the patron Saint of Conception, needs to pull more weight. In light of his obvious slacking on the job, perhaps The Vatican might think about relaxing its attitude to IVF?According to new statistics released by The Vatican, there are now more Muslims in the... more
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The Daily Mantra would like to applaud pop star George Michael for his appearance on Eli Stone, (which stars Johnny Lee Miller as a lawyer with a higher calling in the title role). In the past, the publicity shy singer/songwriter has even refused to promote his own records, so when he stepped into the limelight for a cameo appearance on last week's installment of the hit ABC spiritually-charged legal drama, we knew it was for reasons beyond mere music and ticket sales, for Michael is a man who knows how to use his fame wisely.
In the episode in question, Stone represents a girl who was expelled from school for protesting about its abstinence-only sex education program by playing Michael's 1987 hit "I Want Your Sex" over the speaker system during assembly. In the show, Michael comes to her rescue, and funds her legal challenge to the expulsion; In reality, the singer used the high-profile TV appearance to challenge America's hypocritical, and highly misleading, policy of abstinence only 'sex education.'
"An abstinence only 'sex education' program is an oxymoron," said Michael from the witness box. "Abstinence can only be a choice if you have all the facts." One fact that's glaringly absent from such programs is that condom use is an effective option to protect against both pregnancy and disease. The silence is deafening, not just in our schools, but in the third world, where the poorest people on our planet have paid dearly, many with their lives, thanks to the deadly combination of AIDs and our no-sex dogma, which comes hands-in-hand with all U.S. government-funded sexual health programs.
The AIDS issue is very close to Michael's heart. Michael's lover, Anselmo Feleppa, died of an AIDS-related cerebral hemorrhage in March 1993. "I Want Your Sex" was released in 1987, when Michael was still firmly in the closet (the singer came out to his parents shortly after Feleppa's death, and to the public in 1998). To dispel misconceptions about the anti-promiscuity but pro-sex song, which was banned by many radio stations due to its explicit lyrics, Michael recorded a prologue for the video in which he stated "this song is not about casual sex." During one of the scenes in the steamy video, which featured celebrity make-up artist Kathy Jeung, Michael is seen writing "explore monogamy" on her body in lipstick.
"It was inspired by a relationship. Like most of my work it was autobiographical," said Michael in response to a question posed by Stone's boss and trial colleague Jordan Wethersby (played by Victor Gaber) during cross-examination about the origins of the song. When asked if the song encouraged promiscuity, Michael responded by saying, "It's just the opposite. Ironically I wrote the song about abstinence and I was very much in love with someone at the time."
"When I wrote it we were in year six of the AIDS crises, a crisis that Ronald Reagan did not even address publicly until there were over 21,000 people dead, and what the government is doing right now, funding federal programs that tell children that condoms don't work, is killing people all over again."
To quote Mr. Wethersby, "Thank you, Mr. Michael." We rest our case. How many more of us will be caught 'praying for time' with HIV-infected loved ones before the state gets the church-infected dogma out our publicly-funded education programs and lets pragmatism take its course.
http://www.dailymantra.com
The Daily Mantra would like to applaud pop star George Michael for his appearance on... more
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by Linda
What's the secret to a long and happy marriage? We can look to the sky for a clue. As an astrologer one of the biggest questions I get is "when will I find the right person and how do I know if he/she is right for me?" Most people just look at their sun sign and wonder if they can be compatible with another person. Unfortunately, or hopefully luckily, there's more to finding a successful, lasting relationship than just knowing a person's sun sign.
When I do relationship readings for couples I compare several planets in a person's chart and how they interact. I am big on a person's sun and moon sign comparison and what houses they fall into in the others person's chart. The moon represents our emotions and how we feel about things plus it's a very karmic point. If your moon sign falls in your partners' 12th house and/or is near their ascendant that typically tells me that this isn't the first lifetime you've have shared together. It doesn't necessarily mean you will live happily ever after, but it does show that there is purpose and meaning and even some unfinished business that must be addressed in this lifetime.
Beyond the moon sign I compare a person's lunar node and how that may interact with the other person's sun or moon sign, since, again, the node is another indication of past life experiences together. Knowing your time of birth is very important when it comes to knowing if a relationship has staying power, because where your planets line up in your partners natal houses further shows how the energy of that planet will be expressed.
Of course we want to compare our Venus' (the planet of love) and Mars (the planet that rules our sexuality and drive). If these planets are compatible in air signs it may show that you have a great ability to communicate well with each other. In fire signs, it may indicate your relationship is very sexually driven with a lot of excitement. In water signs, you feel very intuitive with this person.
As far as longevity for the relationship, it's always important to compare the person's Saturn and Venus because these two planets together represent our karma and our love. If we look at charts of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who are one of Hollywood's longest lasting marriages we will see that his Venus is conjunct her Saturn in Capricorn in her 12th house and his Saturn makes a trine to her Venus in water signs.
No one knows for certain how long a relationship will endure, but having the right planet alignment is essential for any potential compatibility and longevity. Click HERE for a quick (and FREE) compatibility check, and find out if your relationship is destined to be love or lust, a fun fling or for life.
http://www.dailymantra.com
by Linda
What's the secret to a long and happy marriage? We can look to the... more
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Just a reminder that tomorrow (March 29) at 8 p.m. the folks from the World Wildlife Fund are asking us all to switch off our lights for 60 minutes to mark Earth Hour.
Earth Hour began last year in Sydney, Australia. This year the event is going global. Participating cities around the world include Adelaide, Bangkok, Brisbane, Canberra, Montreal, Ottawa, Perth, Copenhagen, Dublin, Manila, Melbourne, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Here in the U.S. the flagship event is being held in Chicago, with Atlanta, Phoenix and San Francisco also officially jumping on board for the great turn off. Regardless of whether you reside in one of the designated cities, it’s easy to make a stand for Earth Hour. Just turn off, tune out, and drop out…of the power grid that is.
What can you do with the lights off? If the obvious isn't an option, and you’ve already maxed out your meditation quota for the day, the Daily Mantra recommends getting together with your environmentally sound friends for a few rounds of our favorite party game: Murder In The Dark. The prize for the winners? A low energy light bulb of course.
http://www.dailymantra.com
Just a reminder that tomorrow (March 29) at 8 p.m. the folks from the World Wildlife... more
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Breast cancer survivor Olivia Newton John is planning a 21-day walk along the Great Wall of China to raise money for a brand new, state of the art, treatment and research cancer center. Her journey begins on April 7th, and, if all goes to plan, will end in Beijing on April 29th. Fellow cancer survivor Sharon Osbourne is one of the many celebrities planning to join Olivia on her 228 km trek.
“The walk on the Great Wall symbolizes the cancer journey," said Olivia in an interview with ET. "It's long and arduous, but we'll triumph in the end." Click HERE if you’d like to sponsor Olivia and her team, which includes Joan Rivers, Leeza Gibbons, Scott Wolf (Party of Five), Sir Cliff Richard, Toyah Willcox, and Danni Minogue (Kylie’s sister).
http://www.dailymantra.com
Breast cancer survivor Olivia Newton John is planning a 21-day walk along the Great... more
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by Nicole
Scientists have developed a computer game that students of the Law of Attraction may find helpful. The Mind Habits game trains players' brains to focus on the positive rather than the negative, and has been proven to reduce stress in trials.
During his research, Professor Mark Baldwin, a specialist in social cognition from McGill University in Montreal, found that our attention tends to be grabbed by social threats. This makes sense from an evolutionary point of view, since being able to quickly identify threats is a key survival skill, but it does mean we're predisposed to focus on the negative rather than the positive, which has an adverse affect on our stress levels and overall mental health.
Baldwin and his team therefore set out to create a computer game to retrain the brain. In one Mind Habits exercise, players are asked to find the single smiling/approving face hidden amongst a crown of fifteen curmudgeons. Baldwin hypothesizes that, "by doing this repeatedly and as quickly as possible, this trains an automatic response of looking for acceptance and ignoring rejection."
Baldwin and his colleagues tested their game on a team of telemarketers, whom they figured had high levels of stress and disapproval (how many times have you slammed the phone down on a telemarketer?). Before the shift they had one group play the game with faces for five minutes, while a control group played a modified version that required them to find a five-petalled flower in a field of seven-petalled flowers. After their shift, the group that was asked to search for the smiling faces was found to have higher levels self-esteem. Furthermore, blood tests showed this group had lowered their level of the stress hormone cortisol by 17% when compared to the control group. "Just 5 minutes of game-play per day had a significant effect," said Balwin in an interview with New Scientist.
If you'd like to retrain your brain, go to the Mind Habits website to play a free demo of the game. You can also download a free trial version from the site, or buy the full version, which features 100 game levels, for just $19.99.
http://www.dailymantra.com
by Nicole
Scientists have developed a computer game that students of the Law of... more
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PETA is no fan of Aretha Franklin. She upset the animal rights organization by wearing a full-length fur coat to a Grammy event last month. But after the TMZ gossip site reported that ‘The Empress of All Music’ (as she's now calling herself post- Beyoncégate) was about to loose her home due to an IRS claim for approximately $19,000 in back taxes, PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk offered to bury the hatchet, and help out the troubled singer.
PETA has pledged to pay Franklin's tax bill on condition that the pelt-loving diva promises never to wear fur again. They are also asking Franklin to donate her furs to the organization as Mariah Carey and Kim Cattrall have done. "Our offer is a win-win situation," says Newkirk in an open letter. "You get to keep your home, and animals get to keep their lives. We are rooting for you to please give animals the R-E-S-P-E-C-T that they deserve by giving up fur." Sounds like a no-brainer to us.
http://www.dailymantra.com
PETA is no fan of Aretha Franklin. She upset the animal rights organization by... more
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Al Gore and The Alliance for Climate Protection, a nonpartisan, non-profit founded by the Should-A-Been President, are asking you to stop ignoring the very large herd of elephants in the room (see video), and take a stand against global warming.
The organization, which is committed to educating people, and governments, around the world that the climate crisis is both urgent and solvable is looking to sign up a million would-be eco warriors to help get the point across. So far they've recruited over 900,000 green-minded folks. Help them hit the magic number by clicking HERE.
"By coming together, we're showing overwhelming support for leadership on this critical issue. Add your voice now and help make climate change a priority."
Interesting Elephant Fact #1
In 2005 the U.S. released 6.1 billion tones of CO2 into the sky. That's equal to 1.2 billion elephants (see Ecospot video).
Interesting Elephant Fact #2
According to Wikipedia, "Same-sex relations are common and frequent in both sexes, with Asiatic elephants in captivity devoting roughly 45% of sexual encounters to same-sex activity."
Interesting Elephant Fact #3
According to Weirdconverter.com, 1 elephant = 1,224,790.343434 sheets of paper. (Annoyingly, they don't state the paper size, but we're assuming that's standard 8.5 X 11" letter-sized, recycled??? sheets).
Interesting Elephant Fact #4
Elephants are rather good at art.
Interesting Elephant Fact #5
According to the WWF, as few as 1,600 Pygmy elephants remain today. Adopt one for as little as $25 by clicking HERE, and help this endangered species.
http://www.dailymantra.com
Al Gore and The Alliance for Climate Protection, a nonpartisan, non-profit founded... more
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by Nicole
Regardless of whether you're a man, woman or beast, it seems fame at an early age is not good for your mental health. The Daily Mail is reporting that Berlin Zoo's most famous resident, Knut, the once über cuddly polar bear cub, has grown up to become a "publicity-addicted psycho."
Knut and his twin brother were born in December 2006. Their mother, 20-year old Tosca, caught a serious case of post-partum depression, and rejected the cubs, who were subsequently rescued by zoo workers. Sadly Knut's brother died after just 4 days, but Knut survived, spending 44 days in an incubator before being hand reared by zookeeper Thomas Dörflein.
In March 2007 the German tabloid Bild-Zeitung carried a quote from Frank Albrecht, a radical animal rights activist, who claimed it would be better for Knut to die than be raised by humans "as a domestic pet." A massive public outcry ensued, and Knut shot to fame worldwide. 400 journalists showed up for his public debut, and the bear became the zoo's superstar poster child. Visitors increased by 30% after Knut graced the covers of newspapers and glossy magazines, such as the German edition of Vanity Fair, and merchandising, book and film deals followed. But fame took its toll on the impressionable cub.
"He is addicted to the whole show, the human adulation. It is not healthy," said Markus Roebke, who is a key member of Knut's human entourage. Roebke would like to see Knut enter rehab far away from the glare of the public spotlight. "Knut must go, and the sooner the better."
"We are not allowed to have contact with him any more and have received letters that if we breach this order our jobs are on the line. He is too unpredictable to play with now,' Roebke continued. "He actually cries out or whimpers if he sees that there is not a spectator outside his enclosure ready to ooh and aah at him...When the zoo had to shut because of black ice everywhere he howled until staff members stood before him and calmed him down."
It is estimated that Knut has earned his zoo over $12 million since his birth. That may seem like a lot, but Knut has a lot of catching up to do if he is to rival the earning power of fellow child star Britney Spears, whose economy is estimated by Porfolio.com to be worth $110 million to $120 million annually. Like Britney, Knut's dad is trying to get in on the action, with Neumünster Zoo (the conservators of Knut's father) threatening to file a lawsuit demanding a share of the spoils. Sadly, Knut and Britney have far too much in common. Perhaps they should hit group therapy together before they both turn into Gary Coleman (it'd break our heart to see Knut doing infomercials).
http://www.dailymantra.com
by Nicole
Regardless of whether you're a man, woman or beast, it seems fame at... more
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