I was reading BBC online this morning and ran across this article. I don't think I've swam for 20 minutes at once, let alone a couple of months. His writing isn't all that evocative, but I found the story intriguing nevertheless.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6389845.stm#map
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
I'm a celebrity!
At some point in time, I must have provided the international education office at UWM with some of my photos from Tokyo. Kristen texted me on Thursday to let me know that I'm in one of their brochures. Between being in www.mkeonline.com (http://www.mkeonline.com/story.asp?id=1400738), having my photo taken at work (in a suit), and this UWM material, I think that I may be experiencing my 15 minutes of fame!
At some point in time, I must have provided the international education office at UWM with some of my photos from Tokyo. Kristen texted me on Thursday to let me know that I'm in one of their brochures. Between being in www.mkeonline.com (http://www.mkeonline.com/story.asp?id=1400738), having my photo taken at work (in a suit), and this UWM material, I think that I may be experiencing my 15 minutes of fame!
I was hoping that it would be something more remarkable...like 'First Cheesehead to Walk on the Moon' or 'Wisconsin Man Sails Around the World' or even a National Geographic article written by me. Alas....I'll have to settle for these moments of glory.
Goodbye to Christmas
I took my Christmas tree down yesterday, as it was starting to lose the majority of its needles. I remember Syd, Jason, Pam, and Hans telling me that a teaspon of honey & a pre-1982 penny would keep my tree alive until late spring. Well, that might have worked if I kept the tree watered. After I moved the tree out to my front lawn, I picked up about two bags worth of pine needles.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Dog Killers
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17074960/
There's a short article about some teenage boys putting a live puppy into an oven to kill it. Both of them will be sentenced to 10 years in jail.
While this post may not make everyone happy, several things occured to me. When I was in Vietnam (especially in the North), dog is served like any other animal. On the bus ride to Halong Bay, I saw sign after sign advertising dog for dinner. What makes Fido so special in the US that someone cannot kill him? Is it because we think of some animals as extensions of our family & ourselves? I can't think of any other reason why people can brutally kill thousands of cows, pigs, chicken, and calves each day to feed the American consumer, but be deeply troubled by the death of a pet. In any type of factory farm, these animals are subjected to similar horrific treatment that the dog experienced. Yet no one seems to care...maybe it's because that last burger didn't feel, taste, or look like a cow. Maybe it's because it came in a colorful wrapper or sterilized plastic wrap. Our society & culture contributes to the disassociation of eating & death. People no longer need to hunt/gather their own food - it comes in packages from all over the world.
I'm not disagreeing that those two boys did something wrong. Nothing should be tortured, be it animals or humans. However, punishment isn't being doled out to people who commit these vile acts everyday.
Ok - my rant is over. ; )
EDIT: This is strange...while I was going to go check some stock prices, I saw an article linked from CNN that caught my attention. It goes well with the theme of eating animals that people love - this one is about horses & I couldn't agree more:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1587279,00.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17074960/
There's a short article about some teenage boys putting a live puppy into an oven to kill it. Both of them will be sentenced to 10 years in jail.
While this post may not make everyone happy, several things occured to me. When I was in Vietnam (especially in the North), dog is served like any other animal. On the bus ride to Halong Bay, I saw sign after sign advertising dog for dinner. What makes Fido so special in the US that someone cannot kill him? Is it because we think of some animals as extensions of our family & ourselves? I can't think of any other reason why people can brutally kill thousands of cows, pigs, chicken, and calves each day to feed the American consumer, but be deeply troubled by the death of a pet. In any type of factory farm, these animals are subjected to similar horrific treatment that the dog experienced. Yet no one seems to care...maybe it's because that last burger didn't feel, taste, or look like a cow. Maybe it's because it came in a colorful wrapper or sterilized plastic wrap. Our society & culture contributes to the disassociation of eating & death. People no longer need to hunt/gather their own food - it comes in packages from all over the world.
I'm not disagreeing that those two boys did something wrong. Nothing should be tortured, be it animals or humans. However, punishment isn't being doled out to people who commit these vile acts everyday.
Ok - my rant is over. ; )
EDIT: This is strange...while I was going to go check some stock prices, I saw an article linked from CNN that caught my attention. It goes well with the theme of eating animals that people love - this one is about horses & I couldn't agree more:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1587279,00.html
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