Angry Bean Blog

We all lead very busy and often stressful lives and do not give much thought to where our food comes from. Sure we all purchase our food at our favorite grocer or market, but where does it come from and how is handled prior to the neat little package we bring home to our family?

Did you know that most children under the age of 10 can not understand the concept that a chicken is a bird? They only know the word “chicken” as it relates to food. They do not realize that their “chicken nugget” was a living being before it became their meal. I use the chicken as an example here because that is what we call it alive or in food form. So, it is safe to assume this same population of children is indeed clueless as to what animal a hamburger or bacon comes from. It is important for us and our children to understand where our food comes from. With out this knowledge it is difficult to have sympathy and respect for other living beings other than ourselves.

I truly believe education is the key to evoking positive change in every aspect of life. Billions (that’s no exaggeration) of farm animals are killed every year to feed the population of the United States. I am not asking anyone to become a vegetarian, that’s simply not practical. I want you know where your food comes from, how it’s raised, handled and slaughtered. On factory farms, those are large farms usually owned by or are major producers for major corporations such as, Tyson, Smithfield, Sanderson Farms, etc… Animals for these companies are kept in the bare minimum of living conditions. This includes pigs, calves, chickens, ducks, cattle…They are not given enough space to behave in a natural manner. Chickens in “battery cages”, Pigs in “gestation crates” and of course calves in crates to become tender veal.

The lives of these, believe it or not intelligent animals, are filled with sadness, illness and stress. They are often subject to abuse by workers. These animals are subjected to being kicked, stabbed, thrown and dragged on their way to slaughter. During slaughter, these animals undergo electrocution to “stun” them. The factory farm worker is expected to work at a specific speed, set by their particular company. Sometimes electrocution is ineffective and the animal continues fully conscious through the line and then essentially butchered alive.

I myself do not eat meat for the above reasons. To sum it up, I can not eat anything that experiences so much pain and fear before it dies. When we are stressed especially in a prolonged state it is detrimental to our bodies in turn that level of stress for an animal can not possibly be very healthy.

There are organizations out there that make Humane Farming their business. They have standards set by Veterinarians and Scientists that ensure that each farm animal receives Humane Treatment From Birth to Death. Humane treatment of farm animals is a very realistic expectation we should demand from the people that raise and produce the food we eat. It has been said many times by animal lovers that if people just knew what is happening to the animals they eat people would be outraged and demand accountability, laws and change to happen. Did you know that there are currently NO laws that protect poultry (ducks, geese, chickens)? Not one law that provides even minimum protection for poultry.

That is all I am asking from you, to demand Humane Treatment for farm animals. I am including here a list of resources that will provide you with knowledge, and what you can do as a caring consumer. Don’t forget to teach your children too!

Humane Farm Animal Care: www.certifiedhumane.org 703-435-3883

The Humane Farming Association: www.hfa.org

The Humane Society of the United States http://www.hsus.org/farm/

Also the movie, Food Inc. This movie is a documentary of factory farming.
It is educational, but mildly graphic. Caution younger and sensitive viewers.

Also Buy Local anytime you can! Pay attention to the labels when you buy cheese and milk and meats. Good family farmers are suffering at the expense of mass produced food from factory farms. Some companies such as Borden derive all their dairy supplies from individual farmers, also known as a “farmers co-op” This is simply farmers working together to ensure each ones livelihood.

This is an article from NOLA.com (New Orleans, LA) Its concerning the closing of a chicken processing plant and PETA requesting Governor Bobby Jindal to turn it into a museum dedicated to chickens. Following the article I have posted my response as also seen on NOLA.com

PETA wants Jindal to turn bankrupt poultry plant into ‘Chicken Empathy Museum’

by Robert Travis Scott, The Times-Picayune

Thursday March 12, 2009, 7:34 AM

BATON ROUGE — Chickens have feelings, too. And unappreciated brains.

That’s the message delivered Wednesday to Gov. Bobby Jindal by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as the group suggested that Louisiana use state funds to turn a closing Pilgrim’s Pride poultry processing plant in Farmerville into a “Chicken Empathy Museum.”

“The museum could feature exhibits such as video footage from research . . . showing how smart chickens are,” the group wrote in a letter to Jindal. “The Chicken Empathy Museum will have educational displays that highlight interesting facts about chickens, including that chickens are intelligent animals with mental abilities comparable to cats, dogs and even primates.” (more…)

We have all been on one too many job interviews where the standard questions are always asked.  It is so redundant that I am sure many of you know those questions by heart and have prepared answers prior to the interview.  For questions like; What are your Strengths and Weaknesses? What is your greatest achievement? What would you do if you knew a co-worker was stealing? And the most stupid question of them all, Why do you want to work here? I always rehearse the last one before the interview.  In all honestly I wish I could respond to that question with, “I don’t want to work here or anywhere for that matter. I am applying here because I am not independently wealthy and have no choice but to work. And you happen to be hiring so here I am”. I wonder if that would be refreshing to some interviewers? (more…)

I love to read. In my mind its far more entertaining and enjoyable to read than watch tv or a movie. When I read I get to picture what the setting and characters look like. So, often if I see a movie after I have read it I am often disappointed. The only exception has been the movie The Color Purple. That is my favorite movie ever. The cast for that movie was far better than my imagination. I actually know nearly every word for that movie. Anyway, I want to suggest some of the best books I have read and my favorite bands/singers. I would also like any suggestions from you of the same. (more…)

That’s right pretty x2. That’s my greeting when I come home “pretty pretty chickens” They are my babies and the get excited just like a cat or dog when you first come home. In the top right hand corner on my home page here at angrybeanblog.com you can click to view my chickens. There are only a few currently do to about 200 pics are on my old computer…But I will post more soon.

I am so tired of the term “African American”. Its patronizing and weak. I don’t expect anyone to call me Italian American or any other of my 7 heritages. Black people who are born here like white people are flat out Americans. I was working with this older black lady and I heard her directing a visitor to a patients room and she said right past that “caucasian lady”. I turned to her and said its OK to say white. I also told her I say black. She did not appear to be offended I think she was just trying to be PC. Black people call each other “nigga’” so I can’t picture how they could be offended by the word black. (more…)

I am guilty of not listening as much as anybody else I suppose. But people don’t listen and I can prove it. My whole life I have felt disregarded by others even when I have something worthwhile to say or can provide helpful information. This used to hurt my feelings and make me feel a bit worthless. But at my age I have come to realize that people even those you are close to will not listen to you 100% of the time. I now have learned to use this to my advantage instead of feeling sorry for myself. (more…)

It is not my intent to anger people but I would not censor myself or pretend to be p.c. to avoid hurting any feelings. The following is my opinion and how I feel. If it bothers you don’t read it. I am completely opposed to any war. War is such a primitive way of settling a dispute. It is a massive waste of life, time, and money; not to mention the physical and mental scars suffered by those directly and indirectly involved. What really makes me livid is the fact that the wars that are being fought now and the previous Gulf War were marketed to soldiers and the country as a fight for freedom and people bought it. (more…)

I like to listen to talk radio that has conservative driven view points. I agree with them sometimes and other times it sets me on fire. I guess I would consider myself independent/moderate democrat. Just now I hear Sean Hannity screaming as he often does which is cool he is passionate about his beliefs. He starts screaming about the mistakes that Obama has made since taking office. He starts in with the Tim Geithner scandal, then says that Obama is complaining about the debt he was handed when he took over. Hannity then says, Wheres the accountability?! Are you kidding me? That’s what I have been saying all along! (see post about penalizing Bush) Only he was looking for our new president to be accountable. (more…)

I have mentioned that I have pet chickens in the introduction entry. Well last November I lost 3 chickens in one day. My husband arrived home to find only a few feathers on the ground and one lonely hen sitting under a bush. These 4 hens were sisters that I raised by hand since they were born. I was really close to them they ate out of my hand and napped on my shoulders or lap. It devastated me when I lost those 3. I ran out the next day and bought new chickens, 8 little babies and 2 full grown ones. Chickens are very social and need others to sleep by to keep warm. It was necessary that I got company for my lonely girl. (more…)