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.”

PETA, known for its publicity stunts to attract attention to its vegetarian and anti-fur agenda, keyed into Jindal’s offer to spend $20 million in state money to assist another company attempting to buy the north Louisiana plant from Pilgrim’s Pride, which is in bankruptcy and reducing operations. The closing will put 1,300 people out of work.

Jindal said no to PETA’s offer to use its funds along with state money to turn the plant into a “monument to compassion” honoring the barnyard fowl for its intellectual and social qualities rather than as a food.

“This issue is about the future of our people. Not chickens,” Jindal said. “I’m from Louisiana. We think of the chicken first and foremost as an eating animal. I think this is a lot of squawking about nothing.”

PETA suggested a restaurant at the museum serving “heart-friendly and delicious faux-chicken nuggets and a gift shop that could provide free plush chickens for kids, with tags reading, ‘I am not a nugget!’

“Outside the museum, children could clamber through a preserved chicken-transport truck to experience how cramped and uncomfortable the trucks are,” PETA suggested. “The museum would also provide area residents with much-needed jobs that are not the high-risk and psychologically damaging jobs associated with slaughter operations.”

The PETA letter, signed by the group’s executive vice president Tracy Reiman, ended with a request to Jindal to “please contact me so that we can begin the planning process.”

David Perle, PETA’s senior communications coordinator, said the group understands that its suggestions will sometimes be ignored.

“In the end it’s all about bringing attention to it,” Perle said.

My Response:

PETA does tick me off. I am very BIG on animal rights and welfare. PETA constantly wastes their time and money pulling stunts and pitching ideas that are so far out there no one takes them seriously. It angers me cause if they weren’t so obsessed with shock value they might actually get some important things done to benefit animals!

I do not eat meat, but have nothing against people who do. I know the level of fear an animal faces prior to slaughter so I don’t feel right eating something that experiences that much fear before it dies. Because slaughter house workers (not all of them)have zero respect for animals and do not care about their pain or emotions.

PETA was right about one thing, Chickens are intelligent. I happen to have 10 pet chickens (9 hens, 1 rooster)They are very much like dogs and cats. They get excited when you come home and are happy to see you. They know their names, they recognize what is in a bag just based on the bags outer appearance…They also have a complex hierarchy in their flock. Chickens also form bonds with each other, dust bathe together and sleep together. I believe from observing their behavior that they may even feel love for each other.

Chickens are quick to startle and you would be too if you had predators waiting to attack you from both land and sky. Just respect all animals even if you eat them. There is no reason to be cruel to any living thing.

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?I personally do not think that any of those questions paint an accurate picture of the person you are, nor your job capability. Honestly, it really shows how creative you are as a liar. There are some exceptions of course. When I recently found out that a credit check is becoming a standard in the hiring process,  my first thought was wow, another useless costly tool like the standard job interview. I suppose some experts decided that this would help prevent the hiring of people who may mismanage, or steal company funds. I can see how this may work sometimes. I also can see many of qualified people who may have poor credit being denied jobs that they need and deserve.

Myself and many others have extenuating circumstances that have occured in their life that they had very little control over effect their credit negatively. For most (and myself, he is an ex. ) being married to an insanely irresponsible partner will put your credit in the toilet.  Also think of it this way, what one may do with money they earn can be totally opposite of what they would do with company funds or property. I know I work very hard and I have been known to treat myself to clothes or shoes and let a bill go a little late. It is frustrating for many to work and have to take that money and spend it on bills and groceries every month and not get any enjoyment from the  money you earned.

I work for a very wealthy man and often have to deal with his money on a daily basis. I would rather shoot myself  in the foot before I mismanaged his money. I respect him and enjoy working for him. So, in turn if my employer was to run a credit check on myself  he may believe that I don’t know how to handle money and may cause harm to his finances. He certainly knows that I would not now because I have been working for him for nearly a year and through my consistent honest work ethic I am valued and trusted.

In the future I do not want to be judged based on a credit report and no one should be.  I prefer criminal background checks as a better way to make a hiring decision. Criminal background checks should also be judged on the nature of the crime as well as frequency of crimes and length of time since last crime. I know people make mistakes and need someone to give them a second chance. I am also a fan of contacting previous employers but one must remain objective when gathering informaiton form previous employers as well. There are ways to obtain hard working and honest employees with out credit checks or asking them mundane questions. I know I have done my share of hiring.

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.

Books: The Poison Wood Bible, The Unwanted, Lovely Bones, When The Elephants Dance, The Hunger Games, Water For Elephants, Running With Scissors, Any book by David Sedaris- he is hilarious and a genius in my mind. Bastard Out Of Carolina, A Child Called It, Crazy in Alabama, One Mississippi, Blood of Flowers, Angela’s Ashes, Valley of The Dolls, Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil, Summer Sisters, Memoirs Of A Geisha, Snow Flower The Secret Fan.

Music: Jimi Hendrix, Misfits, Mindless Self Indulgence, Anti-Flag, Offspring, Blood for Blood, Ministry, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Demetra, (old) Metallica, Slayer, Sick of It All, Bad Brains, (old) A.F.I, Acid Bath, Rock City Morgue, Black Flag, Rise Against, Black Sabbath, Anthrax, Cold Play, Dead Kennedys, Type O Negative, At The Drive-In (I only recently discovered them thanks to guitar hero),(old) Alice in Chains, Pantera, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty, White Zombie, Danzig.

I know I am missing some off these lists, but its all could think of for now. I know my taste is way out of range for some people. I love heavy music and hair metal is not heavy. Books I like non-fiction and fiction. I just don’t care for mysteries or books that involve catching some murdering ass hole. I would love some suggestions.

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. I know when black people use the word nigga’ it does not mean the same as when someone uses it to degrade them. So in short, cut the pretentious PC bull shit and save the term “African American” for someone who actually is from Africa.

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. My father in law and my boss are notorious for not listening when I speak or anyone for that matter. My father in law will ask you the same question literally 3 times!

This is how I have fun at their expense. When I am asked the same shit over and over I change my reply each time or pretend that I did not even hear them. Also you can use this to get your way. For instance I go to my boss and say I have to leave early today due to a doctors appointment or what ever and then I say I told you about it last week you must have forgot. Its also fun to watch someone struggle with a task or do something the hard way after you told them a short cut or offered your help cause they ignored you.

I often wondered why some people command attention when they speak. What makes certain people pay attention? I am a short, soft spoken white female with nothing special about me. I have noticed that taller white males often get listened to. Also people with money or stature can gain attention of their point of view. And of course those who are exceptionally attractive. These same “special” people are often the ones who will walk right up to you and another person who are obviously in the middle of a conversation and just start talking. And believe it or not at least one of the people that were just speaking to each other will stop and listen to this oblivious jerk. If anyone reading this has been a victim of this sort of rudeness, ignore the jerk until you finish the 1st conversation you were having.

I used to manage this restaurant a few years ago and this is where I encountered an endless stream of people who did not listen. Of course it was frustrating cause you had to waste so…much time repeating yourself. So to prevent myself from going ape on some of these people I learned to have fun with it as well. We had a lot of phone business and when answering the phone we had to say thank you for calling…is this carry out or delivery? 99% of people would ever answer the question and would start saying their order or best yet start asking people in their house what they wanted to eat. So not only did I have to repeat the original question but had to sit through this idiot gathering an order from everyone. I never understood why didn’t they do that before they placed the phone call. The company decided to change their phone greeting to a 17 word phrase. I campaigned against this change to my boss stating that no one listens to the short phrase we say now!

I refused to say the 17 word phrase and made one of my own. I like mine better, “Thank you for calling the hell hole how can I help you?” I must have done that at least 10 times and not 1 person noticed. There’s my proof. Try it out at your job and see how long before you get caught. It was a lot of fun for me; it gave me a break from this overly formal world we live in.

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. I am sorry but when was the last time America’s freedom was threatened? And no 9/11 was not an attack on our freedom that’s just more sensationalism that we were fed. I believe it was The War of 1812.

The wars in our recent years have been solely based on oil acquisition. Iraqi freedom, terrorism, WMDs…NO. All of those sound like valid reasons for a war to most people. It gave those who are in the military a sense of valor and pride and the country’s support. It angers me, the ease in which our government was able to brainwash such a large amount of the population! It sickened me to see all of this God Bless America, Support our Troops, Proud Parent of a Marine…crap. I care about the people who are fighting this war and the families who lose their children in this battle. I do not support what they are doing. I think the statement God Bless America is self righteous. For one it should be God Bless The World and secondly it suggest that Jesus and or God support this war?! That is ridiculous.

War is not only a primitive way of settling things but to me its legal murder. Say your child was involved in a fight at school over money and it resulted in their death. Or perhaps a loved one got caught in the cross fire of a gang related territorial dispute. You would want justice for them right? War is the same thing just on a much larger scale. When a murder is committed here in the US punishment usually follows. It just blows my mind that to kill in war is OK and that includes so many innocents caught in the cross fire. But those who have loved ones involved in this war are losing them in vain. I know it is the popular belief that the sacrifice of their lives was an honorable one, defending their country. It was a waste of life even though their intentions were good.

Have you seen the commercials for the Army, Navy, Marines etc…? They attempt to glamorize the war by showing appealing things like flying jets and even blowing up cars. This type of advertising, which mainly appeals to young men, paints a picture that the military is going to be a lot of fun. I am sure there are moments that are fun, but the majority of military life during a war is essentially hell on earth. This new angle of gathering recruits must be pretty effective. This combined with the brainwashing that they are freedom fighters should keep us from reinstating the draft for a long time.

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. I bet Obama is overwhelmed with the wreck he has to tend to form the previous administration. Accountability? That is joke.

Bush should be held accountable. To me Bush walking away scott free after this apocalypse he helped create and did nothing to prevent is like these wall street CEOs walking away with million dollar bonuses. No consequences are to be had. Bush should be forced to give back the amount he earned in the raise HE GAVE HIMSELF. Raises are for people who preform their jobs well and the same goes for bonuses. This all makes me embarrassed to be an American.

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.

For weeks I wondered what ate the 3?? Then one day it dawned on me that it was most likely a dog. These hens were 3 months old and the only other day time predator (they have a coop to sleep in at night) would be a hawk which they were a little too big for. 2 weeks ago I lost another chicken. Then a week ago I lost another one, only this time I looked out of my window the moment it was happening!! I saw the dog as it was getting his mouth around her body. I busted out the door and was unable to save my chicken. But I did see the direction that the dog went. I quickly got all the girls into their coop and went to locate the dog.

I drove down the street next to my house and saw him just roaming freely in some ones open front yard. The dog had no collar nor tags. I then guessed that he is probably a stray that someone feeds. At that point I called animal control. This was one week ago today and the dog is still around. I have spoken to animal control several times sometimes they have been the ones to call me. They have repeatedly promised to come out. I understand that they are busy, under staffed and surely under funded. Mean while I have to stand outside when my hens free roam to protect them and this of course really limits their free range time.

Today I called the police because I wanted to know if I saw the dog in my yard again would I be in my legal rights if I were to shoot this dog? They could not say either way, what?! do they not know the law? The officer I spoke with said that he would call animal control and get them right out. Animal control calls me yet again to only say what they have been saying to me for a week. So in short I am screwed. I should have had the foresight to have said when I first called animal control that he bit my kid (I don’t even have one) then I would have gotten immediate action. I phoned the police and told them that animal control is not going to come out today. The officer then told me he’s done all he can do.

I guess since chickens are just food to most of the world they don’t matter. They matter to me they are my pets and it is my job to ensure their safety. I hate when I try to do the right thing and the people that I call on refuse to do their job. I will do what I got to do.