Livestock in Transit. Why?

It's been years since I've felt like I needed to get something off my chest and this blog came to mind. Haven't posted anything since college. That feels so long ago, playing in the snow, slipping on ice, thinking life was all fun and games. Then I graduated and it got real.

I've gotten married since then, bought a house, added to my pet collection, even have a dream job I never imagined I'd have. I work with big cats, some of the most endangered animals in the world, going extinct because of our mistakes. I named this bog 'Careful, There's Ice' thinking about life. We move forward thinking everything looks clear and simple. But lying in wait are dangers and problems we never thought would happen. The smallest step, the littlest action could end up getting us falling on our butt... or even worse, going extinct.

We have such a blood thirst culture. We go to war over the most unimportant things: money, oil, resources...

We are a greedy culture. We want so much and take what we can instead of giving back and making a positive impact in the world around us.

I know it seems a little off topic, but we waste so much... The produce that never makes it to market, the meat we throw away every day. Even the land that is set aside to help us raise animals to raise, kill, eat, and dispose of. I feed some of that discarded meat to the animals I work with everyday. Most of it is still good several days after the stores throw it out. The waste is pointless. We have gotten so far from the society that only took what it needed.

http://www.schowauction.com/040310.html

 You might recognize this. It is a common livestock semi trailer. I passed one on the highway tonight on my drive home. I could see through the vent holes that they were hauling cattle. It made me sad, then depressed, then angered. I'm angry at myself for being part of the society that mass transports animals to be murdered and processed with the intention eat, only to be thrown into the trash.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2465745/Shocking-picture-sheep-hung-death-tailgate-cattle-lorry-sparks-animal-cruelty-probe.html

The conditions inside these trailers don't give the animals much room to move and it endangers them. The picture below shows the different compartments where animals are stored. It reminds me of the slave ships that used to bring men and women from Africa centuries ago. (Never mind the safety cushions.)

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/beef/cushion/livestockcushion.htm

Below pictures the cramped conditions in one of these trailer sections. The animals don't have much room to move. On top of that, 24+ pigs don't have restrooms. They have the floor. Even a thin layer of shavings can't make it cleaner. You can see how dirty it is after a trip. They end up defecating on each other which can spread disease and make the animals extremely uncomfortable. You might also be able to make out those odd patterns or discolorations on the pigs in the middle picture. They beat the animals to get them to walk into this dungeon, sometimes even electrocuting them. To me, these animals know what the trailer means. It means possible death.

http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/5/2/226/htm

"When hogs are transported long distances, 70 percent of hog transit deaths occur on the truck and the rest after the hogs have reached the market or packing plant. For hogs hauled for a short distance under hot, humid Midwestern conditions, death losses may be split evenly between on the truck or after unloading. In addition to deaths during transit, about a third as many hogs are crippled during the ride to market, further increasing the transit loss to the industry. Death losses often double on hot, humid days. Delays in unloading after the hogs reach market are another major cause of hog deaths, especially during hot weather. Rough handling and excessive electric prod use during loading will increase deaths."
      https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/Livestock_Trucking_Guide_454102_7.pdf

An article from PETA stated in 2006 an estimated 1 million hogs died in transit alone.

And that's just pigs. How many other species of animals die in these horrible condition just because people have decided this is how animals should be treated? Here in the USA most people cherish their beloved furry friends at home, whether that be cats or dogs. In China, they haul dogs in similar conditions to slaughter for their meat and their fur. We could never allow our family pets to be treated in that manner, but somehow we let animals that we picture as food be put through this. I would prefer meat from an animal that grew up happy and well aged compared to a young animal that was terrified  and tormented during it's last moments.

 If you watch the documentary called Cowspiracy, it covers the agriculture industry and really goes in depth to show how much we waste to raise a lot of those animals that we torture and murder.

It would be interesting to load a bunch of people up into one of these things and drive for hours in the heat of the summer or the cold of winter... It would be eye opening. A lot of individuals don't give animals a thought, tossing their dogs outside in the winter without any shelter or place to try to get warm. Putting a coat on a dog isn't spoiling them, it's a courtesy. We want a coat, shouldn't they? Why would we haul animals at high speeds in an open trailer to the elements?

Anyway... I can go on I'm sure. This is just one example of the 'ice' I was meaning in the title. Something that people don't see that really trips us up when trying to be moral and humane. I'd rather not eat meat than have animals suffer like this for a slab of protein on my dinner plate. There are better ways.

Finals, Gas Prices, And Other Things

So, had my final week of classes... Now I just face the finals that go with these classes. I'm praying everything will go well. Not really looking forward to the field testing we have to do in one of my classes, where we get dumped in a field and have to give it a rating. At least we don't have a comprehensive final like everything else.

Had a good day of work, very productive. I don't think I've mentioned on here that I'm working at Sonic. It's a fast paced job, but if you want to earn money, you want time to fly by. It does on some days, then on others it drags on, especially if there aren't very many cheerful customers. Making over 10 dollars in tips in a day is good for me. So when you make over 20 or 30? I'm partying. Still haven't decided what I want to spend it on... but for now I think saving it is best, especially with me going back home in two weeks. Having to pay for 3 tanks of gas to make a trip is getting ridiculous.

I remember when gas was 1.25 a gallon. Boy what I would do to pay for that again. It was about 1.50 when I started filling my car with my own money. You learn to appreciate what you work for when you start looking at everything you pay for. I've tried to be pretty self sufficient, and buying my own fuel is one of those things. Yes, when I go home, my parents usually fill my tank before I head back out to make the 300 mile journey back to school. But I never ask for anything from them any other time unless it has to do with room and board. This semester I even managed to pay for my Health and Technology Fee ( a $215 fee that pays for who knows what since the technology never gets better and the clinic still stinks with its PA as a 'doctor'.) all by myself.

So this is just a random rant... just to say I posted. Since it has been a while since I've added a post since before all the rain. I tried to upload a video of the flooding... but Blogger wouldnt' take it... and Facebook wouldn't even load it. The snow stuff was my big event, which is what gave me the name for this, 'Careful, there's ice.' I don't know if I explained the meaning too well at the beginning of this creation. Just wanted to have a name that grabbed people's attention, even in the heat of the summer. You'd be surprised how many slippery surfaces there are to fall on even in the middle of July. For example, this flooding and rain stuff we've been getting, that's an example of non-winter ice. It happens and you have to take caution. You really have to take everything with some caution... even people... and life.

So it's nearly 2 am right now... I had tried getting onto the amazing world known as Feral Hearts, but those that I play it with have not been on all day. There is a couple I have met and bonded with. They are getting married this next week if I am not mistaken, and will be taking time off from the online game. I've just been trying to spend as much time with them as possible before they both disappear and exchange vows. I think they are a cute couple, I've gradually gotten to know both of them in the short months I've been on the game. I don't know them in real life, but I want to. They just sound like the crazy kind of people I would enjoy hanging out with. My friends here at at school and at home are both crazy and seem abnormal... but that's what makes them normal. We do random, awkward things to creep each other out, but that's all part of the fun. When you end up laughing and giggling for 30 minutes due to what someone said or did, that's friendship. And when you can totally do something just for the fun of it to get a reaction... well, that's something special.

I guess I'm going to put this random rant thing to an end. I'll check my Facebook again and maybe even hop on Feral Hearts. I don't work tomorrow that I know of... but I do need to work on some last minute homework due the time of the finals. So staying up too late is not really on my game plan... but then again, you can call this late, can't you. Alright, off for the night. Later!

Lakeside Horror

Anyone else tired of all this rain? I'm from Missouri, and it feels like we're just getting hammered. It's been raining constantly since last Thursday, April 21. Today, Tuesday, April 26, we actually got a day of sunshine. The danger of all the rain is still here as can be seen from the photos below. Lake Taneycomo runs along side our campus and underneath the bluff that our location was named after. They had to open the dam more to relieve some of the pressure the water has been having on the retaining walls. I went out and took pictures of the houses below the point to see just how much they were being affected by all this rain. I was sad to see how close the water was to these houses. We are supposed to get more rain the rest of this week. I know for a fact that it's raining right now which will not help the flood conditions. Pray for Missouri, and all the other states being affected by these storms carrying all this rain.

In this picture, I'm pretty sure what I've circled in yellow is a chair floating down the lake... can't really be sure. There are just so many houses along the banks that it could be any piece of furniture.

All of those roofs are boat docks, but the actual houses are back in the trees. They will probably be kissing the lake's water within the next few days.

The boats in this picture have been tied to the trees in a backyard to keep them from being lost with the current. You can also see someone standing on their sidewalk watching the water. As I stood taking pictures, I'm sure the water had gone up another foot since the dam had been opened again.

Long day coming to an end? Nah....

Soooo.... pulling an all nighter with some friends in my dorm. We had a lot of fun so far... ran up and down the halls after curfew... played dress up at the free box. One day I may upload some of the pictures I took. So much fun.

With a movie, and a crap ton of sugar, I think we might last most the night. Some are starting to wear down... The main thought-person that came up with this idea has to be at work at 5:45 this morning, so we thought it best just to stay up with her. Our movie ended at about 1, so she wouldn't have gotten much sleep. Best to just stay up. It's been a while since I've stayed up this late... kinda fun.

Starting to go into a daze. You know that feeling of being disconnected from things, that's what I'm feeling right now. The things in my peripheral vision is slowly starting to blur together... is this what drugs feel like? Haven't really had much sugar, but two cups of coffee might have done it. lol.

And with our window open and it being less than 40 degrees outside, a cold breeze is blowing on me right now. Making me kinda cold, but feels really good. Our room has been super hot lately.

So.... my day... it went pretty good after taking a test that took an hour and 15 minutes (overlapping my second class of the day.) My last class went fairly quick, letting me be done at ten this morning. After going to my room and vegging for a while (watching youtube videos that I must discuss later) got my shower and went to lunch.

I am now cleared for class registration for next semester. A rather easy process. I came back to my room and had to run to the bank and get a new pair of flip flops since the plastic ones I have make my feet break out. I found that Walgreens sells cloth flip flops, unlike walmart that no longer carries them. (stupid store)

So after getting my new summer wear and driving, figured out that my passenger window wasn't going to be working for me any longer. A gear had been stripped and left the window stranded down in the door. This happened to my driver window about a year ago... stupid window motors. So back at school, after conferring with my parental units, I ductaped two pairs of pliers and hired the help of some of my friends to assist in pulling the window back out so I could tape it up. Well, while I was occupied taping pliers, I heard the worst sound any one could. I heard my window shatter.

I've never seen a shattered car window before, so that part was neat. But the fact that I have to pay to replace it sucks. It will be well over 200 dollars and I barely have that in my savings and broke in my other accounts. So now I have two trash bags taped over my window, protecting the interior of my car from the rains that decided to fall this evening. Makes it kinda hard to see what's coming, but I'll figure something out. It might be two weeks before it gets fixed and replaced, so I might need to invest in some clear plastic to make things legal.

After that horrible incident, my day became considerably better. Got to hang out with my favorite people and go to our college's presentation of Kiss Me, Kate. It was really good. Found out that the theater crew had been working on the final sets last night. Several incidents happened during the musical, but nothing that ruined the experience. I rather liked it. There was comedy and a lot of playing with words.

Yes, so here I sit at 4 in the morning, internetting with friends! :D

Bleh... school... again... Why can't it just go away?

Friday, please come back... My brain isn't ready for Monday. A repeat of the weekend would be marvelous.

Weekend? Oh yes, it was great, the food was great... everything. What did I do that was so special? I got to make a 5 and a half hour drive to go home so I could spend about 2 days with my boyfriend. He cooked dinner Friday night, and I got to make him dinner Saturday. We both had shrimp on our minds, since that was the main ingredient in both of our meals.

They were both filling and good. We watched movies and just spent time with each other.

It was sad for me to leave him on his birthday, but when you have classes to get to on Monday morning, one must do what they need to. And abandoning him before Valentine's day... sadness... :(

I'll make up for it with my friends though. I'm sure I can sucker some of them into watching random chick flicks with me. lol.

So my brain is slowly dying... I'm tired, running on what ever sleep I collected over the weekend. I think it's getting down to empty now. I'll have to rant some tomorrow about some things from last week that I didn't get to. But anyway... Sleep! Bed! It calls to me! Must... not... refuse.... ZZzzzz... Just playing.... but seriously. I'm done for tonight. Write about random stuff later.

I hate Monday classes... I wish they would all just die...

Picture Amendment

Ok, so you see the blue circle now? It's actually the remnants of a fort built a week ago. Me and my adorable roommate went out with a small tub and a thing of hot water and made a two level brick fort... It had later been damaged by heartless folk and here it is. The sun, how ever brief, took its own toll on the snow structure. Now it sits, buried and forgotten in the new layers of snow. 'Good night, sweet fort; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.'

More snow? No way...

It can't possibly be snowing again, can it?

I could be wrong, but that looks like it's snowed a bunch already... AND IT'S STILL COMING DOWN! (Yes... caps for emphasis)

So yes, you see that little red circle over the vehicles? Well, that's my car.... AND I DROVE IT YESTERDAY! Just goes to show how much it's snowed.... MY CAR IS BURIED!

(calming down)

And the other red circle with arrows? Oh yes, thanks for asking, that's the snow on the lens of my camera. Makes a nice cloud, don't you think?

So... this is part 3 in the blizzard that ran across the country... There is about 4 inches of the rest of it melted down under this new layer of snow. Yay... more ice. I want the 50 degree weather they are promising... I looked at the radar two days ago and wondered, 'Where the heck is this thing supposed to be coming from?'

Some said Canada, I had assumed Oklahoma since that's who sent us the rest of the snow... with their love. But nope, checked the radar yesterday morning and KABAM! There it was, the massive blue blob that is hovering over us right now. It was actually hanging around yesterday too, but decided to hold it's upchucking for today, so that we could have all day to enjoy walking in it to our classes. I did have one canceled, so that makes me kind of happy, but I feel sorry for anyone out in this. I still have work, so that's a bummer, but it will be over soon, and then, I can bake my friendship bread!

Amish Friendship Bread

From: Amanda (my seestor)

So I got a wonderful bag of bread starter, thinking, 'this will be cool. Fresh baked bread dessert stuff every week or so.'

Now we're on bake number 4... I'm almost sick of the stuff. I'm going to go home and people are going to see that it made me fat. lol

My roommate loves it, but doesn't want it in the room. Plus, in its unbacked stage, it's kinda creepy when you wake up and find it on the floor. I think the yeast is trying to get me while I'm sleeping. Well, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY HARDER! MWAHAHAHAHA!

Sorry....

Not too much sleep and no breakfast really gets to me. The bread is good for breakfast too. I'll be baking it this afternoon and hope I have enough stuff to do it. I might suffer through one more time before either trying to find it a home or just throwing it away. I'm sure I can find another starter if I needed... or just that 'secret' recipe they talk about to make it...

Anyway, I should try and find something productive to do... like maybe go into work early so I can have an early lunch... that sounds like a good idea... Later!