Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Dr. Seuss Paraphrased... Sort Of

Some Halloween silliness here!

Monday, October 09, 2006

Well this is bizarre...

In the news today:

Anti-drug campaigners today attacked the makers of a soft drink who have called their product cocaine.

The high-energy drink is being billed as a "legal alternative" to the class A drug, using a massive hit of caffeine instead of cocaine.

Its maker claims the title is "a bit of fun" but critics slammed the technique as a cynical ploy which could tempt young people into using drugs.

The drink's inventor, Jamie Kirby, said: "It's an energy drink, and it's a fun name. As soon as people look at the can, they smile."

He claims Cocaine is "350 percent stronger than Red Bull" but that people do not experience the "sugar crash" or jitters that he says some of the other energy drinks can produce.

But David Raynes, of the UK National Drug Prevention Alliance, said: "It is people exploiting drugs. It is a pretty cynical tactic exploiting illegal drugs for their own benefit."

Las Vegas-based drinks company Redux Beverages is producing the drink which contains 280 milligrams of caffeine. According to the company's website, the only way to get more caffeine per ounce is with an espresso.

Mr Raynes added: "The fact is that subliminally, it is making the image of drug use cool and that's what kids what to be, cool.

"Kids will be drinking Cocaine and will inevitably link the two. The drink is relatively innocuous, but they will be linking it with cocaine use and the market, which is far from innocuous."

Dr Charles O'Brien, a professor and vice chairman of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, said: "It's just a bad idea and has all the same downsides of too much caffeine plus a very bad name."

The company has received inquiries about selling Cocaine in Britain and throughout Europe. At the moment it is being sold only in the Los Angeles and New York metropolitan areas - mainly to teenagers.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Meow! er... yip, yip!



Meet Johnette, the newest addition to the household. A Maltese/Poodle mix, she's made herself and home and endeared her cuteness to the rest of us. Us humans, that is. The other three cats (by the way, we believe she considers herself one of them) didn't quite know what to make of her when she first came into the room. But they seem to have tolerated her presence a little better, the more time they spend getting used to each other.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Response: Sleep On the Streets (vlog #1)

As part of the recent focus on homelessness here on my blog, here is one woman's personal account of having been there. This is a very powerful, moving story and proof that such shelters and programs are desparately needed.
Sleep On the Streets (vlog #4)
Sleep On the Streets (vlog #4)

My friend, VioletKitty411 speaks at her church about Bridge of Hope, an organization that helps homeless women and their children.

Also click on this link for a video from a woman who has been there, and now has made a better life with the help of a similar shelter program.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaT28egHkm4
Sleep On the Streets (vlog #4)

My friend VioletKitty speaks at the Bridge of Hope sponsored event on the subject of homeless families.
Response: Sleep On the Streets (vlog #1)

This is a very powerful story about being homeless, and how important it is for safe houses and shelters to continue running.