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A family reduces waste in their household in one week�see how and steal their ideas. Sponsored by GLAD�.
Trash really isn�t something a typical family of five thinks about. It�s crazy enough just to run the house and the kids, let alone to worry about how much waste we�re producing. Since we moved to Minnesota last February, our family of five has really dropped the ball on keeping an eye on how much waste our household produces each day�something we wanted to change. Beginning this month, GLAD� is unveiling an eye-opening project called Waste in Focus�(www.wasteinfocus.com). This photographic series, shot by famed photojournalist Peter Menzel, depicts an authentic, moment-in-time look at what eight families from around the country recycle, compost and sent to landfills in an average week. On average, Americans send about half of their waste to landfill. That�s why when GLAD� challenged us to reduce our waste at home in just one week, we were excited to participate (and a little bit nervous, too). The challenge made us put our heads together to come up with solutions that worked for our household. Our three tweens/teens�Keiran, 15, Brenden, 12, and Bayla, 11 going on 20�helped us get creative about reducing how much waste we produce every day. Here�s my day-to-day journal on how our week went. Day One: Getting crafty Today we conquered our infamous crayon drawer, which holds�literally�hundreds of tiny crayons bits. Rather than trashing the ones that are too small to use, we peeled the wrappers off of all the blue, green, and white crayons we could find to make cute Earth crayons! To make our cute crayons, we preheated the oven to 250F. We used a pencil sharpener to shave green and white crayons. We placed a little bit of white flakes in the bottom of a nonstick muffin pan, then added green shavings, and topped them with broken chunks of blue. (You can use any combination of colors.) We placed the pan in the oven until the crayons were completely melted (it took ours about 10 minutes, but that might vary depending on your oven). Make sure you allow them to cool completely before giving them to the kids to draw with. Day Two: Hand-me-down central With two girls and one boy, I�m a big believer in hand-me-down clothing as not just a way to reuse, but to save money. The girls are three years apart, so anytime our oldest outgrows something, we save it to pass down to our youngest. As you can imagine, the castoffs pile up and can get unwieldy to manage. Today, I created a system to organize the clothes so we will know what we have and be able to easily access �new� items for my youngest daughter when she needs them. I started the organization process by having the kids try on all of their clothes. If something didn�t fit my eldest, we put it in a bin labeled for the season: winter, spring, summer or fall. (My son and youngest daughter�s outgrown items went into a bag for Goodwill.) Day Three: Reuse homeschool clutter Being a homeschooling family, we go through a LOT of paper. Most of our school supplies�worksheets, tests, study guides�are printed from Internet. This week we challenged ourselves to reduce the amount of paper that we use in our home classroom. Instead of only using a printed paper once, when the kids were done with it, we flipped it over and printed on the other side. For things like times tables, we pulled out our laminator and laminated the worksheets so we can use them over and over again. When my kids are done with them, we will pass them down to other homeschooling families! Day Four: Throwing in the towel For a family of our size, it�s really easy to go through a lot of paper towels. The kids had the idea to make reusable washrags and hand towels and I thought, crochet! My grandmother taught me to crochet as a kid, so I wanted to pass that skill on to the kids. If you aren�t handy when it comes to crochet, you can also take old bits of fabric from clothes and hand-sew them into potholders for the kitchen. It�s a great way to reuse old scraps, plus you only need to cut out two squares and stitch them together (just make them REALLY thick). Day Five: Recycling as easy as 1-2-3 Today our mission was to make recycling as easy as possible. With our family, if it�s not easy to build into our schedule, it won�t become a habit. To make recycling a breeze, we put another trash/recycle can right next to our trash can. We talked to each of our kids about what you can and can�t recycle (check your local recycler to find out for your family). The kids immediately put the new system in action. It has reduced our trash already by two full bags! Day Six: Easy Composting We�ve always thought about recycling and reusing objects, but we wanted to challenge ourselves even more by composting. It really blew my mind how much garbage our meals were producing, and how easy it is to start your own compost. Before we started, we made sure we knew what we could and couldn�t compost by checking GLAD�s� Waste 101. We figured out that no meat and no dairy was the way to go. Pretty much everything else can go in�even things like egg shells and coffee grounds. To begin our mini indoor compost, we grabbed an empty plastic gallon of ice cream and began filling it with food scraps. That bucket filled up very quickly, so we also bought a separate outdoor trash can and drilled holes in the bottom and sides. Once our little food bucket was full we took it out to the big can to get ready for spring. Day Seven: Howdy, neighbor! With three kids who are growing like weeds and developing new interests all the time, keeping up with their needs is a REAL challenge. Plus, they�re constantly outgrowing not only jeans and skirts, but hobbies and sports. This was our favorite project this week: The kids came up with the idea to organize a neighborhood swap as not only a solution, but as a way to get to know our new neighbors. During our challenge week, we didn�t have time to do the swap, but the kids are really excited about the prospect of getting �new� stuff and getting rid of the old�at the same time reducing the amount that will end up in a landfill! This week has been an awful lot of fun for our family. Who knew finding creative ways to reduce our household garbage would be a great way to bond. Now that we know how to reduce what we put out on the curb each week, it�s going to be great to see our family keep up these new habits in the future. GLAD� is continually offering innovative products to help consumers waste less, like ForceFlex bags you can overstuff, composting and recycling bags, and trash bags made with less resin that saves 6.5 million pounds of plastic to landfills each year. Mom and blogger Ashley Sears is the creator of Crunchy Frugalista, where she shares recipes, money-saving ideas, DIY projects, parenting tips, and more. This article originally appeared as on Relish


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This blog entry is written byNancy Brinker, Chief of Protocol at the U.S. Department of State. Ambassador Brinker provides a behind the scenes look into a "Holiday Tea" at the Blair House.
Today, we had a Holiday Tea for the Washington Diplomatic Community at Blair House, the President's guest house. Randy Bumgardner, the manager of the Blair House and Assistant Chief of Protocol and Ann Dorr, Assistant Blair House Manager, along with the Blair House's fine staff, decorated the house beautifully with flowers, candles, ribbons and assorted holiday decorations. The Christmas tree was beautiful. Chef Ian Knox had made tea and holiday treats for the gathering.
Over ninety Ambassadors attended, most with their families (children, grandchildren, and spouses). We had an great opportunity to greet and get to know the families. I was fortunate enough to have my son, Eric, with me. We took our picture in the library in front of a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, who has always had special significance to Illinoinans such as myself and my son -- President Lincoln is the first historical figure so many children in our state learn about. I thought about how fortunate Eric and I were to be here today, welcoming guests in this beautiful setting with its special history and memorabilia from past visits of Presidents and foreign leaders. For a time, Blair House even served as home to President Truman and his family.
Last month, Randy invited me to a ceremony in front of the Blair House honoring the Secret Service agent, Leslie Coffelt, who was killed on November 1, 1950, as he tried to protect President Truman from an assassination attempt. The ceremony took place at sunrise, with all of the officers in uniform. It was quite beautiful.
Eric and I sat with the Ambassadors and their families in the Garden Room, having tea and listening to lovely piano music being played by Steve Cooper. I am thankful to be able to share the joy of this season with fascinating people from different parts of the world. No matter the religion or background of the guests, all were filled with enthusiasm and cheer and clearly enjoyed each other's company.
Dan in Washington, DC writes:
Harry Truman did indeed live at Blair House while the White House was being renovated during his tenure as president. It is fitting that Ambassador Brinker and all those visiting Blair House today continue to remember Truman's time at Blair House. For from his residence in Blair House, Truman spent much of his presidency defending democracy against totalitarian tyranny. And during the terrorist assassination attempt when Officer Coffelt gave his life while successfully protecting the president, Truman himself manned the bastions of Blair House under fire from those terrorists.
It is also interesting to note that the main U.S. Department of State building in Washington, DC, where Secretary of State Rice and Ambassador Brinker work, is named after Harry Truman. This is quite appropriate, for while Truman was president, he endorsed the establishment of America's diplomatic headquarters at its current location in the Foggy Bottom section of Washington. President Truman bid Secretary of State George C. Marshall (and retired General Marshall, who was the U.S. Army Chief of Staff during WWII; and who was the originator of the "Marshall Plan" for reconstructing Europe after WWII, for which he later won the Nobel Peace Prize) to relocate the State Department from the Old Executive Office Building, which was located right next to the White House and just across the street from Blair House, to State's new and still current home at 21st and C streets NW Washington, DC.
While Truman and most members of his great generation are now gone, their global legacy endures. It is fitting that the State Department should be named after Truman, a plain-spoken American who proclaimed a fair dealing and peace for all generations and nations. Surely, this is what American diplomacy is about.
S in Washington, DC writes:
You know something, Ambassador Brinker? Your blogs remind me a bit of the type of programming one sees on "E" Entertainment Network. In other words, light, superficial, and hey! Look at me! Look how great I am ...I'm on TV! In other words, all about form, not even enough substance. I'm not at all impressed by your "blogs;" You give the distinct impression of a political appointee who has absolutely no experience for the position which has been gifted to you, and particularly, I get the distinct impression that you have traveled very little in your life, you know next to nothing about the world that exists outside your cosseted and pampered existence, and that you are utterly unfamiliar with areas outside of the good ole' U.S. of A. If indeed, you have any knowledge at all about the world, it is very very superficial.
In other words, you don't impress a' me much, at all, as Shania Twain would say.... I find you intensely irritating.
S in Washington, DC writes:
I'm writing once more, and only to say this: I checked your Wikipedia biography, Ambassador Brinker, and I am amazed. For someone with your utter lack of knowledge about international affairs to be appointed Ambassador of Hungary, no less, is just astounding and anathema to me. I know Budapest quite well, and again, for someone with no background at all in international affairs to be appointed to such a position is incomprehensible. I will hope, in the next Presidential Election, that the future President-to-be will have those qualified personnel in place around the world who will have some other qualifications on their resume besides being a rich donor to the Republican Party. I find this situation disgusting, quite frankly.
Gary in Virginia writes:
@ S in Washington, DC --
S, we can all see through your claim to find Ambassador Brinker "intensely irritating." It's plain that you really find her intensely fascinating, given how you have obsessed about her in this and other Dipnote posts. Really, anyone who goes on and on about the way she tied her scarf when she met Sarkozy (as you did in the November 9 Dipnote post about the French President's visit), and who Googles her to look up her biography, is displaying an unhealthy obsession about a woman who is in the public eye.
I suggest you go back to Google and look up the definition of "reaction formation."
And for the sake of Ambassador Brinker's safety, I hope she has an unlisted home address. Is it possible to get a restraining order against a cyber-stalker?
Daniel in Washington, DC writes:
@ S in Washington, DC -- S for what it's worth, I think you might want to consider lightening up a bit. ...At least Ambassador Brinker is taking time from her schedule to share some insights into her work as the State Department's chief of protocol. Not too many other senior officials at State have taken the time to share such insights with us via this blog. I appreciate learning more about the inner working of the State Department and its protocol office, and I thank Ambassador Brinker for sharing this interesting information and for serving our nation.
In terms of what one needs to be a U.S. diplomat / Ambassador, as a long-time Department of State employee and Secretary of State Dean Acheson put it ... "Not all the arts of diplomacy are learned solely in its practice. There are other exercise yards."
S in Washington, DC writes:
@ Gary in Virginia -- P.S. Gary, further to your "cyber-stalking" comment, I personally want you to know that I ALSO looked up Sean McCormack's Wikipedia entry, and found, that he was once assigned as a "Persian-speaking" officer when he was posted abroad. I found that interesting. That would lead me to believe that Sean McC would understand, BETTER THAN MOST PEOPLE, what an absolute threat the rat's nest d/b/a as the Islamic Republic of Iran truly is, because as an alleged speaker of Farsi, (who knows whether that's really true or not, sometimes people like to say they speak a foreign language when they learn through rote memory how to say 5 sentences!) he may be able to understand what that kook Ahmadinajad is really telling the masses in his many speeches about bringing down the US and Israel!
So I guess what I'm trying to say, Gary from Virginia, is that I learn quite a lot from Wikipedia, it's rather good for current events and finding out about public officials' credentials and competency (or more importantly, lack thereof) for the offices they hold or have held.
As a result, this "cyber-stalker" thinks that YOUR post makes YOU sound not only creepy, but more to the point, really DOPEY. But not to worry, you have good company in that regard, particularly with reference to your defense of those who sound rather like you. (smile)
@ Daniel in Washington, DC --And Daniel, as far as "lightening up" -actually, that's what I try to do on this blog-"lighten" things up, since everyone wants so desperately to be taken bloody seriously here, right? And as far as OTHER REAL State Dept. employees (Chief of Protocol to me is just a fluff, blatently political position-sort of like a knowledgeable, better-dressed (one can hope!) candy-striper or something) I think we've seen quite a bit of that here: Sean McC has been on, the easy-on-the-eyes-State Dept. Legal Advisor had a very interesting blog on the developments of an international law case that I had been following, and there have been quite a few other diplomatic officers, including the Australian Ambassador (the highly regarded lawyer, former DOJ AAG of the Civil Div., Robert McCallum) to contribute posts and engage in Q and A's-so maybe you actually need to READ what's on this website, rather than bloviate about what you perceive to be the lack of senior State Dept. officials (I assume you mean non protocol fluff) contributing their "insights" huh? I think we see plenty of interesting contributions, but more importantly, interesting current event questions put out to the world blogosphere to comment upon, which is the reason why I think people come here to post in the first instance.
And I might ALSO add, to State's credit, they have not appeared to block posts which are critical of the USG, its policies and officials -really, that sets a very positive example to the citizens of the world who might want to contribute here, to have their say, pro or anti-US policy, about a particular political question or issue, and lets them know that they will not be blocked for expressing contrarian or critical viewpoints of the US-I mean, we WANT the rest of the world to know, don't we? that not all Americans think and take the same positions as our senior USG officials? I certainly do! I mean, America would be pretty darn boring and stupid if everyone thought along the mindset of the know-nothing-about-the-world Republican Party, now wouldn't it?
Dan in Washington, DC writes:
@ S in Washington, DC -- I'm trying to "lighten" things up by making stupid grammatical errors ... Thanks much for helping me spell correctly!
But seriously, if your messages, including your last, are intended to lighten things up on this site, then I can't wait to see your messages when you are seriously upset ...
Re: who from the Department has posted to this site, I've read the vast majority of the entries posted to DipNote by Department leaders and employees ... and I think more senior leaders at State should take part in DipBlog.
Why shouldn't the Secretary of State post? (Here is a link to a blog where the UK Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, frequently blogs -- http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/blogs/david_miliband/) Why not the Deputy Secretary? Why not more Under Secretaries? Why not more Assistant Secretaries and Ambassadors? And why not some dialogue and back and forth with more of these senior leaders, instead of these seemingly one-way posts from State leaders that demonstrate no consideration or response to comments posted by the public?
Kerri in New Jersey writes:
I really wish you would have posted the picture of you and your son that you write about in the post. It would have been a nice touch.
Ela in Florida writes:
@ S in Washington DC -- I looked you up in Wikipedia and NOTHING came up. LOL! guess you've had NO impact on our world. Thanks for contributing nothing but anger. You're clearly jealous or have some other kind of strange personal issue and WAY too much time on your hands. You're picking on someone who has helped raise over $1 billion dollars for cancer research, brought the word "breast cancer" to a national dialog and now giving back again. She was certainly qualified (probably over qualified) to be Ambassador to Hungary and now Chief of Protocol. You seem to have missed the entire point of a "political appointee." The idea is to allow people from the private sector with a unique perspective the opportunity to help shape our Government. Thank you Ambassador Brinker for your service to our country. I REALLY enjoy your blog, your style and knowing you're the first person foreign leaders meet. Keep going!

subset: commoncrawl


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Thank Our Corporate Sponsors! | Advertise With Us!
We welcome families of Marines at any stage – poolees, recruits,
enlisted, officer, deployed, active, reserve, retired, etc. to share
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We usually meet the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
For additional information on meeting dates and times, please send your name, phone number and email address via email to the coordinator at email@example.com
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Adults, Children, Teens, Parents, Spouses, Family, Friends, Marines, Military Personnel
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Childcare is NOT provided.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: The local support group meetings listed on the web site MarineParents.com, Inc. are independently operated and are not a subsidiary, branch or chapter of, or in any other way related to MarineParents.com, Inc. If you are asked to make a donation to a local support group, please ask specific questions as to how the donation(s) will be used.
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Family loses Lake Street home to fire
Hockey-crazed Canadians celebrate Olympic gold
TORONTO (AP) – Hockey-crazed Canadians from coast to coast thought nothing of an early morning start and streamed into bars on Sunday to watch and celebrate Team Canada capturing Olympic gold.
Mayor Rob Ford was among the die-hard crowd at the Real Sports bar in downtown Toronto which exploded in an ear-splitting roar as Canada topped Sweden 3-0 to win its second consecutive Olympic gold medal in men's hockey.
Beer – which began flowing when the puck dropped thanks to relaxed liquor rules – was tossed into the air from red hockey-boot mugs, while revelers mounted chairs and tables in unbridled joy as red-and-white streamers fluttered down on them.
Ford briefly pulled many eyes away from the jumbo screen as he posed for photos with fans.
"This is what Canada's all about – it's hockey right? When people say how do you define Canada, I say, wait until there's a hockey game," said the embattled mayor who is a big sports fan.
Superfan Mike Berks knew what to wear for the big game – a hockey helmet mounted with a working red goal light – and thought nothing of getting up well before sunrise for the gold-medal contest.
"This is our team, this is what we live, this is what we breathe, this is what we do – 4:30 in the morning is nothing to watch this," he said as fans decked out in red-and-white jerseys hooted and hollered around the bar.
"There's no doubt that Canada's the No. 1 hockey team in the world. This is it, Canada's No. 1."
After the game, crowds spilled from the bars into the streets, with a throng of fans paralyzing a major downtown intersection.
In Vancouver, snowy weather, no booze and the early start didn't stop the outpouring of jubilation at a downtown sports bar.
David Addison stayed up all night to make sure he'd get a spot at the Sin Bin Sports Grill and said the fact the taps were dry due to provincial liquor laws didn't take away from a fantastic win.
"The energy in there is electric," said Addison pointing the crowd in the bar. "We're just going to high-five and hug a bunch of strangers and feel really, really awesome."
Montreal fans packed into a stretch of downtown pubs to watch the gold medal matchup.
One group of women showed up in their pyjamas to watch the game.
"When I'm on vacation, I don't usually get up at 6:30, so I decided to come like this," said Montrealer Nathalie Theoret.
For many the celebratory eruptions started as the clock ticked down the final seconds of the game, Canada's 3-0 lead no longer in any doubt.
The hockey faithful jumped out of their seats and waved flags over balconies at a two-story sports bar in downtown Halifax just before the final buzzer.
Some cried as they watched the players receive their gold medals, and the fans in Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby's hometown let out an ear-splitting cheer when it was his turn to accept gold.
Bonnie Forrestall said Crosby's breakaway goal during the second period that cemented Canada's lead was the highlight of the game.
"Sidney Crosby showed who he really is," said the Halifax resident, who was amid the crowd at the HFX Sports Bar and Grill. "(He's) always in the moment when he needs to be. He's there, always."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper honored the hockey heroes.
"Today's exciting victory by this exceptional group of players has demonstrated once again that hockey truly is Canada's game," he said in a statement.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau tweeted "This is OUR game! Congrats to TeamCanada on completing the sweep of hockey gold!"
On Thursday, Canada's women's hockey team rallied from two goals down and defeated the U.S. in overtime.


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I joined Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 50th Anniversary Forum yesterday to present the OECD's "Gender Mainstreaming Award" to the OECD Middle East North Africa Initiative for its work on women. The United States has supported the OECD MENA Initiative since its founding six years ago, and I am honored to co-chair its Women's Business Forum (WBF) with the Jordanian Ambassador to France. On Monday, the Network partnered with the U.S. Mission to the OECD and Venture Catalyst Private Equity Partners to convene a public-private partnership on private equity for women in the region.
MENA leaders adopted an Action Plan for Women's Entrepreneurship and Employment and called on the OECD to activate the Women's Business Forum in Marrakesh in 2009. In Beirut last November, the WBF rolled out its initial analysis on the access to finance and business services challenges that Arab women face. This type of data collection is essential to make the best case for investment and improve outcomes for women and girls. Today, at the OECD Ministerial Session on Development and Gender, Secretary Clinton called upon organizations focused on these important issues to work together on a plan to make all the data that is collected on women more comparable and useful, and to identify a list of common indicators for future data collection. The Women's Business Forum will continue to examine these challenges and work with MENA governments to try to increase opportunities for women in the region.
As I mentioned during the OECD 50th Anniversary ceremonies this week, we saw so much energy and entrepreneurial drive in our meetings in Marrakesh and Beirut -- if the barriers come down, these women can do amazing things. As President Obama said last Thursday, "The greatest untapped resource in the Middle East North Africa is the talent of its people." The MENA program and this initiative tap into that talent.
Related Content:Fact Sheet -- OECD 50th Anniversary Ministerial Council Meeting, May 2011


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Tibetan / Vajrayana
Vajrayana Buddhism is most closely associated with Tibet and can be characterized by the figure of the siddha, the master whose spiritual realization is so profound that he or she has power over the phenomenal world, and in whom the profundity and vastness of absolute truth is fully and completely manifested. Many of our most well-known authors come from this tradition of Tibetan Buddhism .
[Note: The tags for the various schools are not definitive as many books span multiple traditions, etc. They are meant to use as a starting point for exploring this collection.]
Buddha's Daughters
Teachings from Women Who Are Shaping Buddhism in the West
Buddhism began to take root in the West at just the same time that women's voices were arising to find expression here—after millennia of being relegated to the background. If that was a coincidence, it was an auspicious one, for the women who emerged as Buddhist teachers have been among the most articulate of Dharma-communicators—and they remain an indelible feature of Western Buddhism as the practice matures here. The… Read More
- edited by
- Andrea Miller,
- Editors of the Shambhala Sun
Paperback$17.95+ Add to Bag
How to Free Your Mind
The Practice of Tara the LiberatorTara, the feminine embodiment of enlightened activity, is a Buddhist deity whose Tibetan name means "liberator," signaling her ability to free beings from the delusion and ignorance that keep them trapped in ever-recurring patterns of negativity. She embodies a challenge, but one that is profoundly nurturing: to transform our minds and become like her, reflecting the tranquility, compassion, and wisdom that make her so beautiful. Thubten Chodron describes a… Read More
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Machik's Complete Explanation
Clarifying the Meaning of Chod (Expanded Edition)Fear, anger, and negativity are states that each of us have to contend with. Machik's Complete Explanation, the most famous book of the teachings of Machik Lapdrön, the great female saint and yogini of eleventh- to twelfth-century Tibet, addresses these issues in a practical, direct way. Machik developed a system, the Mahamudra Chöd, that takes the Buddha's teachings as a basis and applies them to the immediate experiences… Read More
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Dakini Power
Twelve Extraordinary Women Shaping the Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the WestWhat drives a young London librarian to board a ship to India, meditate in a remote cave by herself for twelve years, and then build a flourishing nunnery in the Himalayas? How does a surfer girl from Malibu become the head of the main international organization for Buddhist women? Why does the daughter of a music executive in Santa Monica dream so vividly of peacocks one night that she chases… Read More
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Niguma, Lady of IllusionProviding a rare glimpse of feminine Buddhist history, Niguma, Lady of Illusion brings to the forefront the life and teachings of a mysterious eleventh-century Kashmiri woman who became the source of a major Tibetan Buddhist practice lineage. The circumstances of her life and extraordinary qualities ascribed to her are analyzed in the greater context of spiritual biography and Buddhist doctrine. More than a historical presentation, Niguma's story raises the question… Read More
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Buddhism through American Women's EyesThe Buddha's path to human transformation declares women and men equally capable of spiritual realization, yet throughout history most exemplars of this tradition have been men. Now, as Buddhism is transmitted to the West, women are playing a major role in its adaptation and development. The conversation presented here takes place among experienced practitioners from many Buddhist traditions who share their thoughts on the Buddhist outlook, its practical application in… Read More
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Meeting the Great Bliss Queen
Buddhists, Feminists, and the Art of the SelfDespite the daunting barriers of geography and language that separate them, Buddhism and contemporary feminism have much to say to each other. Buddhist practices such as mindfulness (in which calm centering and keen awareness of change coexist) and compassion (in which the self is recognized as both powerful in itself and interdependently connected with all others) can be important resources for contemporary women, while feminism can expand the traditional… Read More
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Lady of the Lotus-Born
The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe TsogyalThe first Tibetan to attain complete enlightenment was in all probability the woman Yeshe Tsogyal, the closest disciple of Padmasambhava, the master who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. This classical text is not only a biography but also an inspiring example of how the Buddha's teaching can be put into practice. Lady of the Lotus-Born interweaves profound Buddhist teachings with a colorful narrative that includes… Read More
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Choosing Simplicity
A Commentary on the Bhikshuni Pratimoksha
Choosing Simplicity discusses the precepts and lifestyle of fully ordained nuns within the Buddhist tradition. The ordination vows act as guidelines to promote harmony both within the individual and within the community by regulating and thereby simplifying one's relationships to other sangha members and laypeople, as well as to the needs of daily life. Observing these precepts and practicing the Buddhadharma brings incredible benefit to oneself and others. Since… Read More
- edited by
- Thubten Chodron
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Women of WisdomWomen of Wisdom explores and celebrates the spiritual potential of all women, as exemplified by the lives of six Tibetan female mystics. These stories of great women who have achieved full illumination, overcoming cultural prejudices and a host of other problems which male practitioners do not encounter, offer a wealth of inspiration to everyone on the spiritual path.In this revised and expanded edition, Tsultrim Allione's extensive autobiographical preface and introduction… Read More
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Detroit stupidity strikes again
Joe Dumars has made a series of boneheaded moves since a stroke of genius led him to assembling the 2004 NBA title winning Detroit Pistons. There was the infamous "Human Victory Cigar" Darko Milicic. He never amounted to anything other than being the guy who would come into the game in the final two minutes when victory was well in hand. Not exactly befitting of the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.
There was the signings of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva for outrageous amounts and length of contract, for seemingly no other reason than, the Pistons had cap room and just had to use it up. Neither amounted to much during their time in Detroit. There was the essential swap of franchise hero Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson, whom by that point was a shell of his former self and was by all accounts, a disaster with the Pistons.
There is the revolving door of coaches, the likes of which no other franchise in professional sports (even the impatient Oakland Raiders) can match.
But Thursday night, during the 2013 NBA draft may have taken the cake.
Joe Dumars likely signed his own pink slip when he passed up Trey Burke with the No. 8 overall pick and instead drafted a shooting guard named Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Initial confusion turned quickly to anger. There were loud boos at the Barclays Center, and for good reason.
The Pistons have become virtually irrelevant. That happened before Thursday night's treachery. The glory days of the early 2000's are long gone. They are now replaced by half-empty arenas, befuddled coaches, players that are overvalued drama queens and potential that is never realized.
Burke was the answer, to everything plaguing the Pistons in fact.
For one, the Pistons didn't realize the gift that inexplicably landed in their lap. Draft analysts largely agreed that Burke, the NCAA National Player of the Year, was the top point guard in the draft. He was expected to go anywhere from No. 2 to No. 8 in the draft. Orlando with the No. 2 pick and New Orleans at No. 5 were frequently mentioned as the most likely possible destinations. He was never expected to drop as far as he did.
The Pistons desperately need a point guard. Granted, I haven't watched much Detroit basketball over the past few seasons but when i did watch a game, it was painfully obvious that this was an offense that was broken. Getting the ball upcourt and to the playmakers on the team such as Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight was a struggle. Burke's impressive ball distribution skills would have made all the players around him better. He would have brought fluidity to the Pistons. In short, drafting Burke would have almost certainly made the team postseason bound once more.
And that attendance problem? What better to fill seats than drafting the hometown player? Burke was a bonafide star at Michigan. Who better to reinvigorate a dead franchise? Not drafting him then, may have cost the Pistons untold amounts of money. If Dumars wasn't willing to pull the trigger there, owner Tom Gores should have demanded it. Instead we are left with little to no confidence in both of them.
Unfortunately this makes Detroit sports teams 0-for-2 in passing up no-brainer draft choices. It's a painful reminder that the Detroit Lions passed up Denard Robinson in the fourth round of the draft, allowing Jacksonville to take him just a few spots later.
Sure, I've heard the arguments against drafting Burke. The Pistons have taken the hometown player in the past. Remember Mateen Cleaves? He was drafted with the 14th overall pick in the 2000 draft. Disappointment followed.
Perhaps the pressure of being the franchise saviour was too much. Cleaves was put on a pedestal, with expectations that no player, let alone the No. 14 pick in the draft, could live up to.
But Burke is not Cleaves. We've seen the man thrive under pressure. Was there more of a pressure situation than in that Sweet 16 game against Kansas? When Burke launched a ridiculously deep three over two defenders and a sprawled out Jayhawk?
Now it will be Dumars feeling the pressure. He's about to become about as popular as Matt Millen.


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Feb 04, 2012
There are no security silver bullets. Like any other tool, a security information and event management (SIEM) system can provide an enormous benefit when properly deployed and maintained. A poorly implemented, understaffed and ill-maintained SIEM system is the kind of expensive folly that ruins careers. But a properly tuned, well-maintained SIEM can provide enormously valuable, immediately actionable threat intelligence that can pay for itself over and over again. In this report, we look at SIEM use cases and offer advice for evaluating SIEM systems. (S4180212)
Research Report


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HBO Cancels 'Luck'
Horses and people who care about them can rest a little easier tonight. HBO has announced that it is canceling Luck and ceasing all production on the series!
Even before filming on Luck started, PETA contacted David Milch, Michael Mann, and others associated with the production to suggest ways to protect horses, including the use of stock racing footage instead of using live animals. After the first two horses died—and the producers began stonewalling—PETA revealed the deaths publicly and obtained information from whistleblowers as well as necropsy reports from the racing board, which led to the disclosure that older, arthritic horses had been used in dangerous (and deadly) racing sequences and that the horses appeared not to have been provided with adequate protection. Beyond keeping the horses' plight in the public eye, PETA has also pressed law enforcement to investigate the deaths of the horses used on the set and to bring charges as appropriate.
A huge debt of gratitude is owed to the whistleblowers who refused to let these horses' deaths go unnoticed. If Milch, Mann, and HBO ever decide to start the series up again, PETA will again be calling on them to use stock footage, rather than putting horses' lives at risk.
Just one day after PETA sent a complaint to Los Angeles law enforcement urging the agency to investigate the deaths of two horses during the filming of the first season of HBO's Luck, we have learned that another horse has died on the set. Insiders at Santa Anita Race Track, where the racing scenes are filmed, called us early Tuesday and tipped us off. Now HBO has confirmed it.
But don't expect HBO or executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann to come clean about who the horse was and what condition he was in. They refused to tell us anything about the first two horses, so with the help of caring whistleblowers, we unearthed the disturbing evidence ourselves: One horse was drugged, and the other was arthritic and hadn't raced in years. Neither one should have been anywhere near a racetrack.
Photo: tasweertaker | cc by 2.0
Drugs and Unfit Horses
Both were retired racehorses who wouldn't understand that when they went through the starting gate on a racetrack, it was just for a TV show and not a real race. Outlaw Yodeler was a 5-year-old thoroughbred who hadn't raced in months and was apparently so sore that he was given a potent cocktail of muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory and painkilling drugs, including Butorphanol, a painkiller so strong that it's often used as an analgesic for horses undergoing some kinds of surgery. The other horse, whose name we believe is Marc's Shadow, was 8 years old and arthritic and had not raced in nearly four years.
Both horses were "raced" twice in one day—something even fit thoroughbreds would never be subjected to. Healthy racehorses need at least a week to recover from the stress of competition. Indeed, they aren't even exercised twice in one day. Both horses on the set of Luck broke down after the second run. Their leg fractures were so violent that their bones shattered under the pressure. We think—and we hope law enforcement agrees—that the way in which the horses were treated by the production company, the trainer, and the veterinarian warrants a swift and thorough investigation before yet another horse dies.
Human affection for horses unfortunately makes them popular subjects for the film industry. Horses may grab our attention, but these animals are not willing participants in the entertainment industry.
Commenting is closed.
oh gee, you mean you'll have to miss a show that kills horses.
Get a life
I never watched this show but in general I detest any program that uses animals to depict cruelty, hardship and any sort of killing – yes…including hunting. I'm happy to hear that this show was cancelled. Disappointed in any actor that was involved in this show who turned a blind eye to animal abuse.
re: Robyn april 2/12 "racehorses get to relax, enjoy life…" Racehorses spend most of there racing lives in a small cage (stall) and are deprived of all natural behaviours that are natural to them, such as grazing, socializing with other horses, and self directed movement. Imagine if someone kept their dog in a cage just big enough for it to turn around for most of its life and let it out once a day for 5 to 10 minutes a day for exercise? Everyone would think that is cruel, but it is done to horses all the time.
I am glad they cancelled and animals won't get hurt.That is uncalled for.
I love all animals & any animal sufferings should be made a crime and puished for same, Maxine Onorato
Robyn that's great but these horses have not raced for YEARS! Somehow you missed that. Anyway abuse is abuse. "As stated, one horse had not raced in 4 yrs." anyway enuf said. Torturing and killing animals is wrong.
a commenter pointed out that the remaining horses will be put down since of no use now and retirement fund is low. HBO with your big dollars how about making good with these horses that deserve a retirement? You got yourself wrapped up in this issue by making a series about it. Now your name will be associated with the horses' death. Even one more reason to keep animals out of any entertainment. I avoided the move 'WAR HORSE' and of course, last years 'Water for Elephants' and the flop 'Zookeeper'. Now will be leery of any animals used in any show. HBO has had, to their credit, a few documentaries over the years that were animal friendly. That's perturbing to find out they are a subject of bad publicity regarding treatment of animals.
Thank you for revealing this cruelty and the whistleblowers who helped with this. I watched a few minutes and lost interest even though had a good cast – I am an avid HBO fan. You'd a thought animals would be safe with HBO filming – apparently not so. I would be a very livid fan had the show not been axed. Now am wondering why. How could they have let these animals suffer and die??? They work actors hard, but old non racing horses? This is awful they were responsible for the deaths of some horses. I thought the death of an animal used for entertainment purposes alone was against humane practice in filming. Thank you for revealing this and HBO SHAME ON YOU!
Thanks, PETA for making us, who care, aware of such horrible abuse to the most helpless. It breaks my heart. I think my comments express my opinions. I believe more and more people are beginning to "wake up" to this inhumaneness and are ot tolerating it anymore. We are not as dumb as they would liike to believe. These sociopaths belong in the past Roman era of killing, torture for sport!
When are these dumbed-downed, sociopathic, media controlled, monsters, going to figure out that they are part of the old, corrupted,no sense of conscience, compassion,empathy,greedy, mentality. Many of us are on a higher plane, and we will no longer watch, pay for or in anyway support your Cro-Magnum ways of use & abuse of our helpless animals and wildlife for your personl greed.If you actually have an audience that supports your abusive methods, then shame on them, also.
How selfish of David Milch and Michael Mann for abusing the horses until they were killed; because giving the horses high doses of medication so that they can perform it should be criminal. I am sick and tired of these morons taking advantage of horses, (and other animals) for the selfish purpose of making money at their cost of the horses' lives. Look what other people are getting away with as well, horses are now being slaughtered for food consumption since horses are no longer productive for their owners. These people make me sick and they are so disgustingly sadistic, that I wish lightining would strike every sadistic person abusing animals. Enough is Enough! And, we need to pressure our government to stop these people from causing any more torture and abuse to animals once and for all!!!
i am a veterinary student, and a horse trainer. HORSES ARE ABOSULTELY EXERCISED TWICE on many days at racetracks, so that was an outright LIE…. just wanted to let anyone know that who read this article. their "exercise" is about 5-10 minutes of work, once or twice a day. then they get to relax, enjoy life, good food, nice baths and grooming, around people who care about keeping them at peak performance.
I think that we should see this as a small victory for awareness. If the public knows about the treatment of horses in production, they may be more apt to reconsider supporting other productions and racing. This is definitely an opportunity to educate people who wouldn't otherwise know about the treatment of these beautiful creatures.
@Barrett: There ARE alternative careers for TBs that do not fulfill their owner's expectations in racing. Some are recruited for dressage, show jumping, or eventing. There are also many equine rescue operations in the US, making this breed available to good homes with folks who are either interested in retraining them for show or pleasure. This is not to deny that there is a serious problem in the racing industry with the mistreatment of horses (and even show jumping/eventing are under scrutiny as well), but there are people working to make a difference!
Thank you,Peta I love horses,and all animals. Merrilyn Jackson
when i saw that such a show was being made, my heart sank. to glorify the treatment of those animals – well, it is just horrific. i hate that three horses died. i wish the show had been cancelled before their loss. but i am so glad this show has been trashed. it would have created a huge support for race tracks, by glamourizing what goes on there. thanks to all involved.
Let's get real about this SMALL VICTORY for horses. A potential handful of horses that would have been used for Luck and possibly died have been saved but what about the race tracks and the triple crown races? That's only for the USA. The system or guidelines need to be fixed instead of just cancelling a show or continuing races for decades. How about we fix the problem instead of just sweeping it under the carpet whenever it reappears? Has anyone even acknowledged that the 3rd horse died in a freak accident and NOT DUE TO THE CARE or WORK CONDITIONS he was exposed to? He reared and feel back and cracked his skull. Sad but you can't blame that on Luck.
PETA had little if anything to do with Luck's cancellation. Viewership was weak, and in decline since the premiere while production costs were out of control. A quality series no doubt, but alienating in its realism and race jargon; only race fans know what "exacta wheels" and "claimers" are, or what "crossing" is. With that said, 3 of the 45 horses used in production perished during the two years of filming, which is not surprising since so many die every day at tracks and farms around the world. What is more upsetting than the cancellation of Luck is that most of the remaining 42 horses will be slaughtered. TB is not a tough breed, so careers after racing are scarce. The only ones who have a chance are those with broodmare value. The retirement funds can only do so much.
Bela and Kathryn, your emotional logic suggests that saving three horses is preferable to a strategy that would save thousands. Your passion is well centered but as a policy outcome, more TBs will suffer as a result of the cancellation.
Dear mr ward…..exposing animal cruelty by abusing animals in order to educate is a very strange thought process indeed.
While I am glad of PETA's efforts to prevent animal abuse, I am saddened by the cancellation of HBO's Luck. I never watched it because I don't have HBO, but I heard a lot of good things about it.
What is the problem with "Luck"? How did they mistreat horses?? Please, educate me. If anything, this show made me appreciate horses one thousand percent more than I did before seeing the show. These horses are beautiful to look at! Horses LOVE TO RACE! FACT! On "Luck" the horses used were no more than 5yrs old! They were only allowed to run about a quarter of the track during filming and then they rested them for 25 minutes before they were allowed to run again. These horses received the best possible care in the world. The production team followed strict protocol when caring for them! So, in a year or so of production of "Luck" 3 horses had fatal accidents. THERE HAVE BEEN 17 FATAL ACCIDENTS AT AQUEDUCT SINCE NOVEMBER 2011!!! On "Luck" they had 2500 horse runs with about 45 horses being used. 3 FREAK accidents and OH NO! THIS WILL NOT STAND!!! Give me a break!
Bruce Ward, you comment is a non Sequitur . The show could have easily exposed the underbelly of horse racing using stock footage. The use of live horses on the set (let alone horses that should never have been run in any situation) was about as necessary as staging a real murder on CSI or other crime drama.
I have been a TB owner/trainer for years and I know the inner secrets of the racing industry and it us not all good. I have not actively participated in the industry for two years! Recently, I have been submitting comments on a very popular and well-respected pro-racing website/blog called "Ray Paulicks Report." I have exposed and commented on things that only an "insider" to the business would know. I received a note from Ray Paulicks website that they will be blocking and not posting any comments from me – so much for free speech! This also tells us that they don't want things exposed. I invite anybody reading this to PLEASE go to Ray Paulicks Report and post comments – strength in numbers right? Read the comment from GPowell they keep hiding it, and only allow pro-industry comments. They can't prohibit all our comments can they? Please TWEET Ray Paulick with your comments.
Im glad the show was canceled, those horses shouldn't of even been near the track let alone run on it. Thank you so much PETA, to bad no one was there to stop it all before the horses were injured 🙁 I think horse racing needs more awareness, it's a dangerous sport, and the public should be educated on how some of the horses are treated. It's sad to think that some of the owners don't care for the horses, but are only in it for the money 🙁
If PETA truly cared about horses and the race industry they would not focus their time and energy on a TV show and spend more time on things that make sense. I have trained and worked with many OTTB's (off the track thoroughbreds) the biggest problem with the race industry is how young they race the horses. The horses would not be so crippled and prone to injury if the race industry would just raise the age limit on the age you can race these thoroughbreds. Taking away the race industry is impossible, it's a multi million dollar industry for states alone. So instead of trying to do the impossible why don't we help the horses in any way possible and raise the age limit and make it so the horses have more time to grow and give them a chance to mature. We let our children mature before they can play sports, we should do the same with horses.
@smokingator: not sure if you are just trolling or what, but that show SHOULD have been cancelled, and that "sport" SHOULD die. the horses get run to death. what kind of "sport" is that?
Thank you PETA for putting an end to this show. It really brings awareness of the entertainment industry and their use of animals. Thank You
This show definitely needed to be cancelled! Thanks PETA!
Thanks for getting my favorite show canceled. The show had a lot of opportunity to bring a lot more fans to a troubled sport.
As a city born and raised kid, Luck offered a view of the racing industry I would never see. While I support PETA's mission and efforts to stop animal cruelty, I question whether cancelling this show amounts to a strategic measure toward your objectives. The show put the industry and the animals in front of the american public. Indeed, a segment of the public with means to afford a premium channel like HBO and likely a more educated demographic. So while PETA claims victory over the show's cancellation, the industry and its faults will slip back behind closed doors where abuses will continue with less public concern to generate oversight. For the record, Santa Anita Racetrack owners were trying to cut short the show's contract because Luck was "too honest" in exposing the industry's underbelly. The three horses that died, while tragic, are like our war heroes. Their sacrifice was part of what brought about an awareness of the sport/industry that would cost millions in advertising. Nick Nolte's character delivers passionate love for the offspring of a racehorse that suffered in the hands of irresponsible heirs of a stable is epic. I'll remain a supporter of PETA and humane conditions for animals but I will be less informed and thus measurably detached from being mobilized as will millions of other Americans as a result of Luck's demise.
I support PETA's work generally but you lost me with this HBO witch-hunt. This cheap publicity stunt is the kind that Joe McCarthy used to persecute Hollywood because it got him publicity. PETA would have been much better served by working with HBO and convincing them to expose the abuses that go on in the racing world. You missed a golden opportunity and whoever thought it was a good idea to hound HBO understands nothing about cause marketing. McCarthy scored cheap points with his hounding of Hollywood and you fell in the same trap. You need people who are good at public relations because you're coming across as as petty bullies and hurting your own cause due to incompetence. Hollywood is a great vehicle to promote the cause of animal exploitation and you blew this opportunity. I still support your cause but you need to get a grip on how to use the media and Hollywood who are your natural allies. I write a blog that is read in 41 countries and I am not very inclined to promote PETA after this deplorable tactic that has no strategic value. Rule number one in this line of work is to know the difference between tactics and strategy. You have a lot to learn in this regard.
My mom and I love horses…we stopped watching horse racing due to so many horses dieing on the track. About a year ago my mom and I were at Santa Anita and one race we decided to go watch it down at the finishing line..big mistake!… a horse went down… right infront of us… It tramatized us. It was the worse thing i have ever seen! I was crying so hard and could not believe what I just saw. Since then I have relized the cruelity of these poor horses. They dont have a choice. They sould also outlaw whipping. I hope the horse racing industry does something to improve the numbers of horses that go down. Like drugs, inbreeding..track conditions and pushing the horses beyond there indurance. I agree the greed of money has out weighed the saftey of these horses. They need to do more research.. I dont believe other countries have this many deaths on track.. maybe they do and I just dont know about it. I hate how they try to sweep it under the rug on TV. The only sport that has a ambulance speeding behind the race with a truck with a tarp in the back. I am so sad..I love to watch horses.. I guess I will watch horses in a parade. Thank you PETA for keeping on this subject and blowing the whistle on HBOs Luck. The sould of listed and used stock footage.
Most people make me SICK!!!! Not the TRUE ANIMAL GUARDIANS you understand, but the stupid people who think that when a horse dies, IT"S UNFORTUNATE!!!! OMG, are you kidding me???!!!! I would not go to ANY ANIMAL RACES!!! You can def. tell from the comments here who are the intelligent ones!! ONLY THE TRUE ANIMAL PROTECTORS who are against cruelty of any kind to animals. GO PETA, HSUS and ALL the other animal protection groups who want only the best for animals. If you think this show was the best for the horses, who are as SICK, money hungry and uncaring as the producers of this show was!! How MANY horses would have had to die before the producers of this vile show realized that they needed to change the show. BTW< I am an older adult in college with on going to law school to practice ANIMAL LAW!!! I will always be an ANIMAL PROTECTOR and I am not ashamed to say it!! I make NO apologies for my feelings!!
Along with cancelling this sow,people may think about boycotting horse races. It's so hard on the horses, their legs,etc. What a shame that people have lost their values, and replaced the worship of GOD with the worship of money.
Unbelievable! 30,000 thoroughbreds born each year; over 10,000 slaughtered for food annually; more than 2 per day die in race track accidents . . . And you people are clamoring over the treatment of retired race horses that would otherwise be sent to slaughter??? I have never understood how the "animals are people" groups reconcile the everyday killing of animals for convenience and sustenance with targeting a production like LUCK which experienced an accident at a race track, one that happens on a weekly basis?
thank you PETA for stopping this horrible behavior from luck
Im GLAD that it'snow cancelled.
Thank you once again PETA.
The first scene depicting the injured horse being "put down" was disturbingly realistic. I thought I could see the life go out of that beautiful animal's eyes. "Luck" is very entertaining and I am learning about the sport, but it's not worth it if it means horses are suffering and dying for my entertainment. I can't bear to watch a horse break down like that. It's barbaric!


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Overcast ~
High: 51°F
Monday, Jan. 23, 2017
The mowing season has arrived and I am tired already.Posted Thursday, April 1, 2010, at 11:09 AM
Yesterday was our first cutting and I got worn out watching my wife cut the yard! Now before you think I am being mean, she WANTS to do it ever since we bought the new riding mower.
For years it was OK for me to ride the smoking red beast, but once the smoke cleared, with a new seat and drink holder, I lost my job. The only time I get to ride it now is when it needs maintenance.
Seeds are popping up all over the place now, but I am purposely delaying my warm weather plantings (even in pots) to try to break up the insect cycle. I would use spun-fiber covers, but our newest dog would have a field day pulling it all up and running wild across the yard. Nothing is sacred.
The first litter of cats has been born, but strangely it is only one kitten. If we could only be that lucky with all of them, but fate will catch up with our luck. The other prospective Mommas have become hard to get near. One has disappeared for days at a time, so I bet she has already given birth somewhere "out there".
Enjoy a beautiful day.
Showing most recent comments first
[Show in chronological order instead]
Oh and to clear up a misconception about Pesticides. Pesticide is the general term for all of the following: Herbicides, Insecticides, Fungicides, Rodenticides, Bactericides, and more.
I've been very busy the last couple weeks, pruning, mulching, spraying weeds, apply fertilizers, mowing, and the list goes on. I'm glad to be busy after the winter we had.
-- Posted by rtdavis62 on Sun, Apr 11, 2010, at 10:35 PM
Because it is a general use pesticide, not a restricted use. Most of the abuse of pesticides comes from misuse of the product, in other words not following the label directions.
-- Posted by rtdavis62 on Sun, Apr 11, 2010, at 10:31 PM
This sounds like something a trained professional would be better applying. Why are they releasing it to over-the-counter use?
-- Posted by stevemills on Sun, Apr 11, 2010, at 1:03 PM
Some plants can be treated with this product. Read the label before you buy it. The active ingredient in this product is Trifluarin, the same product as in Preen and the same one farmers have used for years to control weeds in Soybeans. But always read and follow the label directions. I have used it in the garden with decent results.
-- Posted by rtdavis62 on Sun, Apr 11, 2010, at 12:41 PM
I could not get to the actual label of this product so I do not know the ingredients. They say there is a list of plants it can be used with, but I did not find that either. It basically works as a pre-emergent herbicide meaning that it does not effectively work on established plants.
I tend to look for natural solutions. Since I do not know the ingredients I can not say if this is or is not a natural herbicide but if you want to look at corn gluten, here is another site. http://www.pesticide.org/pubs/alts/cgm/c...
-- Posted by stevemills on Sat, Apr 10, 2010, at 8:10 PM
Steve, need garden help. I understand Miracle-Gro has a product called Garden Weed Preventer. Does anyone have any experience with this product? All help will be appreciated.
-- Posted by cowener on Fri, Apr 9, 2010, at 12:43 PM
Thanks for the "love your blogs".
I think I would get a generic can of tuna, but you could catch that same raccoon or possum, hopefully not a black & white striped fella. If you put it in the bed of your truck, that might (might) keep the others away until you have caught the midnight pooper.
But if you catch that B&W one, forget where you heard this!
Here is another idea used by folks to keep them out of the garden. Sprinkle cayenne in the back at night. If the culprit gets this on their feet or stirs it up in the nose, they might find another bathroom.
Another possibility is to get a piece of chicken wire that covers the whole bed. They won't like the feel and certainly won't be able to scratch the leaves over their poop.
Are you sure it is a cat? Other critters might do the same thing.
-- Posted by stevemills on Fri, Apr 2, 2010, at 9:45 PM
No, my fiance always parks underneath this big ol tree and whenever he hoses it out leaves fall right back inside it, which the cat uses to cover his ''buissness" and thats how my fiance came to discover the whole mess in the truck, while attempting to prune the trees he stepped in it. But how would I go about luring the cat into the have a heart trap? actually we'll have to buy one b/c my parents one got broken by a oober fat racoon or perhaps a possum. Anyway thanks for all of your help! :) I LOVE YOUR BLOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- Posted by freakyfriday on Fri, Apr 2, 2010, at 8:25 PM
The Have-a-Heart sounds like the best answer, but I am curious why the cat is depositing in the truck bed.
I would assume from you comment about hosing the bed down that there is nothing in it like dirt or wood chips that makes the cat consider it a litter box. Cats normally like to cover their activities with dirt or leaves.
I think it is a primal instinct to try to cover their presence from other predators, while others say it is to hide their presence from their prey.
It is also thought that the dominant cat or at least one who thinks they are dominant will leave their feces uncovered to make a statement of ownership over the area. He apparently admires your fiance's truck.
-- Posted by stevemills on Fri, Apr 2, 2010, at 7:37 AM
Hey Steve,
I was wondering if you have any tips for capturing and relocating this feral cat that enjoys nothing better then to hang out and employ the bed of my fiance's truck as a litterbox? My fiance is a nice guy and he loves animals but one more early morning truckbed hosing to remove this cats "calling cards" and I'm not entirely sure what'll happen. My parents have a "Have a heart" trap and I'm thinking of borrowing it and capturing him/her (unsure of sex this thing is untouchable) and relocating him/her to my parents farm which is like two hundred acres and full of other kitties. I know my fiance would never hurt the cat but he's gonna blow a gasket if we don't do something soon. This cats driving him insane. Any tips would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks :)
-- Posted by freakyfriday on Thu, Apr 1, 2010, at 9:03 PM
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Steve Mills and his wife have one daughter. They previously owned two coffee/ice cream shops, currently operate an internet sales company and teach classes, but his primary job involves the paper industry worldwide. Hobbies and interests lie in gardening, photography, recorded music and of course, their pets.
Hot topicsShould celebrities, public figures be held accountable?
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Calling all people who like to fish.
If you have a creative bone, believe in recycling, repurposing and need a good read


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Our opinion: A hometown
Some of the simplest words in the English language are among the most profound: Love, hate, home.
Each of them conjure strong emotions. The first two elicit the polar opposites of the soul. The third provides comfort, dependability, warmth, safety and loyalty.
The residents of Youngsville will be celebrating all those attributes of their hometown this weekend, as well as history and tradition.
Youngsville, the "Biggest Little Town on the Map," is celebrating its 200th birthday with a parade, a festival, song and a neighborhood spirit that has transcended challenge and hardship. In fact, hardship and challenge has only made that spirit stronger.
One has to wonder if those who were living along the banks of the Brokenstraw in 1813 imagined the Youngsville of 2013. More than likely, they were thinking about more immediate things, like growing, gathering and storing enough food to get them to 1814. That handful of people faced daily challenges difficult for us to imagine today. They could have remained in the long established towns and cities, but chose instead to establish roots of their own in a place they could call their own.
Thanks to their determination, their pluck, Youngsville remains a close-knit community today, proud of what it is and proud of its past.
Youngsville is having a birthday party this weekend, and everyone is invited.


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Qarl, do you mean paesano, or am I missing something?Marty
I am getting real tired of cute names on restaurants and beer. Take pride in your product and your labor and just call the damn things "Joe's Pizza Truck" or something. I don't eat or drink a name, if the product is good I will remember the name.
Making moves coal fire creations is catchy, send some pictures of your truck ill post some once its complete.
Your probably right chicago bob I'm going to go with Mora Pizza. I can't wait to get things rollin nothing like being your own boss. where's the best pizzeria in chicago?


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