As I was reading your post, the word egos kept crowding my thoughts, and sure enough, you nailed it. It's such a shame that the ones with no egos (the animals) suffer because of the egos of the ones that can make a difference. They have their own agendas, and sharing the spotlight is not on it. I love your idea. I do have one bit of news that might cheer you up - the San Diego Humane Society and the North County San Diego Humane Society are merging.
http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=…
Their reason? Together we can do more. People are starting to get it. Consolidation = power. Combining resources to make an organization stronger, especially when they step back and realize that they really do share a common goal that has nothing to do with individual ego-feeding needs. I think your idea may not be as impossible as you think. Animal welfare takes a great deal of dedication, and the ones who dedicate their lives to it have a great responsibility not only to the animals, but to the deep pockets of the ones that want their picture in Burl Stiff's column. I don't envy their position, because it is a price that has to be paid in order to raise money. It's like the Humane Society Fur Ball. You look around at this lavish event, the gowns and the jewels, and you think "good Lord, couldn't all the money spent on this event just be donated and we wouldn't need this gala?" Nope. Because the only way you are going to pry their wallets open is to show the proper reverence to the ones donating. And that is to throw an expensive party in their favor.
I'm glad Sylvester is doing well! Clyde is still alive and well. I thought I had lost him, they dug up the area where he lives, and then paved it back over. I kept bringing him food, and it sat untouched for weeks, and I finally gave up. The other day I drove by and there he was, lying in the sun!! I literally screamed "oh my God, it's Clyde!!" I stopped my car and got out and he of course ran away and ran back into one of the little holes in the pavement that they left untouched. So his little house underground is still there. — November 15, 2009 1:28 p.m.
It Gets Worse
Yes, exactly. Why are our needs discounted because our organs are different? Interestingly enough, they are, as SD notes, linked to sexual activity. Don't get me started on that. I have another story to tell tomorrow about women being denied birth control.— November 17, 2009 8:34 p.m.
Feeding the Beast
Right on, Pistol-whipper!! When I worked for a division of a HUGE corporation, I would get the folks that would say "I'm going to sue". And my response? "Bring it on. My company has very deep pockets." You cannot be afraid of these rejects.— November 17, 2009 11:50 a.m.
Feeding the Beast
Truer words were never spoken. I encounter that sue-happy individual frequently in my business, and they are the ones for which the following was created: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.— November 16, 2009 6:51 p.m.
Feeding the Beast
It was a great day, I didn't have to use my A-K..... How do spell it - agy? What am I missing here? None of them look right and I am too lazy to look it up right now. In my business, it is not the company that is the problem. I actually have a lot of atonomy from the powers that be at my job. It is the job itself that sucks. Too much stress, too many people trying to get at you all day, not enough time to do the work. I get text messages all the time (which I hate) - "are you working this weekend? Can you go into the office?" Okay, if you cannot get hold of me during the 60 hours a week I am there, I am not going to make a special trip just for your request that is ALWAYS something that could have waited until Monday. You know, I honestly think you are right about CA being the land of the therapy session. You don't hear about folks from the mid-west running to the doctor every time someone hurts their feelings. They just take it outside....— November 16, 2009 6:10 p.m.
Feeding the Beast
Sky and soda, with a squeeze. Refreshing and light. SD, you are so right. People who have had everything handed to them their whole lives fall apart the quickest then presented with even the slightest challenge. Not all, but most. I am somewhat tech challenged, the idea of a website fills me with terror. But hey, that's a challenge even I can master without falling apart!!!— November 16, 2009 7:38 a.m.
Feeding the Beast
Cuddle, how on earth did I miss your blog? I have to stop reading and go to work!! It's really a great thing you are doing, trying to save the feral cats. They really have no one to help them except the very few. It's such a hard thing, because they are wild animals, but they are cats. Promise me you will call your local feral cat association. I don't know where you live, but almost all communities have one. They will help you get the cats rounded up and relocated.— November 16, 2009 7:28 a.m.
Feeding the Beast
I'm sorry, SD. I just could not keep up with you Saturday night!! My husband found me sitting up, fast asleep with a full cocktail on the table and my laptop sliding off. Anti, I am intrigued by your idea. Give me a little time to reconstruct my head (I am still working until Dec., maybe even a couple of weeks after that if I have some nasty files that haven't closed by then). I need to condition myself to not be in a frenzy all the time and approach life in the present moment. Ugh, that was really new-agey. Oh, well. That may be part of the master plane. Anyway, I approached the Humane Society a couple of years ago about my company sponsoring a pet adoption - good for them, good PR for us. Well, they were less than enthusiastic because apparently there is some approval process you have to go through to even associate yourself with their name. It's not like I work for Larry Flynt's Hustler Club!! I have to look into it further. I have a few connections down there. Maybe I'll do a little digging. You know what? The more I think about this, the more excited I get. My therapist told me she sees me coming up with something that involves animals. Disclaimer: I am not some crazy nut job who needs therapy. Every person should seek therapy if they have the resources and something in their life is out of their control. By resources, I mean even a bus pass to get you to the county medical facility - you don't have to be rich to have sound mental health. In my case, it was my job. I needed a neutral third party who does not know me personally to give me the kick in the ass I needed to not be a slave to someone else's machine. Without feeling like I somehow failed someone or myself.— November 16, 2009 6:56 a.m.
Can Feds thwart runaway exec pay?
Food prices are low because of corn production AND low-cost labor. Back to your original point - "Who Moved My Soap?: The CEO's Guide to Surviving Prison" by Andy Borowitz should give you a couple of laughs.— November 15, 2009 3:32 p.m.
Feeding the Beast
That's awesome, cuddle!! Have you gone to Animal Control to get one of their traps? Works like a charm. So many people have abandoned their pets because of this housing market. My next career is going to be in animal welfare, I can feel it.— November 15, 2009 2:19 p.m.
Feeding the Beast
As I was reading your post, the word egos kept crowding my thoughts, and sure enough, you nailed it. It's such a shame that the ones with no egos (the animals) suffer because of the egos of the ones that can make a difference. They have their own agendas, and sharing the spotlight is not on it. I love your idea. I do have one bit of news that might cheer you up - the San Diego Humane Society and the North County San Diego Humane Society are merging. http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=… Their reason? Together we can do more. People are starting to get it. Consolidation = power. Combining resources to make an organization stronger, especially when they step back and realize that they really do share a common goal that has nothing to do with individual ego-feeding needs. I think your idea may not be as impossible as you think. Animal welfare takes a great deal of dedication, and the ones who dedicate their lives to it have a great responsibility not only to the animals, but to the deep pockets of the ones that want their picture in Burl Stiff's column. I don't envy their position, because it is a price that has to be paid in order to raise money. It's like the Humane Society Fur Ball. You look around at this lavish event, the gowns and the jewels, and you think "good Lord, couldn't all the money spent on this event just be donated and we wouldn't need this gala?" Nope. Because the only way you are going to pry their wallets open is to show the proper reverence to the ones donating. And that is to throw an expensive party in their favor. I'm glad Sylvester is doing well! Clyde is still alive and well. I thought I had lost him, they dug up the area where he lives, and then paved it back over. I kept bringing him food, and it sat untouched for weeks, and I finally gave up. The other day I drove by and there he was, lying in the sun!! I literally screamed "oh my God, it's Clyde!!" I stopped my car and got out and he of course ran away and ran back into one of the little holes in the pavement that they left untouched. So his little house underground is still there.— November 15, 2009 1:28 p.m.