Today while driving in the car I heard the following news story:

A woman claiming to be Michael Jackson's wife has been arrested for trespassing at the star's California home.

Billie Jean Jackson, 60, was detained at the singer's Neverland Ranch on Monday night, and was taken to the nearby Santa Barbara County Jail.

Doesn't she know that Billie Jean is NOT his lover? She's just a girl who claims that?

Posted by: Ensie at 07:27 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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It's clear that I'm slightly behind on the horse fighting stories reported in the Daily Mail. Their first article appeared in July 2006 in reference to China's "barbaric" horse fights. Apparently, the Phillipines have their own horse fighting rackett going, despite it's being illegal in the country. Last week the Daily Mail had a new story, complete with horrifying pictures, on their horse fighting tradition.

I had never even concieved the thought of people purposefully pitting two stallions together to fight until one is injured so badly it may need to be slaughtered. Not to mention the rape and abuse the mare in season that is used to work the stallions into their crazed state is subject to. Gambling and crime syndicates keep the horse fights going.

Then again, why should I be surprised that people in third-world countries are treating animals barbarically when we here in the US aren't capable of treating our animals any better? When NFL quarterback Michael Vick is using "rape stands" to breed fighting dogs and killing them by the hundreds and Jaimie Foxx is saying that it's part of black culture so we should go easy on the guy?

The truth is it's part of gangster and drug dealing culture and an underclass that I hope to God is dying out. There are better things to do with your time and energy. One doesn't need to pit innocent animals against eachother, be they dogs, roosters, horses, or even camels.

There are a couple of things you can do to help the fighting horses of the Phillipines. You can stop travelling to these areas of the world that fight horses and let those officials know that they are losing your dollars. From the Network for Animals:

Horse Fighting, an illegal spectator blood sport where stallions are incited to fight one another, is widely practiced on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Fuelled by cash prizes for the owners of the winning horses and extensive gambling, horse fighting is a cruel spectacle that results in serious injuries and often death for the horses.

Please send a letter to the Mayor of Davao City, the largest city on the island of Mindanao and the economic hub of the area. Inform Mayor Duterte that as a compassionate traveler, you choose tourism destinations that are committed to treating animals humanely. Only when all horse fighting has been ended, will you consider traveling to Mindanao.

Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor
Davao City Investment Promotion Center
Door 10, Ramon Magsaysay Park Complex, R. Magsaysay Avenue
Davao City, Philippines

You can also contact the International Fund for Horses. Their Mission Statement:

The Mission of the Int'l Fund for Horses (IFH) is to promote and safeguard the health, safety and welfare of equines worldwide, domestic and in the wild.

IFH is dedicated to ensuring that humane standards are set and kept relating to the working and domestic lives of all equines from the beginning to the end of their lives. IFH is particularly committed to ending horse slaughter for human consumption wherever it exists.

Additionally, IFH is devoted to the preservation of wild horses, mules, donkeys, burros and zebras in their natural habitats.

Protecting Horses through Intervention, Education and Legislation

You can go to their Take Action page to sign up to help by writing a letter, sending a fax, or making a phone call. Nothing fancy, just a simple action that can help save a horse's life.

Posted by: Ensie at 02:10 PM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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1 That's HORRIBLE!!! I never would have thought of it ... How can humans be so cruel and unkind? Thanks for posting this and making people aware of this... I just happened on to your blog, by the way... It's very interesting.. Take care, Leesa

Posted by: Leesa at February 28, 2008 05:34 AM (SLQ3E)

2 i hate it. i think it should be banned all around the world!!! it is a cruel sport which should end horses dont deserve to be forced to fight! please do something about it !!!!!! thanks Amy

Posted by: Amy Chester at June 10, 2008 07:02 AM (fl47x)

3 HI my name is eric and i thank that is sick i have six horse's myself and i would not do that

Posted by: eric shipman at November 13, 2008 02:19 PM (bcEg9)

4 i think this is f*c*ing dumb this shoud never happen when i be come a cop you better watch out ill find your a$$.i am just warning yall and if i ever see this shit again ill hunt you down and throw your a$$$$ in jail!!!!and save these wonderfull horses who were never made two do this stuff your making it do!!!its dumb!!!!they are made two be in the wild or trained by pros...this could of been some little girls only dream two own a horse than you guys have two do this shit wft

Posted by: megan at November 15, 2008 01:27 AM (uBmCy)

5 I think I just died a little by reading this... Theres no words for it. It's horrible.

Posted by: Ellie at November 22, 2008 03:02 AM (nB64V)

6 Awful...

Posted by: Micaela at December 02, 2008 02:43 PM (fL4Q0)

7 WTF ARE THESE PEOPLE'S PROBLEM THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM SELVES GO MENTAL AND ATTACK AND KILL EACH OTHER!!! BUT THEY SHOULDN'T PULL THIS SHIT ON THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS!!!! I'M SORRY BUT YOU CHINESE AND PHILLIPENO'S DISCUST ME YOU ARE REPULSIVE TERRIBLE TORTOROUS HORRIFIC PEOPLE THATS JUST F***ING SICKNENING find another f***ing way to make money you assholes

Posted by: caitlyn at December 05, 2008 09:42 AM (VCImj)

8 that's mean and wrong. SAY NO TO HORSE ABUSE AND ANIMAL CRULETY!

Posted by: Brianna at December 07, 2008 05:53 PM (5Rjpi)

9 hi you shoud STOP HORSE FIHTING EVERY ONE SAID THAT YOU SHOUD STOP IT RIHT NOW

Posted by: COURTNEY at January 10, 2009 11:08 AM (ZvVqo)

10 You´re all fuckt up !!! How can you take pictures like this, and put it on the internet. You must missed something in you´re head !! You´re crazy .. BIG TIME ! You´re fucking PICS ! If i had one wish, you who had taked this pictures and puted them on the internet, you would DIE like a hoe... I realey hope that somebody will shout you big time with a gun, or that some horse will kill your ass, and your fucking stupide head, a wonderfull day .. EAT MY SHIT, AND FUCK OFF, bitches ! You stupide "pokerface".. -DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE.. DIE LIKE A HOE... DIE LIKE YOUR MOM WILL!! - From 10 people in Denmark !!!! !!!

Posted by: sandra at January 28, 2009 06:36 AM (++SA6)

11 I'm going to save the most recent comment, just because it might be the most awesome comment I've ever received. Totally non-nonsensical and missing the point of my post entirely. Even if it's spam, it's really impressive spam.

Posted by: ensie at January 28, 2009 08:06 PM (9fZ6r)

12 This is awful x it needs to be stopped, it is a barbaric action, that should be stopped everywhere, they should make the people who host these fights to be cruelly treated as ell to show them what the animals felt like. evil monsters!

Posted by: Beckiie at October 07, 2009 09:43 AM (rWEF3)

13 Why are ppl doing this to horses?! Let alone any animal. I am not a peta person but breeding or beating any animal to make them mad and fight is just crap. Who ever is making this cruel event happening around the world is a sick person that don't care about animals. I am mad right now and about to kill all the people who let these events happen!!!!!!!

Posted by: Jamie at October 23, 2009 09:39 AM (eY/8p)

14 I really, really hope that whoever takes pleasure in watching these poor animals gets what is coming to them.. they should be treated exactly the same as they treat these horses. This is disgusting, I don't understand how people can watch this sort of thing and not feel any shame or sadness.

Posted by: adele at November 06, 2009 05:07 AM (YbwSv)

15 this is very wrong!! i have horses of my own,, and this is know way to treat this breatiful animals. if peolpe think they can do this? heck no! that it bull!

Posted by: kalie gardner at November 11, 2009 12:33 PM (UJvTI)

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Note: forwarded message attached.

Here are two very touching photos honored at this years [sic]

FirstPlace

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.

During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should'

Second Place

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted.'

PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING!
________________________________________________________

So, my Mom sent this to me. I got rid of the thousands of pounds of internet crap that was attached to it. A bajillion forwards and sappy, "I could barely see the pictures for the tears in my eyes!" comments. And some quote from Ronald Regan. And something about the "silent majority" wearing blue on Fridays to support the troops. And a guilt trip about forwarding it on unless you hate America.

I think the pictures are sad, really. They're obviously touching, especially the one with the woman sleeping next to her husband's casket. But for the most part it makes me angry about a stupid war we've been fighting for a lot of stupid reasons. A few good ones, but mostly stupid ones. It's costing us, and our children, and our children's children more money than I can even imagine and driving our country into a recession in the meantime.

But what it really makes me think about is the fact that until recently, soldier's caskets weren't allowed to be photographed. It was a symbol that we weren't "winning the war on terror" and that it might make us doubt the bullshit that the President likes to feed us about Iraq. I'm not sure if it was a lawsuit, photographers' tenacity, or just the government deciding to give up that changed things.

What's funny is that the government always had it wrong. While a casket does show that we've lost something, it's not a war, it's a person, a soldier. And it's shameful that anyone or anything would hide the deaths of those who fought for it to keep a propaganda machine alive.

Posted by: Ensie at 04:29 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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These are not breakfast:

Also, one bag does not equal one serving.

Posted by: Ensie at 09:46 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Today I was browsing the internets as usual and came across Dooce and her most recent entry about how Apartment Therapy wanted pictures of her workspace. Of course she submitted tasteful and artful pictures of various items arranged on desks and walls. All her shit is artsy and cool.

I wonder if this is how her workspace is every day, or if it gets cluttered and piled up, the way my desk is? It's so the opposite of artsy and cool. If Apartment Therapy ever wants my desk shots, here's what they'd get:

It's crucially important that my cell phone be comfortable.

That green thing is The Jeffrey's Dogzilla Halloween costume.

Looking at these pictures makes me see it through new eyes. Yikes!

OK - so this is pretty messy. But technically it's in piles. Piles of incoming, outgoing, and, uh, important stuff. VERY IMPORTANT STUFF. So don't touch it.

This cracks me up every time I look at it.

Is it wrong that there are more comics than work related items on here?

God it's good I don't meet clients at my office.

Books, books everywhere! Those shoes are also very important for work.

Posted by: Ensie at 02:47 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Is that a Keith Knight strip on your board? I *heart* him.

Posted by: Erin at November 01, 2007 03:23 PM (nLYxS)

2 Yes it is. I have two pieces of his art up, in fact. I met him at the Seattle Emerald Con a couple of years ago. His stuff is fantastic!

Posted by: ensie at November 01, 2007 04:06 PM (6We+3)

3 I'd just like everyone to know that this is completely her doing. This room was fairly well organized before it became her office!

Posted by: frinklin at November 02, 2007 04:59 PM (6We+3)

4 I'm just glad it's not just me...

Posted by: LD at November 04, 2007 12:47 PM (BsXSX)

5 As I may see – only your cell phone is comfortable there

Posted by: Frank at November 09, 2007 07:23 PM (p0O2M)

6 He rubs me the wrong way. You really did it this time. Watch me. 70-647 Don't try to pull one over me. 000-207 In vain. I did it all in vain. xk0-002 That's not the point. NS0-501 This is destiny. TK0-201 That's an exaggeration.

Posted by: Pass4sure engine at February 02, 2009 07:22 AM (P7E/+)

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No. No. No. And no.

Seriously? Convenience stores are the answer to groceries downtown? Or at least, to some groceries downtown? Who wants to have a convenience store located on every street corner across from their hip, downtown condo? Who wants to have a convenience store located across the street from their business? Who wants a "slew" of convenience stores to open in the downtown area?

This would be piss poor planning on the part of Tacoma to allow for ghetto grocers to move into buildings all over the downtown area. Now, if we're talking about small time grocery stores, like Tacoma Boys, or Dave's Meat and Produce (on Steele and North I), I would support these. These are not convenience stores, they are actual small, locally owned grocery stores with fresh meat, produce, and the like. You can shop there for a whole meal, or just pick up some essentials. They are charming places and do not attract bad elements in their various neighborhoods. But the majority of "convenience" stores are ugly blights that lend themselves to loitering and crime. Drive by the corner of 9th and Commerce one evening and you'll see what I mean.

Putting a real grocery store downtown is a fine idea if there are enough residents in the area to support it. But in the meantime, get used to driving for your groceries, just like pretty much everyone else does in the South Sound. I live in the North End and, believe it or not, I also DRIVE to get my groceries. I chose a home a few miles from the grocery store, and therefore, I drive. It's that simple. I didn't move here expecting a grocery store to be built next door. I don't complain about not having a cheap grocery store within walking distance.

And that brings up another point - the "affordable" downtown grocery store. Urban-centered grocery stores are a different animal than your suburban stores. When was the last time you saw a Fred Meyer or a Top Foods open in a truly downtown setting? Everyone who is convinced that you're going to get one next to the Tacoma Convention Center let me bust that myth right now - it's never going to happen. If the downtown demographic swings far enough in the family direction you might see a Safeway or the like, but otherwise places like QFC, Metropolitan Market, Thirftway, and Whole Foods - grocery stores that excel in urban environments - will be the companies that will be looking at setting up shop in Tacoma's downtown.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a vibrant downtown with a mixture of small time, independently owned grocers selling their wares, along with a good sized grocery store that coexists to meet the needs of all that live downtown and in the Upper Tacoma area. I think this would bring more people downtown on weekends and after business hours as well as allow for more businesses to stay open longer hours, which is good for everyone in the downtown core.

I cannot see any need, however, for a ton of hideous convenience stores. In fact, I would happily get rid of the ones right now that aren't attached to gas stations. In the meantime, understand that we've created a suburban world where most everyone drives for their groceries and start working on building a population density and identifying a demographic that is conducive to the type of business (read: type of grocery store) you'd like to see in the downtown area.

Posted by: Ensie at 08:30 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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Angelina Gains Ten Pounds! Film at 11.

Posted by: Ensie at 09:17 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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My hits have been up lately. I used to get all my hits from three things. Jude Law, Harry Potter, and garbage disposal knock out plugs. However, things have expanded as of late. Lets see what's been going on.

· What looks good on a fat bridesmaid will take you to this post about my nightmarish (yet funny) experience looking for a matron of honor dress for my sister’s wedding. Luckily enough, I describe what I think looks pretty good on a fat bridesmaid. Hope it helped.

· Freakish boobs shoots you off to what is the my number on comment generating post. I have 22 comments on this post, most of which are long narratives about people's various boob situations. I described what it's like to have breasts on the larger side, other women let me know what it's like to have breasts of the smaller or larger side. I always wonder what exactly the person searching for "freakish boobs" is looking for. Do they think their boobs are freakish and they want someplace they can share and be understood, or are they wanting some kinky wack-a-doo porn?

· For the person who is searching for propane leak stove, I sincerely hope that they were doing so from the safety from a computer outside of their own home, unlike I did when I wrote this post. I know I could smell propane, and better safe than sorry, the gas was turned off for two days. And we were charged for having The Boonies Propane Company come out to check! Asshats!

· Someone decided to search for adulteress and came across the story of my lunch with another man while our waitress kept an eye on me for Frinklin.

· I commiserate with anyone who needs to search for strained chest muscles, because they suck. It took forever to recover from them, and I wrote about them more than once.

Posted by: Ensie at 05:29 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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People who back into parking spaces in crowded parking lots are assholes.

Posted by: Ensie at 08:12 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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