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I've created a monster. Well, no, but having mentioned George and Chip yesterday, there is quite a bit of what I can only describe as "Blog Envy" going around. Although as was pointed out by Eva, Chip's mention was indeed rather token.
But Chip is responsible for - or at least the muse for - the term "Blog Envy", which comes from the game "Table Envy." Table Envy is played at any large dinner party where there are several tables - it's even better when you know some or all of the people at other tables. At various points during the evening, a pre-arranged signal is given - preferably a common word, such as satchel or gingivitis - and the entire table erupts in loud laughter. This causes everyone else to turn at look [enviously] at the Fun Table, and wonder why they got stuck making small talk with the Cardboard Personality Man. And, as we discovered the other evening, Table Envy can be played at a cocktail party, with nary a table in sight.
[But now John K and Jon are feeling Blog Envy. I'll work on it.]
Ya gotta love those PETA people. Well, no, actually you DON'T. BUT, they are good for a few laughs every so often - here's one from USA Today :
The animal rights group PETA plans to sue the California Milk Advisory Board today over its award-winning ''Happy Cows'' campaign. PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says the idyllic conditions portrayed in the ads amount to false advertising.
The suit, which is expected to be filed in California Superior Court, says California dairy cows live on muddy, feces- and urine-soaked lots devoid of any vegetation, not on grassy hillsides as depicted in the ads.
"Our goal with the lawsuit is to let people know that if they're consuming dairy products, they're promoting cruelty to animals," PETA's Bruce Friedrich says.
The ads do portray an idealized and unrealistic view of the life of a dairy cow, but consumers know the difference between reality and fantasy, says Jim Reynolds, a professor of veterinary science at the University of California-Davis and chair of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Animal Welfare Committee, an international association of veterinarians.
"I know when I buy a beer in a bar, I don't get two women in bikinis standing next to me," Reynolds says.
Having been a pre-vet student in a former life, I think my view of cows is probably a bit, um, jaded. Especially since I have seen cows who, when given the opportunity to go frolic in a green pasture, preferred to stand in the muddy, feces- and urine-soaked lot devoid of any vegetation. Go figure.
But if I follow PETA's logic, I have been deceived by these noisome Cheese People into thinking that these cows are a) HAPPY and b) can TALK. And darn it all, I want to buy cheese that comes from happy, talking cows.
[But the Gateway cow never seems very happy, despite the ability to talk. Should I buy a Dell instead?]
Feeling a bit festive, I decided to get a Christmas Tree this year. I haven't done that in, oh, about ten years. It's a live Norwalk Pine, or something like that, about 5 feet tall with the container. I'll plant it out in the garden after the holidays. Last night Suki helped me decorate - you want to see it?
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