SOPA & PIPA Could Affect Your Freedom Of Choice

Posted on January 18, 2012 by catprotector

Two proposed bills in Congress called Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) could affect not only how you access the internet but also what you’re allowed to view, listen to and post online. Can you imagine if Cat Galaxy was not allowed to exist? What if Facebook, Twitter, Google, your favorite news station web site, and yes even your own business site were no longer accessible to everyone on the internet? That could happen if both SOPA and PIPA were to become law.

The bill is pretty simple really, while it’s disguised as fighting online piracy it will affect individual freedom on the internet. One of the stickiest details of the bill is the punishment ordinary users face by posting material on the internet. Anyone that posts copyrighted material on a web site will face a felony charge and potential 5 year sentence in prison. In other words, if you’re a non commercial user that posts content on a site like YouTube or even Facebook of yourself singing a famous artist’s song then you might be facing jail.

There are other dangers as well like being told what you’re allowed to also view and listen to on the internet. For you cats, this means an end to you enjoying your favorite internet radio and TV stations like Cat Galaxy. Also blogs, news content, search engines, and social media sites could also run into problems or cease to exist if these bills pass.

For internet radio this type of legislation certainly hurts our industry. About 14 years ago the DMCA (Digital Digital Millennium Copyright Act) was passed because the record companies wanted unauthorized content to be removed from the internet. Those who shared such content were sued and forced to pay a high financial price. Of course years later because of online sharing new legislation was proposed through the Library Of Congress forcing internet radio stations to pay a higher price to air content on their stations. This caused some popular stations to shut down. Who proposed the legislation? According to what has been posted on the net and the information that’s out there, the record companies and yes even the movie industry that lobbied for it and got the legislation passed.

On January 24th, SOPA and PIPA will be on its way to the Senate to be voted on. Already, sites like Google, Wikipedia, WordPress and others are blocking out content in protest to the new legislation. While the head of the Motion Picture Association Of America (MPAA) calls this demonstration a dangerous stunt, those against SOPA and PIPA are gaining support.

The list of SOPA and PIPA supporters aren’t surprising. According to web site theoriesofconspiracy.com, support for the new legislation includes the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), SoundExchange, Sony, Broadcast Music Inc (BMI), MPAA and many other heavy hitters in the recording and movie industry. Heck even non-recording and motion picture companies are listed as supporters like the NCAA, the NFL, MLB, and even the NBA.

Those against SOPA and PIPA are calling for an all out boycott of those companies or organizations that support such legislation, which takes a stab at taking away our freedom of choice and deciding for the masses what’s best for them. Could we be seeing another violation of the United States Constitution’s First Amendment? It certainly seems so. The internet is a place where individuals should be allowed to freely access and post content.

For a few years now groups like the Tea Party have spoken out against government involvement in our lives. They’ve also rallied against big corporations that have been allowed to dictate policy in Washington. No doubt, if SOPA and PIPA are passed you can expect them to possibly be out in droves once again to protest against those members of Congress that continue to align themselves with big business and turn their back on the United States Constitution. Money may talk but you don’t need cash to protest something that you’re against.

SOPA and PIPA may seem like innocent legislation but it’s a trojan horse we don’t need. Everyone deserves the right to choose for themselves what they read, watch or listen to. If the legislation passes you can expect not only businesses to suffer if they can’t post content but our media may also find it tougher to report on events and provide us information. Also, search engines and many web sites that provide us valuable information could also fade into the darkness. Yes, there were ways of getting information before the Internet existed but are you really ready to go back to those days?

The bottom line is, this type of legislation is a wake up call. If we don’t speak out against it, then the way you live your life is affected. Individuality and freedom are great things to have, so we shouldn’t take it for granted. After all, these things worth fighting for, aren’t they?

If you’re against SOPA or PIPA and have concerns, write your representative in United States Congress and tell them how you feel. Click on the link to find and write to your representative in Congress. Also, click on the link to find and write your U.S Senator as well.

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Euthanizing Of Cat At The Arizona Humane Society Could Aid No-Kill Animal Rescues

Posted on December 29, 2011 by catprotector

When Daniel Dockery brought his cat Scruffy to the staff at the Arizona Humane Society’s Campus For Compassion for medical care, he never thought he’d be forced to sign over his cat to get the help Scruffy needed.  Of course, what happens when the cat is ultimately euthanized, not because medically they did all they could to do to save the animal, but because the cat’s human didn’t immediately have the money to pay? The amount here was $400.

According to the news reports, Dockery’s mother offered her credit card to pay for the medical care that Scruffy needed but the AHS said it’s not their policy to accept credit cards over the phone because they’ve had trouble with that in the past. I guess donations to the AHS can’t be made by credit card over the phone either right? Those are readily accepted everyday by the AHS.

The backlash the AHS now faces will now no-doubt help the no-kill animal rescue organizations that have struggled to get donations and of course publicity for their shelters. The no-kill philosophy is simple, these organizations won’t euthanize any animal if they’re healthy or otherwise can be treated medically. In other words an animal brought into a shelter that is no-kill isn’t immediately euthanized and are free to live there or in foster care until they’ve found a new home or until they’re ready to cross over the rainbow bridge.

This incident with Scruffy might just be the wake up call to the public to gravitate their donations to small no-kill animal rescue organizations like Safe Haven For Animals. Many of the cats at their shelter are not only well cared for but also have been patiently waiting for a good and loving forever home. Some them have been waiting for weeks, months or even years for that to happen.  There’s no fear of euthanasia in the no-kill world unless medically the animal’s quality of life has been greatly diminished due to illness and there’s no other choice but to ease the animals pain and suffering. Even $400 doesn’t prevent the no-kills from making sure an animal has a good chance at living.

Take Nala, a special needs cat that has lived at Safe Haven’s shelter since she was a kitten due to a medical condition as a result of the breeding situation she was in. That was 8 years ago and she’s still hoping for a new home. At least she isn’t living with the threat of euthanasia due to money.

This incident with Scruffy isn’t the only time the AHS has been in the hot seat. Other incidents of quick euthanasia has happened and been reported by not only the public but other animal rescue organizations as well. About 11 years ago a cat named Christmas made her way into the AHS’s Sunnyslope facility due to a human turning her in. Of course, Christmas was supposed to be returned to Sun Valley Animal Shelter per an adoption contract signed by the cat’s original human. When the management at Sun Valley called the AHS to get the cat back, they were told she had an upper respiratory infection. Though easily treatable (and despite Sun Valley offering to deal with any medical issues), the cat was euthanized by the AHS. Not a great way to work with your fellow animal rescue organizations.

Fast forward to 2011,  there are now plenty of animal rescue organizations in the no-kill community that are hesitant to deal with the AHS due to their high euthanasia rate. In fact, some have reported that they won’t work with the AHS due to prior incidents like the one Scruffy and Dockery encountered.

The AHS does indeed get a lot of donations from both the public and private sector. No doubt however, this latest incident will convince many to start donating to places like Safe Haven which don’t receive even 1% of the money the AHS receives every year in donations. In fact, almost all of their money goes towards the care and feeding of the cats at the shelter. No volunteer or even Safe Haven’s director takes a salary. Much of the food, medical costs, cat litter and other items needed to care for the cats are from public donations and also paid out of pocket by the volunteers. Heck, Safe Haven even has to pay rent every month for the facility they’re in now. Because of dedicated volunteers they somehow keep their heads above water. While it’s a struggle they continue to work hard to give every cat in their care a chance at a better life. The AHS could learn a thing or two from places like Safe Haven.

If any good comes from the death of Scruffy and other cats that have faced a similar fate at the hands of AHS is that the number of donations to no-kill animal rescue organizations throughout the Phoenix metro area might pick up. While it was a senseless death and Scruffy could’ve been easily saved, the general public now sees that the AHS isn’t the only game in town and may see that helping the no-kill rescues are the way to go.

It’s interesting to note that AHS’s Executive Director Guy Collison according to Charity Navigator pulls in a salary of $118,492 per year. That’s about 1% of the AHS’s 12,619,89 yearly revenue. Surely with all that money they could’ve come up with a plan to save Scruffy and of course help Daniel Dockery who actually had someone willing to pay the $400. It’s also important to note that smaller no-kill rescues (which the AHS isn’t) never see this amount of money being donated to their organizations. If they’re lucky, given the tough economy they’ll pull in possibly $100,000.

Above it all, the smaller no-kill animal shelters and rescues may finally be given their due especially in donations. Already, some members of the public have stated they won’t be giving another dime to the AHS. Could we see a mass exodus of people pulling their support of the AHS? It’s possible. However, the media has to be willing to also support that plan as well. What about pulling Pets On Parade from the airwaves at Channel 3 and giving groups like Safe Haven their own show every week to help get cats adopted? Surely, the TV news media in Phoenix can help make that happen? How about ending the Pet-Telethon to benefit the AHS on Channel 15 and maybe helping to raise funds for a deserving smaller no-kill rescue organization? I’m sure Piggie Poo and others could use the money to feed the animals in their care.

It’s time we realize that the new way of animal rescue is no-kill. Perhaps it’s time the AHS join that community or at least take a crash course in what humane is supposed to really mean. Could they see the light? Only time can tell.

 

 

 

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Attention Cheapskates & Socialists! Businesses Don’t Work For Free!

Posted on December 13, 2011 by catprotector

Recently, many news reports are coming out saying the Occupy Wall Street and Phoenix crowd insist that the 1% which supposedly represents the wealthiest people in America should pay more in taxes than everyone else. I have a question for the 99% demonstrators, how about paying your fair share?

Many of those members of the Occupy movement have not only targeted the wealthy but small businesses as well. Yes, the same protests on Wall Street where demonstrators feel they should be given hand-outs, obviously feel that businesses should be giving money and service away for free. No doubt, those that would be called cheapskates are loving this movement. It’s all about getting everything for free whether it’s service, money or even products, the Occupy movement has clearly shown what it truly is, a socialist rebellion.

During the holiday season more and more shoppers are flocking to big retail outlets in order to get an item at a cheap price. Isn’t it interesting that none of the 99% protesters are camped outside these stores insisting that it would be really bad to support them. Instead they’re camped out in city parks (which is illegal) and demanding that they be given jobs, money, have someone else pay their bills, and every other freebie under the sun.

Small businesses which struggle every holiday season could use more people to speak up for them. Where are these 99% people when a small business needs help? Here in Phoenix like all over the country there are many of them that could use a booster.

Panther TEK, a local computer repair company in Phoenix says they often see somewhat of a decline as service based companies get overlooked during holiday season. This is why they created Small Service Business Week (happens December 12 – 18) in order to encourage consumers to support those local businesses where service is the #1 product that they sell. In fact giving the gift of service is the best thing to give someone on your holiday wish list because it may be the last item we can say is “Made In USA.”

However, this economy won’t survive if so many people think they should be given something at bargain prices or free just for them. This is becoming a lot more common during the economic downturn. While some people are willing to pay extra to get quality service and particular items, others insist that businesses need to give it away for free or at such low prices, that they don’t care if the establishment suffers or if a store has to close their doors. It’s all about entitlement, which the Occupy movement is promoting.

The current economy has given pathway to a whole new generation of consumers like the Craigslist Society (those that go on craigslist to find the lowest price item or service they can find) which insist that a business or private party advertising an item or service should give it to them at a price lower than is being asked for, or free. Of course, with all the businesses that resist, a whole new crop of fly-by-nighters, part-timers, and other cheap businesses are there to help the penny-pinchers. Of course you do get what you pay for.

I’m sorry to tell all the freeloaders, cheapskates, tightwads and 99%ers out there, most businesses don’t work for free or can afford to give you almost everything you want at your own special rate. If they gave you everything you wanted how could they afford to pay their workers, pay their bills or even afford to feed their families? We realize that socialism might work for you but in a capitalist society there are no free rides. People work for a living. If the wealthiest Americans pay more than the rest of us in taxes, what kind of messages does that send? I agree, everyone should pay their fair share in taxes but other than everyone paying a flat tax (as some members of Congress have proposed), what else should we do?

To sum it all up, it’s ok to try and save money if you’re struggling, but we also can’t hold back from spending money at local small businesses which work hard to provide quality service and products to the masses. Without their help and people willing to support them, no jobs will be created, no taxes will be paid, no additional items will be made available to consumers to give them a choice, and above all the economy won’t be able to get better. The solution to this economic downturn is simple, spend money at small businesses. By doing that jobs will be created, there will be more choices for consumers, and of course the economy will be stronger. All that sure beats socialism and sends a clear message to the Occupy movement that this country believes in working hard to achieve the brass ring. After all, that’s what capitalism is all about.

 

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Small Service Business Week Encourages Consumers To Shop Local

Posted on December 7, 2011 by catprotector

Have you encouraged your human to shop local this holiday season? Does the scratching post your human purchased for you say “Made In China” on it and fell apart after only a few months of use? December 12 – 18 is Small Service Business Week and it’s pretty much the purrfect time to shop those local small businesses where “Made In The USA” is still a cornerstone. In fact, local service based businesses are may be the only ones that now can say they are a product of this country.

Unlike Small Business Saturday which was started by American Express (a big company), Small Service Business Week was started in 2010 by Panther TEK, a local computer repair company in Phoenix which saw that small businesses that sell service as their main product were being overlooked during the holiday season. In fact, many consumers are unaware that they can purchase gift certificates for services like computer repair, web design, pet sitting, landscaping, plumbing, and yes even veterinary. All the customer  has to do is ask if they sell them.

There are many different service based businesses that could use a boost during the holiday season. It’s not only buying local at its core but also giving the gift of service to someone on your holiday wish list could be one of the most used items. Everyone at some time in their lives needs or uses someone else’s services. Even cats regularly use the services of humans to cater to their needs.

There are many situations where the services of another are valuable assets and that you’d gladly pay to use them. If you have a computer problem (or if your human has it) and you don’t have the patience to solve it yourself, you’ll most certainly call a professional technician that does. If you’re feeling under the weather, no doubt your human will call the veterinarian which of course will help cure you of the illness. Service based businesses are everywhere.

During the holiday season, these types of businesses see somewhat of a decline and yet these are the same type of entities that tend to your needs throughout the year. If you don’t need them now there is always someone you know that does. Purchasing a gift certificate from a service based business might be a great present for them and fulfills one of their needs. It also helps keep the doors of a local small business open and of course the economy moving in the right direction when you spend money at these types of companies. Yes, for every $100 spent at a local small business $70 – $80 gets put back into the local economy. That means more jobs, more choices for consumers, and more opportunities for others to start their own business.

There’s also another benefit to giving the gift of service this holiday season, it is a unique gift item that is plentiful and easy to obtain. In many instances you can walk into these establishments and purchase a gift certificate or gift card without standing in long lines. In Panther TEK’s case,  you can buy a gift certificate by calling them on the phone and they’ll be able to send it electronically or deliver it anywhere in the Phoenix metro area. They’ll also happily mail it to you as well. And yes, like many small businesses they even accept credit cards as payment.

So, give the gift of service this holiday season and help local businesses survive. It’s a great way to give back economically and they can continue to serve your needs. Happy Holidays!

For more information about Panther TEK, if you need computer help or want to know more about Small Business Service Week give them a call at 480-980-8541.

 

 

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GPCC Excludes Phoenix Mayoral Candidates From Debate

Posted on August 15, 2011 by catprotector

It looks like the Greater Phoenix Chamber Of Commerce may have shot themselves in the foot when they excluded city of Phoenix mayoral candidates Jennifer Wright and Anna Brennan from a publicly televised debate because they couldn’t raise $50,000 to be there.  Does it matter whether or not it was being held inside a publicly funded building (Phoenix Symphony Hall) or that they’re choosing to not allow the voters to hear all the candidates? Of course, we did attempt to contact the Greater Phoenix Chamber but received no answer to the question.

In a debate, the voters deserve to hear from all the candidates instead of those that have deep pockets or that are forced to pay to play. By excluding two of the candidates the GPCC may think they’re doing the right thing by making everyone pay up or they can’t attend, but it will also send a message to the public that they should only vote for the candidates that have the funds to run. Appearing in the debate are Wes Gullett, Claude Mattox, Peggy Neely and Greg Stanton. All of whom (counting all 4) raised the money which amounts to $100,000.

Of course, here’s something the GPCC didn’t think of…. their exclusion of both Brennan and Wright from the debate will no doubt bring each of these candidates more votes. Certainly in an election, there’s something called the sympathy vote and of course neither Wright nor Brennan are career politicians (at least that’s what they’ve stated) and are running a grass roots campaign. Wright already has support amongst some Tea Party members.

Excluding Wright and Brennan from the debate might also have another effect which could damage the GPCC even further, it might not only chase away new businesses considering membership but might also cause those already members to leave them especially to other groups. Yes, there might actually be some members of the Chamber that support Wright or Brennan and feel they were robbed of an equal chance to be seen by the voters. They also may have successfully handed both their campaigns more media attention.

One thing about the the news media they love controversy and no doubt excluding two mayoral candidates from a public debate will indeed make for interesting chatter around the water cooler. Excluding any candidate will no doubt anger someone and they might not even watch the debate on TV or even attend it live.

The media is already starting to ask questions about the debate and now both Wright and Brennan are in a position to get even more supporters. It shouldn’t be money that dictates whether or not a candidate wins an election. It should be about whether the candidate is the right person for the job and truly cares about the needs of the voters. The voters are the ones that decide whether they win or lose and election and of course those voting should actually do their research on the candidates instead of taking them entirely on their word alone. Because of this snub by the GPCC this is sure to happen to some degree.

If the GPCC can live with this decision of excluding candidates from their televised debate, then they should be prepared for the fallout that will happen after it’s over. There will be many questions and of course those excluded from the debate are already asking them and understandably angered by the lack of courtesy they were extended, especially by an organization that is supposed to represent both small and large businesses.

Brennan herself has already been outspoken and mentioned in a recent interview with the Arizona Republic that to exclude certain candidates from a public debate was not only wrong, but also will make the forum incomplete and possibly leave even more questions for voters.

“We didn’t put all this time to be shunned by the people who represent small business. Shame on them! If they want to truly change business-as-usual politics, they’re going about it the wrong way.”

Wright seems to agree with her grass roots opponent that if you are able to be on the ballot or make the Mayoral candidate list then you should be able to make your voice heard amongst the voters.

“I believe the city of Phoenix and its residents deserve to hear from all candidates who qualified for the ballot,” Wright said.

If there’s one good thing that may have come out of this is that voters might ask better questions of the candidates and will do their homework on them. A vote is an important thing whether it’s a city race or if someone is running for President. Nonetheless, the GPCC may weather the storm over this controversy but they’ll also take some direct hits as well. Of course the question for them will be, was it worth it?

 

 

 

 

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Phoenix City Council Member Is Willing To Help Feral Cats

Posted on August 11, 2011 by catprotector

 

Well, you might not ever think the issue of feral cats would even be something considered in a city election but in the race for Phoenix City Council District 2, it seems only one candidate cares enough to want to act on the issue and that’s Bryan Jeffries. In fact he has a soft spot for cats in general.

Recently, I attended a North Phoenix Chamber Of Commerce mixer and had the pleasure of meeting Councilman Bryan Jeffries and his wife. Not only did he give money to help Safe Haven For Animals but he also said he’d be willing to work with local feral cat rescue groups to encourage that Phoenix adopt a TNR policy instead trap and kill.

In a recent candidates forum, Jeffries along with City Council candidates David Jones and Jim Waring, the usual questions were asked by constituents like jobs, the problems with signs and of course about money but the one question never asked but was submitted was about feral cats.  In fact, the moderator mentioned to the audience  that feral cats as one of issues they never got to ask which drew big laughter from the audience but for those concerned about the issue it was indeed no laughing matter.

After the forum however, the question of whether or not the candidates would work to save the feral cats in Phoenix through TNR instead of trapping and killing was asked to each of them. Jones started talking about the sterilization pill (pretty much a proposed drug that would make the cats sterile without surgery which isn’t full proof and not in practice) as a half stab on the issue. In other words not a great educated answer.

Waring was too busy to even answer the question apparently so obviously not an issue important enough for him. I guess no answer was his answer.

Jeffries seem to be the only one to not only answer the question but he understood the seriousness of preventing any more cats from dying and was open to dialogue with those animal rescue organizations that have made saving cats within the Phoenix city limits a priority. Jeffries is used to saving lives and as a Mesa firefighter (he lives in North Phoenix) he’s probably saved plenty of lives both 2 legged and 4 legged. To know that he’d be willing to help the cats by avoiding euthanasia will no doubt gain him a few votes. If you have a candidate that’s sympathetic to the plight of our 4-legged creatures,  that’s exactly what we need in office, especially when the issues they face is overshadowed by others like crime, illegal immigration and all the others that get the attention.

Jeffries is no career politician. Sure he’s been involved in neighborhood block watch, has worked on the Phoenix Planning Commission, is a Fire Union President, and has had other positions, he still is the only one of the D2 candidates willing to help the cats and make sure they aren’t euthanized as a result of human irresponsibility.

Currently, there are over 244,000 free roaming cats in the Phoenix metro area. If you trap and kill them the yearly cost to the taxpayer would be $41,480,000 while the TNR meathod would only cost 36,000,000 (over $5 million in savings to the taxpayer) or if you did a discounted package TNR through a low cost spay neuter clinic it would only cost about $17,080,000. Pretty much the savings for a TNR project in Phoenix would save the taxpayers over $24 million. I don’t know about you but that is a pretty significant savings to both the city and the taxpayers.

Jeffries has stated he’s willing to talk with feral cat groups about making TNR the policy in Phoenix in dealing with the free roaming feline population. Many people complain about feral cats but yet never step in to help. They seem to ask the city to do the work which is a great plan but also we as humans shouldn’t wait for the city to do something, we need to take action ourselves to solve and issue we caused. The reason feral cats exist isn’t because it’s their fault but because humans failed to get their cats spayed or neutered and allowed them to roam outside.

Regardless, when you have one candidate that’s willing to work with animal rescue groups to save lives, that’s a good thing. Humane meathods of dealing with free roaming cats is a much better option than killing them.  Like all city officials Councilman Jeffries may not always have the perfect solution for each issue that a voter or constituent has a concern with but he appears willing to listen. Councilman Jeffries and his wife may have two dogs but they are animal lovers. While the issue of free roaming cats isn’t talked about in political debates, it now should be. Most of the humans in this country have some kind of 4-legged family member in their household so why not bring the issues facing them to our city, state or even federal representatives?

Over all, it’s refreshing to see a candidate so willing to talk about the issue, especially one that isn’t too popular to talk about. However, if one cat gets saved before or even after an election, it’s worth it. Just don’t forget to vote on August 30th.

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Is Craigslist A Safe Haven For Cheapskates?

Posted on May 21, 2011 by catprotector

 

Has craigslist become the place to find the cheapest people on the planet? Depending on who you ask, it just might be and possibly the worst place to find quality customers if you’re running a business. When the site first started out there was no doubt that it became a great way to post free ads to get the word out about your business and possibly land you a few quality customers. Now, craigslist may still be a place to get the word out about your business, but if you want quality customers, you may have to look elsewhere. That’s right, the quality customer decline has hit craigslist.

What is the quality customer decline you might ask? It’s where quality customers that you once found on craigslist now have been replaced by freeloaders and cheapskates who want your services or your item for sale at a cheaper price or simply expect you to work or give them that item for free. And yes, inexperienced or otherwise less than skilled professionals are also popping up to serve these people from the $40 computer tech to the $10 plumber. Heck, there are even posts from people in the Gigs section on craigslist that are bold enough to post a job paying minimum wage or below.

Other ads have also popped on craigslist recently suggesting that if skilled professionals do the work for them now, that they’ll get paid sometime down the road for more work. In other words, someone hires a contractor to do the job, they do the work and then are suddenly fired. The person doing the hiring not only walks away without paying the contractor but also walks away with the original customer’s money. Craigslist has become a haven for this type of activity. They might as well post job titles that state “take the job as is with a small chance of getting paid.”

I’ve always found that when you go the cheap route you get exactly what you pay for. In fact you’re more than likely to get someone that’s neither licensed nor a skilled professional. For the business owner getting a call from a craigslist cheapskate right off the bat can be frustrating and a bit time consuming. Usually when they call they’ll tell you their problem and then ask how much it’ll cost. Not unreasonable under ordinary circumstances but it seems these craigslist cheapskates will also ask not only how to fix the issue but also claim that a fix is easy or ask you for a price reduction because the other person or company they called before is charging a lower rate. It often leaves the business owner wondering why they called them in the first place.

I once had such a call where the person wanted me to get rid of a virus on their computer. Then when I told them what the hourly rate would be they proceeded to inform me that the person they called before was charging less. It made me wonder why they were calling my company, but it appeared they wanted a skilled professional, they just didn’t want to pay the proper price for it.

It makes me wonder if these same people haggle over prices at the grocery store or go to a restaurant and try to talk them down in price because the fast food chain down the street is offering a hamburger for $1. More than likely they wouldn’t, but on craigslist hagglers, no matter the item or service are turning up on the site and expecting those selling items or offering business services to give it to them either for free or at ridiculously low price. These people are being called lowballers for a reason and they expect to live like rock stars even if it’s at the expense of another person.

Quality customers used to abound on craigslist, but a few years ago it started to really change. Instead of getting customers that answered your ad and were happy to pay a skilled professional their rate, they’ve been replaced by those who feel that they can get anything they need at Walmart prices. It makes you wonder if these people if the rolls were reversed would be happy to sell their skills or items at such a low price. More than likely, probably not. Meanwhile, in their quest to save a dime, these people are also wasting time and and adding even more stress to their lives when they could just pay the skilled professional’s rate and breathe a sigh of relief the job got done. Then again do those who pay cheap rates know quality? Probably not, because they’d actually have to pay for it and it does cost money to purchase quality items or to get solid workmanship. I guess these people don’t feel they’re worthy of such splendor. After all, what good is money if you don’t spend it?

 

 

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Is Bin Laden’s Death Real Or Imagined? Show Us The Proof!

Posted on May 2, 2011 by catprotector

It certainly has been a busy couple of days for Obama and his administration, especially announcing the death of Osama Bin Laden who was one of the most sought after terrorists in the world. However, conspiracy theories are already starting to form, especially with Obama suddenly announcing that Bin Laden was killed by some secret Navy SEAL team and then came a quick burial at sea. Meanwhile, no pictures 0f the body have been shown on TV or in newspapers and none of the DNA evidence the government supposedly obtained has been presented for public study.

Could it be that the doubters are right? Could Bin Laden still be alive or in the very least already died some time ago? It’s certainly starting to look that way and no doubt this could be another trick by Obama in order to keep himself in office for another 4 years. After all, Barack doesn’t seem too interested in showing his real birth certificate.

Everything was done very quickly in this one. The media jumped all over the story and of course people gathered in New York and in Washington DC to celebrate Bin Laden’s death as if this was the end of terrorism. Of course, we only have Obama’s word that he was killed on May 1st by our military.

If Bin Laden was indeed killed like Obama and the media has reported, why not show the evidence? Oh that’s right, the White House says it doesn’t know how to go about presenting it to the public. How about just showing it? That seems easy right? Or are those doubting Obama’s story correct? Could it be that Obama doesn’t have the evidence or is he buying enough time to present fake photos and documentation?

Just like his birth certificate, Obama still is trying to take the great escape that if you can’t provide it, then it’s ok to make one up. Is it possible that this latest announcement about Bin Laden a way to take the heat off that issue and focus out attention someplace? It’s certainly starting to look that way. I think the only question left is, what’s next in Obama’s bag of tricks? One can only imagine what he’ll think of next to keep his job. No doubt it’ll be entertaining. Of course, as long as there’s a willing audience we’re bound to see Obama try to amaze us with another slight of hand trick. Alright Barack, tell us what’s coming next. This way we’ll all know when to walk out on the act.

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Save Cats Locally In Honor Of Japan Animal Victims

Posted on March 16, 2011 by catprotector

It was great to hear that some of the listeners of Cat Galaxy wanted to help the cats and other animal victims of the disaster that struck Japan. Some have asked if they can donate food while others wondered where to donate money. Of course our answer was simple, make a donation to a local no-kill animal rescue organization in the name of the animal victims of Japan.

Yes, animal rescue agencies in Japan are working hard to save the 4-legged lives from disaster stricken areas caused by the quake and tsunami and it’s hard not to offer help to them. However, now that kitten season is here animal shelters across the United States will be dealing with an even larger crisis, finding homes for all the cats and kittens that the their organizations will be taking in.

The devastation in Japan has left many cats and other animals homeless, leaving animal rescue agencies with the difficult task of having to either re-unite them with their human or to find homes for the ones that were simply left homeless and abandoned. No matter how you slice it, animal rescue agencies in Japan will still be helping animals long after the recovery is over. It’s understandable people want to help the animal victims there whether it’s donating money, food, supplies, and even their time. But what about helping in your own backyard?

When we proposed the idea to our listeners of donating to local no-kill animal rescue organizations in the name of the Japanese animal victims instead of sending resources over there, we got a few pat on the backs. Only one human thought it was unusual and didn’t make any sense. Of course animal shelters in the United States, especially when kitten season hits, are in a constant state of emergency. It takes food, water, and other supplies to keep the cats healthy. This means that it takes money which not only pays for feeding the cats but also for their visits to the veterinarian as well. This means the cats will need to be spayed and neutered, examined, given necessary vaccinations, treated for any medical issues, and of course microchipped. It’s an everyday necessity for your local shelters to keep these cats healthy, so they can be adopted into good and loving homes. Let’s also not forget the feral cats that also need help and it takes money and resources to have them trapped as well as spayed and neutered.

The bottom line is, by donating to your local no-kill animal shelter or rescue organization your playing an important role in helping the animals. Now you might ask how this helps the animals in Japan so here is a simple answer. Those in animal rescue are in a way a very large family. When you donate to one animal rescue group, you’re helping the cause of ensuring every cat or other animal getting a second chance at good, loving and forever home. There doesn’t have to be an earthquake or a tsunami as the reason to help them. The emergency happens everyday for the animal shelter right there in your own backyard. So if you want to honor the animal victims of Japan, the best place to start is right there at home.

We hope all of our listeners, readers, and viewers will join us in this effort in making a donation to a local no-kill animal rescue organization in honor of the animal victims of Japan.

 

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Animal Rescue Efforts In Japan Shouldn’t Be Sidelined

Posted on March 14, 2011 by catprotector

After an 8.9 magnitude earthquake shook Japan and a tsunami slammed into the pacific coast of that country causing nothing but destruction, the human death toll is said that will easily reach 10,000. While many countries have offered aid to Japan to help rescue human survivors of the tragedy, the animal rescue effort being recognized more clearly seems to be sidelined mostly by the media which is focusing its stories on the human victims. However, an interesting development has occurred which is providing the media with a golden opportunity to tell some really great stories. Smaller animal rescue groups are mobilizing to help the 4-legged victims of disaster.

Just like when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, humans in Japan having to evacuate are leaving their animals behind to fend for themselves. According to one animal rescue group cats were left behind in these people’s homes and dogs were left tied up in yards. One even reported that a cat was dumped off at their shelter by a foreign resident who fled the country’s devastation. It’s an animal rescuers worst fear to see animals left abandoned, but help for the 4-legged victims is now reaching them. Groups like Animal Refuge Kanai (ARK), Animal Friends Niigata, and the Nippon SPCA are already in the process of rescuing animals. Similar to Katrina, animal rescue agencies are just slowly coming together to perform the hard task of saving cats and other animals. The reality is that in Japan animal rescue organizations unlike the United States are spread out, which means getting to the areas hard hit by the quake and tsunami is a bit tougher.

Japan just like the United States before Katrina had no emergency plan to include animals and the devastation makes rescues even more painful. Another threat to rescue efforts is the reactor meltdown in Okuma which in itself is a heavier burden to bare. Animal rescue agencies can only sit back, wait and hope animals there are still alive. Amongst all the chaos is a bit of good news. Tashirojima better known as Cat Island due to the fact that its main residents are feral cats (which outnumber the humans), seemingly amidst the devastation caused by the quake survived. While communication was knocked out, a helicopter from the Japanese Defense Forces was able to land on the western side of the island. While media sources said it was most likely underwater, the cats and human residents of the island proved that theory wrong. Of course, the island mostly has about 100 human residents and has high enough hills that provides some escape from the flooding caused by the tsunami.

Still the residents of Cat Island are now asking for cat food, human food and supplies and are being told to wait as other humanitarian aide is provided to the humans that can be more easily reached. This too happened in Katrina as some people refused to leave their homes without being allowed to take their animals with them. It’s a sad thing to happen, but the animal rescue agencies are few and far between making a plan to answer the cries for help from the cats even more frustrating. While some residents of Japan love their animals and see them as family, there are still some that don’t. It’s like that here in the United States. Japanese Bobtails which were once held in high regard in Japan, are now just ordinary street cats despite being the models for the Maneki Neko (the beckoning cat) and the Hello Kitty brand. There is a lot to like about the Japan, technology notwithstanding, they have good food, have a high respect for others, feel tipping is an insult (of course here in the United States it’s looked at as appreciating your meal or service), and they’re friendly. Someday, I hope to visit the country of Icarus’s forefathers (being that he’s a Japanese Bobtail). Who knows, I might pickup a word or two in Japanese but since I can speak cat I might be alright.

It’ll take a while to recover for Japan. It’s a proud nation that doesn’t like to ask for help but slowly but surely they’re learning that asking for help isn’t dishonorable. The animal rescue effort wasn’t totally ignored as quite a number of animal rescue groups in the United States have offered help and resources to help save the many cats and dogs that are now homeless as a result of catastrophe that struck there on March 11th, There are ways to help them as ARK, AFN and NSPCA do have web sites in which to make donations, but if you don’t feel comfortable sending money to them overseas, helping cats in need locally is always a good plan. That’s right, you can make a donation locally to a local no-kill animal shelter or cat rescue organization which always needs and appreciates such help. Just don’t forget to do your homework first. The main thing is, eventually, the cats and other animals will get the help they need and if there human isn’t found, they’ll get a good and loving home. Isn’t that what’s most important?

Check out Cat Galaxy’s web site, Facebook page and Twitter page for all the latest updates on the animal rescue efforts in Japan.

 

 


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