Michael Vick... Meet the Son You Always Wanted

Speaking of senseless animal killings, is anyone else completely disgusted by the 5 year-old that shot and killed a black bear in Arkansas? Tre Merrit, an alleged ancestor of Davy Crockett (BFD), was hunting with his grandfather this week when they stumbled upon an innocent black bear. As such, Tre's grandfather told him to shoot, and he did (with his "youth rifle"- how appalling is that), killing the poor bear. Apparently, his grandfather shed tears of joy that the boy was able to murder the bear with one shot.

I mean, is this a sick joke? To start, why in the world would anyone teach a child to use a gun? Merrit began shooting and killing animals at 2. Where I come from, that's the sign of a serial killer. Last year, little kindergarden Tre shot and killed three deer. Isn't that lovely? This year, he bagged himself a bear. "I was up in the stand and I seen the bear," Merritt said. "It came from the thicket and it was beside the road and I shot it." If I were this kid's parents, I would be more concerned about his poor grammar rather than how many animals he can be trained to kill.


I believe it was (don't hold me to this) the Dali Lama that said a lot is revealed about a society by the way it treats animals. Let's apply that standard to this sicko family (I don't usually throw around insults like this, but nothing makes me angrier than the slaying of innocent animals). They kill for sport. That is so repulsive. I mean really, am I taking crazy pills, or is this not utterly repulsive. Don't believe me? Watch the video.

VICKtory for Dogs Everywhere

Not that justice could ever be fully served regarding the terror, torture, and pain that Michael Vick inflicted on innocent animals, but he is going to prison. I'll drink to that. Vick is set to serve at least 18 months (maybe longer) in prison for his involvement in dog fighting and animal abuse. Notably, Vick was convicted of federal crimes, so he's going to the federal pen, which sucks for him, and rocks for PETA, the Humane Society, and me.

In a press conference, Vick's lawyer spoke about how Vick accepts responsibility for "exercising bad judgment". First of all, Vick doesn't have a choice. Even his celebrity status isn't going to get him out of the sentence that the judge handed down to him (at least I hope not). Second, the fact that Vick and his lawyer would refer to the sadistic torture and murders of gentle dogs that couldn't be trained to fight as "bad judgment" is almost laughable. Bad judgment is stepping on the gas when the light is about to turn red; electrocuting gentle animals and drowning them because they aren't evil like you is sociopathic. Anyone that would commit the atrocities that Vick committed is plain wicked.

Now, while 18 months isn't an overwhelming sentence, consider the following. Vick is almost 28. He'll be close to 30 by the time he gets out of prison. Not that I'm an expert (OK I don't really know all that much about football), but I imagine those are crucial years in a player's career. Frankly, I find it comforting that not only will Vick spend time in prison, but also that his actions may have ended his career, or at least severely hampered it.

It's not like I expect that Vick will spend the next year or two thinking about how his actions are morally reprehensible and vile, because sociopaths don't have a conscience. However, it is important for our justice system to punish these perpetrators to the full extent of the law, so that other would-be-offenders might reconsider committing similar crimes.

I think it is almost important to note that PETA and the Humane Society, two of the world's biggest name in animal advocacy, play an instrumental role in these types of cases. PETA and the Humane Society worked hard to raise public awareness in this case, and also pressured sponsors to drop Vick. Having just written an academic piece on the media's ability to affect government policies through public awareness, it is inarguable that the public uproar in this case (primarily drummed up by the two groups) did not contribute to Vick's conviction and sentence. Another job well done by PETA and the Humane Society. Have fun in jail Vick. You suck.

To The Brits (Just the angry ones... happy Brits disregard!)

1) Who gave you permission to repost my blog on your site anyway? They have a name for that, oh yeah, it's called plagiarism

2) Why the hell are you people so angry? Who knew Jennifer Aniston had such a following and that it included a bunch of angry British people!?!? If you don't agree with me, that's fine... just chill out with the name calling... "loon", "stupid". It's poor practice. It has been my experience that usually people that deliver these types of aggressive and unwarranted insults have all types of problems of their own (and I work in a psychiatric facility so I'm pretty comfortable with this observation). In addition, guess all you very intelligent individuals missed the reference in the title of the blog you call so "stupid", huh?? Oh and by the way, for those of you writing "who cares about these people" blah blah blah, let's not forget you read my article on a celebrity gossip website. That's a bit hypocritical don't you think??

3) For those of you that continue to make remarks about Brad vs. Jen vs. Angelina- you all missed the point. The point is that it takes a strong man to appreciate a strong woman. Pitt and Jolie are what we call an example. I thought this would be an easier illustration of that point, rather than telling a story about my friend Bob, and his ex-wife Sally, and his new parter Jane- since because of the media, we all know about these people. Frankly, I don't think that point was so hard to miss. Unless of course....

4) I am posting my comments to your very helpful feedback here, because your site conveniently wont let me register.

5) Thanks for reading! suckkkaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssss

I Was Wrong: I Realize Now That I Was Wrong

I'm always claiming that I'll admit when I'm wrong, so here it is. Brad Pitt is the most beautiful man in the world, but not for the reasons that PEOPLE magazine gave him the title. Pitt appeared on Larry King Live on December 5th, 2007 to speak about his project "Making It Right" which supports rebuilding the 9th Ward in New Orleans. I (someone who was completely disgusted when Pitt left Jennifer Aniston for Angelina Jolie) could not believe Brad Pitt's depth.

To begin, he's intelligent. He speaks articulately and enthusiastically about architecture, Ethiopia, domestic and international politics, and of course "Making It Right". He's humble, self-aware, and secure with himself and who he is (and I don't mean physically). Pitt is also green. He explains that the new 9th Ward will be eco-friendly and that he is fascinated by the concept that within nature, we can exist without wasting. Pitt is also a vegetarian (OK- now I'm in love). And while these all contribute to his sex appeal, his respect for Angelina Jolie is the most beautiful and fascinating thing about him.

Several months ago, I wrote "the ego of an insecure man cannot sustain a good woman". According to Maureen Dowd (she's great by the way), Jane Fonda wrote that "men were attracted to her strong, independent spirit, but then tried to break it". Clearly, Brad Pitt is not the kind of man Fonda and I describe. Now one might laugh and think that appreciating Angelina Jolie shouldn't be that difficult. Though I'd bet my life, that if Angelina had an insecure partner, he would cheat. You don't think so? Let's recall Hugh Grant's infamous indiscretion with a prostitute named Pancake. Not all that surprising. Pathetic men cheat on women like Elizabeth Hurley because it makes them feel better about being losers.

At any rate, I am beginning to think, that perhaps Pitt (who I accused of being an asshole for doing so) left Aniston because Aniston did not offer the intellectual stimulation that Jolie does (actually, I'm the jerk because clearly, pretty has NOTHING to do with it). Let me be clear, I am not dissing Aniston. I'm sure she's a sweet girl, but perhaps Aniston doesn't have the depth and drive that Jolie has. Aniston is preoccupied with acting goals not relieving global suffering. Clearly Pitt admires and respects Jolie's work. Jolie, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency, has an extensive curriculum vitae of humanitarian accomplishments. In fact, she has accomplished so much since she began humanitarian work in 2001, that listing some of those accomplishments and not others would be completely arbitrary. I will include however, that she has entered into some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones to personally deliver aid, and notably, has always refused special accommodations.

Jolie is obviously a good woman, and Pitt knows it. That being said, when King asked Pitt about Jolie, Pitt responded "she is a woman of strong opinions and very specific beliefs and a great voice.... great intelligence... I respect it. She is a great leader as far as helping and changing... the world as we know it". Pitt is not intimidated by her intelligence, drive, and sophistication- he admits- he respects it. There is nothing sexier than a man that appreciates a good woman.

First of all, Pitt is a breath of fresh air as far as I'm concerned. Clearly, he loves Jolie not because of what she has to offer him (the reason most men love women), but because of who she is. This illustrates Pitt's depth and inner beauty. Second, Pitt completely debunks my theory- which was that aesthetically gorgeous men are emotionally and intellectually undeveloped. That's it people. That's all I really wanted to say. You were all right and I was wrong. The Brad Pitt bandwagon... not such a bad thing.