Taymie's blog: "rants, raves & other things"

As you approach the auction house the first thing you see are the eyes looking out through rusted caged windows. The horses get as close as they can to the air, the sunlight they know is out there, but they can’t get too close or their eyes will be impaled by the bent and rusted prongs. Still, they look out, hoping to see something familiar, someone coming to take them home. Every horse has a different story. For the horses at auction, the look in their eyes all begs the same question: what did I do to deserve this? These horses are in a dark, man-made and operated cement hell. They are poked and prodded and crammed, sometimes 50 horses, into single pens. Some horses fight, some try to stay to the side to avoid getting kicked. Some are hurt; some are mares trying to protect their foals. Others are just trying to stay on their feet so they don’t get trampled. There are tired and wounded workhorses. Colicking horses. Injured racehorses standing on three legs that still wear sweat from their last race. This horror is just the first step in a torturous journey that these horses are on. It’s a journey that some of us as Americans, horse lovers and humanitarians allow in our country. And just when I think it can’t get worse, they open the gates and shove another horse in there, and the ruckus starts again, as the horses shift and struggle for position. A few strong ones can fight for a little bit of hay in the corner. Many horses have their heads stuck out of the pen in hopes a passerby will give them a pet on the head, in hopes someone will see them and take them out of there. Their quiet pleas seem somehow louder than the screams of the horses that are scared and hurt. The horses do not have to have a voice to tell their story. The workhorses and Standardbreds, injured and abused and yet often clearly fresh from work, are the most painful to watch. These horses have given their lives to work for their owners and then they are delivered to a painful death. The Amish, the people who use these horses for their means of transportation and agriculture, in many cases provide the most horrible cases of neglect and abuse. A bullet to the head is more humane than what they do to these horses. What in their faith allows for this cruelty? The auction at Sugarcreek is the dumping grounds. Most people will bring their horses there to be sold, but they will buy their horses from better auctions. They will go to Mt. Hope or and spend thousands on a beautiful Standardbred with bows in her hair right off the track. In a year or two this same horse will be at the kill auction in Sugarcreek: weak, abused and destined for slaughter. They will go to a draft farms and spend thousands on a beautiful team or a draft horse, usually a Belgian and the same things will happen. This horse will be used and worked to within days of its life and then sent to the kill auction. That is the reward these horses receive for their work and servitude. If the horses are injured, they don’t care for them. They simply work them until they can no longer work, then they are sent to the killbuyer. I know there are Amish people out there who take good care of their horses, but we see so, so many that don’t. And it’s not only the Amish. The racing industry joins them in the cruelest act. Gleaming muscled racehorses are top choice for the killbuyers. On May 23rd Pure Thoughts bought more than 15 tattooed thoroughbreds. A man who said he would deliver them to a therapeutic riding center picked some of these horses up at Moutaineer racetrack. Instead he planned to deliver them to killbuyers. Fortunately for those horses we were there and brought them home. What happened to Eight Belles is truly heartbreaking and it seems the racing community is trying to change practices and policies. But what about this behind-the-scenes atrocity. Do all of the people who mourned the loss of Eight Belles know what happens to many racehorses every Friday at Sugarcreek? Next time you enjoy a day at the races, think about the ones that did not make it that far or the horses that came in last in their race. Chances are there next stop is an inhumane slaughter. Is that really worth the exhilaration you felt as the horses crossed the finish line? Is their life worth our recreation? Are we, as a nation saying "It is okay that these horses experience a horrific death" is that what we want to define us as horse lovers? But there is more. It’s not just the racing industry and the Amish. The slaughter pens hold many of beautiful horses, show horses, ponies, trail horses, pets, workhorses. Mares and week old foals are bought by killbuyers. They will be taken from the auction together but a stop will be made. At this stop the foal will be ripped from its' mother and either left to die or fattened up until it can be pass as a six-month old and then it will be sent to slaughter. The mare thinks losing her foal is a heartbreak, she has no idea what she is in for, this is nothing. Pregnant mares who are just days from giving birth are in the killpens after auction. They will be slaughtered. Killbuyer and slaughterhouses do not want our sick, old and lame. They want the healthy horses. Slaughter does not care what is on the registration papers it just wants flesh. But we haven’t even gotten to the process of slaughter yet. After the auction, the next horror these horses go through is the transport. Usually this is done unlawfully and without morals. The horses are crammed, again, into a trailer. Stallions, yearlings, mare, foals ponies are jammed in together. There is no water. There are no stops. They drive across the country to Canada or Mexico and don’t get off-loaded until they reach the slaughterhouse. Some will die on the way. If they act up, they are beaten harshly. And yet, the American public turns a blind eye to this practice. So far we haven’t forced our government to listen to cries of the horses. Horse owners and lovers sometimes are in the dark, not educated on the cruel truths of horse auctions. That nice man who seems to be buying up many good horses is NOT taking them back to his ranch. He is buying them for meat and he will smile at you politely and soon those horses will begin their long hellish journey, one that will end with him or her gasping for their last breath after being mutilated and tortured. As rescuers we dance with the devil every day for the sake of the horses. We play the game we must play in order to be able to attend these auctions, work with the killbuyers and purchase these horses. We keep our stories amongst ourselves in order not to ruffle any feathers. We all filled with anger and rage over what happens and the tears are a river that runs constant. The story I tell is one I have lived with, it haunts my dreams and fills my soul. I look at the ones we save and cannot help but think of the ones we were unable to save. When I learned of horse slaughter, it changed my life. I gave up the life I had for a life that was once unknown to me and now I live and breathe it. My goal now is to speak for the horses and do my best to bring an end to this dirty little secret. From slaughter to nursemare foals. Cruelty and misuse of horses is inhumane and intolerable. For those who cannot speak ... I will. On May 23, 2008, Pure Thoughts Horse and Foal Rescue saved all the horses that were intended to go to slaughter at the horse kill auction known at Sugarcreek Livestock auction. We did it with help from Victoria McCullough of the Davis-McCullough Foundation, which has spent years dedicating itself to the needs children and animals. All equines were safe that day, including some from the week before who were waiting for their trip to slaughter. That was a single day that the horses were safe. As a country we have the ability to change this action and bring the horses of our country to safety everyday. These horses are being slaughtered for human consumption and shipped overseas to Europe and Asia. Let’s ban together and tell them No. Not our horses, the horses will not be tortured for your gluttony, not on our watch.

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see; If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today, while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say. I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, And each time you think of me I know you'll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand, And said my place was ready in heaven far above and that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, for all life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for and so much yet to do, it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you . I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday I thought just for awhile I'd say good bye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized that this could never be, for emptiness and memories would take the place of me. And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through heaven's gate, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiles at me, from His great golden throne, He said, " This is eternity and all I've promised you". Today for life on what is past but here it starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day's the same day, there's no longing for the past. But you have been so faithful, so trusting, so true. Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn't do. But you have been forgiven and now at last you're free. So won't you take my hand and share my life with me? So when tomorrow starts without me. don't think we're far apart. for everytime you think of me, I'm right here in your heart -Erica Shea Liupaeter

APPLE ANNOUNCEMENT Apple announced last week that it has developed a breast implant that can store and play music. The i-Tit will cost from $499 to $699, depending on cup and speaker size. This has been hailed as a major social breakthrough, because women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them.

It has been years since Eve has been gone... I know I will never forget the beautiful creations and person that she was, and her silent suffering that she could no longer control. The kind of suffering many of us have that are too afraid to speak about, and by many just gets passed off as nothing that is truly a serious problem. For the short time that I knew Eve, I had the wonderful and amazing privilege of seeing her beautiful creations and learning from her how to express my creativity using the web as another method to express my artistic, complicated, and damaged mind. Eve's husband wrote the following, and I'm glad that he has kept her site alive for those who knew her, and who want to get to know such a beautiful person but never had the chance. Eve is not the only person that suffers this way. There are more of us and maybe, just maybe, one day there will be more people like Eve's husband, that will understand the pain we go through... just trying to get from one day to the next and maybe, help us find a way to find the light at the end of the tunnel. ~taymie IN MEMORY OF EVE I once met a girl with golden hair and silver eyes... Her name was Eve, and from the first moment I met her I adored her. A philosopher once said that "A mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to ebe kindled", and the mind that I encountered that day was the brightest, most colorful, and fiercest that I am ever likely to meet again. I once held a girl with golden hair and silver eyes... There was something wrong, though. I soon learned that the flame in her eyes burned her. I did not understand it at first, but that did not matter at the time. I found that I could cool her wounds with but a word, with but a touch, with but a kiss. With all my heart I wanted to help her, and I thought that I could. But I did not understand how much it tore at her. It broke her down. It ate her alive. I once loved a girl with golden hair and silver eyes... What caused this fire to break containment? Eve had a very hard life. Many of us do, you say? Many of us have had a much, much worse life and turned out fine, you say? And if I stabbed you with a dagger, would you hurt more or less than what Eve would have? eh? The same? How could anyone believe that the pain and suffering that one person feels should be anywhere near what YOU would feel? If someone else hurts so much more than you with the same wound, do you have less respect for them? Yes? Many people agree with you. Eve's wrist bears a long scar, long healed, of her first escape attempt. I once rescued a girl with golden hair and silver eyes... Survival, for Eve, was now made desperate. And because of that, there now entered a long list of individuals who took advantage of that fact. But beside that list, is another, far more unholy and most unforgivable list of names. For those upon it, they should not fear me upon this earth. But when we are all dead, they should pray I never learn who they are. These are the people who saw how Eve was suffering, and told her how wrong it was that she should feel so...so...dramatic about everything! Another escape was attempted, with the sleeping pills that had given her the rest that demonic nightmares had begun taking away from her. I once married a girl with golden hair and silver eyes... There are many psychiatrists on this last list, and the damage that they did I will happily organize their penance for, once our spirits leave this plane. But finally there was one last psychiatrist that had the wonderfully unique thought of testing Eve for a chemical imbalance! Medication was provided for her, but Eve never believed that they helped much at all. It was more important that now, people should understand WHY Eve had to fight so hard to live. It helped, but there were still many, who still could not stop torturing her for being so weak. Still, her parants gave her a home where she could rest, and recover well enough for her to take herself to Chicago to meet me. I lived my happiest with a girl with golden hair and silver eyes... I adored Eve with everything my heart could give. I protected her. And I provided for her a life and environment where I saw that flame in her mind come alive with the most beautiful creations the Internet had ever seen. When that flame began to burn her, I cooled the wounds! The poisonous voices that tore at her, I silenced! I could never explain all of what Eve meant to me. She gave my life meaning and love, and for that I would give her anything. I once lost a girl with golden hair and silver eyes... And of all the voices that were alive inside her mind, THAT voice was the hardest for me to silence. I gave her everything, and she hated herself for having to take it. I reassured her without reservation. I swore to god that what she gave me was worth a world of the soulless money and time it took to keep her happy. I told her that it wasn't her fault. She did not ask for the problems that afflicted her! But the voices came back when I was not around. They told her how she should hate herself for how desperate she had always been, and for how people had taken advantage of her, and for how she was taking advantage of me. All-Hallows... Eve loved Halloween. Her imagination and creativity flamed to life every October with how we should celebrate it this year. Her haunted mansion was arguably her most beautiful creation. I was so proud of her. I was so proud of being her husband. But there was no mention of Halloween this year as it approached. Once again, Eve was on medication. And once again it was not helping. The voices had grown to screams, but I could still silence them when I was with her. The blazing wounds she suffered, I could still cool. I just had to stay with her, and I tried to every moment I could. All she had to do was maintain hope. I don't know what took that away. The shot I heard as I slept finally silenced the voices. And quenched her flame. And shut her silver eyes forever. I ran downstairs to her. Felt for a pulse. Kissed her golden hair. And told her one last time how much I loved her. As I write this I find myself completely lucid, but I know that will change. With only a simple mental image, or unbidden memory, I am reduced to uncontrollable tears, as I have jumped back and forth since Eve took her life. Perhaps it is anger that holds me firm now, but that will not hold. This anger is NOT directed towards any of Eve's fans and readers. You helped me keep her happy and alive for as long as we could, and I needed all your help. I thank you all for your wonderful words of encouragement and affection towards Eve. Several of you became her best friends, and she needed those so desperately. Good-bye. Mark -- (e-mail address omitted).

HEADLINES FROM THE YEAR 2029 Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, Mexifornia, formerly known as California . White minorities still trying to have English recognized as Mexifornia's third language. Spotted Owl plague threatens northwestern United States crops and livestock. Baby conceived naturally! Scientists stumped. Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage. Iran still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least 10 more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels. France pleads for global help after being taken over by Jamaica . No other country comes forward to help the beleaguered nation! Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking. George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036. Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesdays only. 85-year $75.8 billion study: Diet and exercise are the keys to weight loss. Average weight of Americans drops to 250 lbs. Global cooling blamed for citrus crop failure for third consecutive year in Mexifornia and Floruba. Abortion clinics now available in every High School in United States. Senate still blocking drilling in ANWR even though gas is selling for 4532 Pesos per liter and gas stations are only open on Tuesdays and Fridays. Massachusetts executes last remaining conservative. Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates their civil rights. Average height of NBA players is now nine feet, seven inches. New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters and rolled-up newspapers must be registered by January 2030. IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75 percent. Floruba voters still having trouble with voting machines. Now, send this to whomever you want and as many as you want, then, guess what.... NOTHING will happen. No miracles, no money, absolutely nothing, except you might make someone smile or very very scared. I Love This Country! It's The Government That Scares Me!

Sent: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 6:54 pm Subject: question Hi (name removed), I'm confused about something on your resume... you show that you have a couple of certifications, and they are certifications that don't actually exist. Microsoft does not offer Java certifications, it's a Sun Microsystems product. And just to make sure that I was correct, I did research this and can not find anything at all regarding Java certifications through Microsoft. Microsoft is a competitor and offers certs on .NET, but certainly not on Java. Can you tell me where you took these certifications and provide contact information so that they may be verified: Completed Microsoft Certified Java Developer I Completed Microsoft Certified Java Developer II Thank you! _________________ his response: __________________ Sorry I just added these certifications to look better. I do know J2EE since I have done it for 4 years. __________________ HAHhhahahhAHHAHAHAHHA. I love my job.

SURVIVAL A Simulation Game - a great Team Building Excercise You and your companions have just survived the crash of a small plane. Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash. It is mid-January , and you are in Northern Canada. The daily temperature is 25 below zero, and the night time temperature is 40 below zero. There is snow on the ground, and the countryside is wooded with with several creeks criss-crossing the area. The nearest town is 20 miles away. You are all dressed in city clothes appropriate for a business meeting. Your group of survivors managed to salvage the following items: A ball of steel wool A small ax A loaded .45-caliber pistol Can of Crisco shortening Newspapers (one per person) Cigarette lighter (without fluid) Extra shirt and pants for each survivor 20 x 20 ft. piece of heavy-duty canvas A sectional air map made of plastic One quart of 100-proof whiskey A compass Family-size chocolate bars (one per person) Your task as a group is to list the above 12 items in order of importance for your survival. List the uses for each. You MUST come to agreement as a group. EXPLANATION Mid-January is the coldest time of year in Northern Canada. The first problem the survivors face is the preservation of body heat and the protection against its loss. This problem can be solved by building a fire, minimizing movement and exertion, using as much insulation as possible, and constructing a shelter. The participants have just crash-landed. Many individuals tend to overlook the enormous shock reaction this has on the human body, and the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot increases the shock. Decision-making under such circumstances is extremely difficult. Such a situation requires a strong emphasis on the use of reasoning for making decisions and for reducing fear and panic. Shock would be shown in the survivors by feelings of helplessness, loneliness, hopelessness, and fear. These feelings have brought about more fatalities than perhaps any other cause in survival situations. Certainly the state of shock means the movement of the survivors should be at a minimum, and that an attempt to calm them should be made. Before taking off, a pilot has to file a flight plan which contains vital information such as the course, speed, estimated time of arrival, type of aircraft, and number of passengers. Search-and-rescue operations begin shortly after the failure of a plane to appear at its destination at the estimated time of arrival. The 20 miles to the nearest town is a long walk under even ideal conditions, particularly if one is not used to walking such distances. In this situation, the walk is even more difficult due to shock, snow, dress, and water barriers. It would mean almost certain death from freezing and exhaustion. At temperatures of minus 25 to minus 40, the loss of body heat through exertion is a very serious matter. Once the survivors have found ways to keep warm, their next task is to attract the attention of search planes. Thus, all the items the group has salvaged must be assessed for their value in signaling the group’s whereabouts. The ranking of the survivors items was made by Mark Wanvig, a former instructor in survival training for the Reconnaissance School of the 101st Division of the U.S. Army. Mr. Wanvig currently conducts wilderness survival training programs in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. This survival simulation game is used in military training classrooms. RANKINGS 1. Cigarette lighter (without fluid) The gravest danger facing the group is exposure to cold. The greatest need is for a source of warmth and the second greatest need is for signaling devices. This makes building a fire the first order of business. Without matches, something is needed to produce sparks, and even without fluid, a cigarette lighter can do that. 2. Ball of steel wool To make a fire, the survivors need a means of catching he sparks made by the cigarette lighter. This is the best substance for catching a spark and supporting a flame, even if the steel wool is a little wet. 3. Extra shirt and pants for each survivor Besides adding warmth to the body, clothes can also be used for shelter, signaling, bedding, bandages, string (when unraveled), and fuel for the fire. 4. Can of Crisco shortening This has many uses. A mirror-like signaling device can be made from the lid. After shining the lid with steel wool, it will reflect sunlight and generate 5 to 7 million candlepower. This is bright enough to be seen beyond the horizon. While this could be limited somewhat by the trees, a member of the group could climb a tree and use the mirrored lid to signal search planes. If they had no other means of signaling than this, they would have a better than 80% chance of being rescued within the first day. There are other uses for this item. It can be rubbed on exposed skin for protection against the cold. When melted into an oil, the shortening is helpful as fuel. When soaked into a piece of cloth, melted shortening will act like a candle. The empty can is useful in melting snow for drinking water. It is much safer to drink warmed water than to eat snow, since warm water will help retain body heat. Water is important because dehydration will affect decision-making. The can is also useful as a cup. 5. 20 x 20 foot piece of canvas The cold makes shelter necessary, and canvas would protect against wind and snow (canvas is used in making tents). Spread on a frame made of trees, it could be used as a tent or a wind screen. It might also be used as a ground cover to keep the survivors dry. It’s shape, when contrasted with the surrounding terrain, makes it a signaling device. 6. Small ax Survivors need a constant supply of wood in order to maintain the fire. The ax could be used for this as well as for clearing a sheltered campsite, cutting tree branches for ground insulation, and constructing a frame for the canvas tent. 7. Family size chocolate bars (one per person) Chocolate will provide some food energy. Since it contains mostly carbohydrates, it supplies the energy without making digestive demands on the body. 8. Newspapers (one per person) These are useful in starting a fire. They can also be used as insulation under clothing when rolled up and placed around a person’s arms and legs. A newspaper can also be used as a verbal signaling device when rolled up in a megaphone-shape. It could also provide reading material for recreation. 9. Loaded .45-caliber pistol The pistol provides a sound-signaling device. (The international distress signal is 3 shots fired in rapid succession). There have been numerous cases of survivors going undetected because they were too weak to make a loud enough noise to attract attention. The butt of the pistol could be used as a hammer, and the powder from the shells will assist in fire building. By placing a small bit of cloth in a cartridge emptied of its bullet, one can start a fire by firing the gun at dry wood on the ground. The pistol also has some serious disadvantages. Anger, frustration, impatience, irritability, and lapses of rationality may increase as the group awaits rescue. The availability of a lethal weapon is a danger to the group under these conditions. Although a pistol could be used in hunting, it would take an expert marksman to kill an animal with it. Then the animal would have to be transported to the crash site, which could prove difficult to impossible depending on its size. 10. Quart of 100 proof whiskey The only uses of whiskey are as an aid in fire building and as a fuel for a torch (made by soaking a piece of clothing in the whiskey and attaching it to a tree branch). The empty bottle could be used for storing water. The danger of whiskey is that someone might drink it, thinking it would bring warmth. Alcohol takes on the temperature it is exposed to, and a drink of minus 30 degrees ahrenheit whiskey would freeze a person’s esophagus and stomach. Alcohol also dilates the blood vessels in the skin, resulting in chilled blood belong carried back to the heart, resulting in a rapid loss of body heat. Thus, a drunk person is more likely to get hypothermia than a sober person is. 11. Compass Because a compass might encourage someone to try to walk to the nearest town, it is a dangerous item. It’s only redeeming feature is that it could be used as a reflector of sunlight (due to its glass top). 12. Sectional air map made of plastic This is also among the least desirable of the items because it will encourage individuals to try to walk to the nearest town. It’s only useful feature is as a ground cover to keep someone dry. How to score Each team should list its top 5 choices in order prior to seeing the answer sheet. To award points, look at the ranking numbers on this answer sheet. Award points to each team’s top choices according to the numbers here. For example, the map would earn 12 points, while the steel wool would earn 2 points. Lowest score wins (and survives).