peta2 at the VMAs! August 31, 2006
Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
TAGGED:
Music
|
The best thing about this year's VMAs is that it is packed bands that peta2 loves-and that love peta2! Leading the pack is KFC hatin' Fall Out Boy, who are nominated for Best Group Video and the coveted Viewers Choice Award. There are still a few hours left to vote, so get to it and vote of FOB!
|
Speaking of Pink, I wonder what happens when you put Pink in a room with a couple of furhags like Beyonce and J Ho? Hopefully something interesting. Maybe that will be the next shocking moment that will go down in VMA history.
On a peta2 unrelated note-I am also excited that my personal hero Borat is going to be there too. Everybody dancing now.
I am so excited I can hardly sit still.
xoxo rock-lara
Posted by Lara 
Ali G is Amazing August 30, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
This video made me laugh all over the place.
Speaking of videos and animals, click here to send us your 'veggie video' explaining why you went vegetarian, and how your life has changed since you stopped eating meat. We're going to pick the three best videos we get, then put them on our site and let everyone vote for the best one. Whoever wins gets a free peta2 hoodie and a vegan snack pack. I'm making mine tonight... it's going to be sick!
-Noah
Posted by Marta 
Get Stuff From The Prids August 29, 2006
Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
TAGGED:
Music
|
me: We heard that everyone in The Prids is vegan, including your light/tech guy, was there one thing that made you go vegetarian? From there what made you decide to go vegan?
David: It's true, everyone in the Prids are vegan, even our light guy when we still had one. When Mistina and I were still living in Missouri she called me into the living room to see this program she was watching. It wasn't a program about vegetarianism, it was about the way different cultures treat animals, such as religious sacrifice. In one segment, we think it was in Spain or Italy people were tossing goats out of 10 story windows, and in another people were slaughtering cows and dogs for meat. We were shocked and revolted and thought to ourselves what's the difference between this and our eating meat? That's where it all began. We went vegan first and failed miserably,then went vegetarian. From vegetarian vegan was a much easier transition. We've both been vegan for 10 years now. And luckily the Northwest is a haven for other creative progressive types, so our band members are vegan too.
me: Do you ever feel spoiled because of all the vegan options that abound in Portland? We heard that you even got to play a benefit show at peta2 favorite spot Food Fight! Does it get any better than that for a vegan
band?
David: The whole reason we moved here was because we loved the music scene so much, and what really topped it all off was when we read a interview with Donna Dresch, (of Team Dresch) she was going on about how easy it was to be vegan in Portland so we migrated to what we thought was going to be this promise land, and it ended up being real. It was everything we thought it was going to be. So are we spoiled? Well it's not Missouri! When we first heard about Food Fight! it sounded too good to be true, a place you can go inside and you don't have to read the ingredients!?! Wow. Really, you can't believe it till you see it. And it's next to the all vegan tattoo shop, Scapegoat Tattoo!
me: What advice do you have for someone who's thinking of going vegetarian or vegan, but hasn't made the switch yet?
David: I think it helps if you have a strong foundation for why you're doing it. I think understanding why on an intellectual as well as an emotional level can make the difference between this being who you really are, or just being a phase.
The Prids' new album, until the world is beautiful, comes out today-and you have a chance to win it along with a t-shirt and button. One grand prize winner will also get a sweet tote bag to stash your new swag in. So put the AIM on hold for a second and enter now!
xoxo-lara
Posted by Lara
More on the "Gay Sheep" Experiments August 28, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 1 )
|
It seems that receiving 9,000 e-mails has put the schools into PR crisis mode, because they've begun sending out form letters to every single one of those people in an attempt to justify these experiments. In his response, OHSU Presiden-Elect Joseph Robertson, Jr. says
In fact, over the years, our researchers have been contacted by several gay and lesbian groups who appreciate our scientific results ...
As though that makes it OK ... this is equivocal to saying "Me, a racist? No way - I have friends that are black!" Just because they've gotten support from some gay and lesbian groups does not mean that it is alright for their experimenters to cut open sheep and tinker with their brain to try to make them straight. Joseph goes on to say
As for the animals in this study we care deeply about them and they are treated ethically. All our research is conducted under the strict rules of the Animal Welfare Act and National Institutes of Health guidelines. It was funded by the federal government only after being reviewed by and approved top scientists in the field. In addition, panels of experts at both universities, which include members of the public and trained veterinarians, approved the research before it was allowed to commence and OHSU animal care is overseen by the US Department of Agriculture and AAALAC.
Joseph tried to use big words and acronyms to make himself sound official, but let there be no mistake: There is no ethical way to cut open an unwilling animal's head to attempt to change his sexual orientation. And the Animal Welfare Act and NIH guidelines? Yeah, those are are pretty much meaningless. The Animal Welfare Act only covers the cage size animals are given - it does not limit what can be done to animals in experiments. The NIH is notorious for turning a blind eye to animal abuse in labs. And the fact that "top scientists in the field" (who knew there was a field for gay sheep experiments) reviewed the experiments again does not make it ok to cut open and kill homosexual animals.
We need to keep the pressure on OHSU and OSU! If you haven't already, click here to send a message to the schools' presidents to let them know what you think of these tests which are costing taxpayers millions of dollars. If you have already sent a message then you should e-mail Mr. Robertson, OHSU's President, at Robertjo@ohsu.edu and OSU President Ed Ray at pres.office@oregonstate.edu. Also, go here and use the form to forward the alert to your friends to ask them to send a message.
-Noah
PS - Is it me, or is this whole thing a little too similar to the plot of X-Men 3?
Posted by Marta
Send Some Crackers to PetSmart August 25, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
If you haven't seen it yet, click here to check out the latest peta2 Street Team mission. As part of the campaign to convince PetSmart to stop sentencing birds to unnatural lives in cages, we're asking people to send crackers to PetSmart CEO Phil Francis (hold on it'll make sense in a minute) to encourage him to stop selling birds in PetSmart stores. We don't want you to just send crackers, of course - you should also include a note saying something like "You can keep the crackers, Polly wants his freedom!" Otherwise, he's just going to be confused.
Here are two of the letters that have been sent in so far. I like how the second person sent like 5,000 crackers.
You can usually grab a pack of crackers for free at, like, a salad bar or grocery store if you're too cheap to buy them. Send your crackers to:
Philip L. Francis, CEO
PetSmart, Inc.
19601 N. 27th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85027
Don't forget to snap a photo of your crackers and letter before you mail it off and send it to us at StreetTeam@peta2.com.
-Noah
Posted by Marta
Nomar: Australia's Most Famous Pig August 24, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
Back in '05, a rescued piglet by the name of Nomar (or Jake as he was known at the time) became an instant celebrity when he appeared in a peta2 ad alongside Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins. Major media outlets all over Australia picked up the story, and Nomar officially became the most talked about pig down under.
Almost a year later, Nomar now lives at Kindred Spirits Sanctuary in Ocala, Florida. He hangs out all day with an old pot-bellied pig named Old Lady, and loves to eat melons and apples.The folks at Kindred Spirits sent us this photo to show how much he's grown. He is so cute it's ridiculous.
Doesn't he look sassy? It's hard to believe that 100 million pigs just like him are killed each year when they're less than six months old, just because of people's selfish taste preference. Cut the shit: Go vegetarian, for Nomar and pigs, chickens, and cows everywhere.
-Noah
Posted by Marta
Jason's Warped ReCAP August 23, 2006
Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
TAGGED:
Music
Did you find yourself looking for the peta2 booth this year at Warped Tour?
I know that Davey Havoc and these two guys were...
If we didn't get to hang out, let me give you this little pictorial recap so you don't feel left out. Rise Against and Silverstein both stopped by the peta2 tent to sign some autographs.
Rick Thorne and Joan Jett, longtime peta2 friends, were also on Warped. Keep your eye on peta2.com for some amazing things coming care of Rick. Also, check out Joan Jett's shirt!
Thanks to everyone I met - I had a blast. I was sad to leave the tour early, but was way excited to attend the very first public screening of Wake Up Screaming! I hope to see you all again soon. Don't forget to pre-order your own copy of Wake Up Screaming!
-Jason
Posted by Lara
I Love American Misfits August 22, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
I was never really a big fan of Jackass and all those other Jackass-esque shows, so I was skeptical when I first heard the concept for American Misfits. Then I watched it, and it's a million times better than any of its predecessors. It's not just dumb stunts and fart humor ... it's funny skits and lots of skating and, best of all, there's usually some good animal rights stuff. It helps that three of the show's stars/creators/what-have-you are vegan - our old friend Laban Pheidias (who shot peta2's Warped Tour documentary, Wake Up Screaming), Ted Newsome, and our new pal Nate Sherwood. Check out this trailer for episode 8, titled "Vegan Chocolate Pie," and you'll get an idea of why I'm such a fan.
Watch the show Sunday night on FUEL tv. You should also be their myspace friend at myspace.com/misfitstv. Oh, and if you haven't yet, go read our interview with Nate Sherwood. He substitutes "skate" for "ate" when he talks, and it's amazing. I can't stop saying "skate o'cloooock" and "liberskate."
Get sick,
Noah
Posted by Marta
KFC: U Are Sick Man August 21, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
Someone sent us this poster they designed to get their rage out about KFC abusing animals. My favorite part is the Apache helicopters and the fighter jets in the background. Siiiiiick!
Go here and give me more things to be amused by.
-Noah
PS - I cannot believe that someone actually wants to name one of the new planets after Xena: The Warrior Princess. I mean ... really?! I'm not dreaming? That's actually something that came out of a scientist's mouth?
Posted by Marta
Steaks on a Plane August 18, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
THAT IS IT. I HAVE HAD IT WITH THESE MOTHER FUCKING STEAKS ON THIS MOTHERFUCKING PLANE.
So Jack and I had this brilliant idea to do this Snakes on a Plane spoof titled, you guessed it, Steaks on a Plane. Unfortunately we're slackers and spent the last few months skating and watching season 3 and 4 of 24 instead of actually making it, and now the movie is out and it's too late. Alas, we shall not be defeated by a mere movie! We went up into the peta2 War Room with a digital recorder and recorded Jacko's best Samuel L. Jackson impersonation, put together an image of Sam Jackson and a disgusting slab of meat in Microsoft Paint, and made a ytmnd page: steaksonamuthafuckinplane.ytmnd.com. It's not nearly as good as it would have been, but it's the best we could do on short notice.
For real though, it's pretty fucking shitty of New Line Cinema to have used real snakes in SOAP. Clearly they could have just done the whole thing in CGI, but instead they used hundreds of live snakes, and their claims that "no animals were harmed" just isn't cutting it. It's routine for trainers to hit animals behind the scenes in order to get them to learn stupid tricks, and certainly a movie set is not a natural habitat for snakes. I saw it last night (for free ... I don't want to pay for a film that exploits animals just for the hell of it) and it was funny for sure, but Sam, c'mon man. Leave the snakes alone.
Hopefully his next film, Black Snake Moan, is snake-free. I mean, Justin Timberlake is in it, and he's kind of creepy and scaly, so that should be enough, eh?
-Noah
Posted by Marta
Sepultura Giveaway! August 17, 2006
Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
TAGGED:
Music
|
So good news for you, Sepultura has taken pity on us very pitiful humans by giving me 10 copies of their new album to give away along with some stickers and magnets. All you have to do to win is send me an email describing why metal needs more people like Derrick in it, and I will pick the winners with the best answers. Boa sorte, which means "good luck" in the band's native tongue. Contest will end 8/31/06.
rock xoxo-lara
p.s. Looks like being socially conscious is getting trendy in metal again, or for the first time, whatever.
currently listening to:
Posted by Lara
Alicia Silverstone is Just Plain Nice August 16, 2006
Posted by Patricia | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
I dare you to say something bad about Alicia Silverstone. She's just so nice and breezy and laidback... so opposite of me, I thrive on stress and my own unique brand of crankiness. But people love that about me, seriously. They do. They've told me. Alicia's the typical Cali-beach girl working on the environment, driving around in her little hybrid car, composting, recycling everything under the sun. And look at her always using her celebrity super powers for good, rescuing dogs off the streets, wearing peta2's "I'm not a nugget" sticker to movie premieres, talking about being vegan and animal rights, like in the new Cosmo Girl. Spend a few bucks and get the actual mag, dears, because there's more to the interview and loads of fall fashion ideas, as well as a rather disturbing story about teachers sleeping with their much younger students. Um, ew. Skip that one. And speaking of school, the mighty Ms. Silverstone also refused to dissect in high school and leaped (get it?) at the chance to do our 'Cut Out Dissection' psa.
Alicia says that going vegan is the single best thing she's ever done in her life and animals everywhere agree. "Once I became vegan, my nails were stronger, my skin was glowing, I lost a lot of weight. Whoooaa! Is this like great karma or what?" The Cali-beach girl sneaks in yet again. "I'm so happy when anyone goes vegetarian," Alicia says. "I cry and get happy for a week." Aw, see, sweet. I think Alicia summed things up rather nicely in Clueless - one of my all-time faves - when "Cher" said, "It's like that book I read in the 9th grade that said 'tis a far far better thing doing stuff for other people.'" (And animals... we know she meant animals too but she was young and had less power in Hollywood at the time so she couldn't just go adding stuff in but we know she would have if she could have. Oh, and when she said, "That's Ren and Stimpy. They're way existential." OK, that's just funny.) I know she's come a long way since then and has had lots of other roles but she'll always be Cher to me, and that's a good thing... honest.
Posted by Patricia 
Dirty Peaches August 16, 2006
Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
TAGGED:
Music
I like my Peaches dirty, and she never fails to deliver me the goods. This Canadian club queen makes Christina Aguilera look like a school girl - and not the slutty Brittany Spears kind. She not only can make me dance like a rock star at 3 am on a Tuesday night, but at the same time make me feel a little uncomfortable. Now she is making those responsible for clubbing seals in Canada a bit uncomfortable too with her new peta2 "Canada's Club Scene Sucks" ad, which I am sure you have already seen.
But you didn't see these behind the scenes pics of her unveiling the ad in Vancouver, now did ya?
Hot
Hotter
Hottest
Ok so the last photo was not from the unveiling, but I wanted to throw that one in for good measure.
rock xoxo-lara
Currently listening to:
Posted by Lara
Intimidation for Liberation August 15, 2006
Posted by nc | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
There I sat peacefully eating my soy cheese pizza when before me crouched a flesh-chomping monster. You see, this little fellow of about four years of age was devouring a filthy pepperoni cheese pizza that his mom had no doubt conspired to provide.
You should have seen the liquid fat dripping all over the place as he chomped his way through god-knows-what sliced in those little circular shapes! But then an idea came to me and I knew what I had to do for the animals, for the Earth, and at the very least for this poor victim of a boy. I positioned myself strategically such that this little guy had no choice but to look right into my compassion-filled eyes. Then with each bite he took of this steaming slab of animal cruelty, I stared harder into his soul.
I wanted to blink, but I did not! For the cause, I kept my sights set. Determined. Relentless! I knew that I had to make this a completely scarring experience for this was an evil-doer in action. No! I would not give in. So I gave this youngster the type of look that stays with you forever and an eternity. It was cold and callous. I wanted to intimidate him until he could no longer look at his so-called 'food.'
And after about 30 grueling minutes, he stopped eating the cheesy-pus-laced pizza, and seemed to smile at the thought of living a life like mine. Where one can avoid being intimidated simply by going vegan! Imagine a world where only flesh-eaters are bullied and harassed! I believe, at that moment, this young boy was intimidated so much that he just gave up meat and cheese all together. I even sensed, in a futuristic flash, that he would one day be a leader of this movement for animals rights through the peta2 College Leadership Program. Sure, I have no concrete proof that he is vegan since he left the restaurant with his evil-doing family (no doubt because they were all so awe-struck by the ordeal). However, I know that the negative reinforcement I engrained in his developmental brain will stay with him forever. And he will have no choice but to think of the animals and his health and my piercing stare every time he dares to think of pepperoni cheese pizza again.*
Intimidation for Animal Liberation,
*This story may have been slightly overdramatacized to make me look tough.
Lunchtime Fun! August 14, 2006
Posted by nc | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
Okay, so I don't know about you lovely people, but lunch time was always my favorite part of the school day - not only because I got to relax for a bit and catch up with my friends, but because I am completely obsessed with food. Like as I am typing this, I am eating a mango, but I'm also thinking, "Hmm, what am I going to have for dinner tonight?" Maybe I'll make pasta, or black bean burgers, or potato pancakes, or a vegan taco salad. Oh man, anyway, I digress.
It seems like I always go through stages of what I eat for lunch. For awhile it was peanut butter sandwiches, but then I got utterly addicted to Athenos hummus and pita lunches. They were kinda like those Lunchables, but all vegged-out with hummus and pita. I'm sorry to report that they no longer make them. :( It was so awesome - a little container of hummus and a few slices of pita. Zero work and all the deliciousness. Now why am I bringing this up if they don't make these any longer? I really don't know, but I wasn't trying to crush all your hummus hopes, really.
Many of you are headed back to school right now (suckers!), and you're probably all like, "I need to figure out what to bring with me for lunch." Hopefully you already have a super-sweet lunchbox (lunchboxes are totally back in style, didn't you know? It's not just me, right?) like this Get Smart one - I mean, his shoe was also a phone! If any of you actually have this lunchbox, I will probably have to marry you. Well, only if you never put any dead animals in it, and we both know that you wouldn't do that. Well now that you're all set with that fancy little number, you actually need some grub to put in it. You may not be culinary-inclined enough to pull off what Jennifer packs for her shmoo over at Vegan Lunchbox, but we can dream (and drool), can't we?
There are a million vegan options that you can bring to school for lunch. Some of my favorites are Amy's Organic Soups in a thermos, Tofurky sandwiches, bean burritos (with guacamole!), and stir-fry pita pockets. Don't even get me started on dessert!
I have to admit that I did succumb to the days of grabbing a few bags of barbecue chips for lunch. Which reminds me - one time this evil red plant needle fell into my bag of chips and I accidentally ate it and it made my mouth taste like cleaner for like, a million years after that (or like half an hour, but whatever). I guess it was vegan, but sheesh. Be sure to avoid the little jerk seen below.
Moral of the blog: Do not eat plants with red needles, and do not eat animals or I will not marry you. That is all.
Another Installment of WonderPig! August 8, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
By popular demand, here's more from the vegan superhero, WonderPig! Check out the brains behind *WP*, Phil Tutton, on myspace at myspace.com/philtutton.
If you have some art you want to show off, send it to us at peta2@peta2.com.
-Noah
Posted by Marta
Hellogoodbye Giveaway Woo-hoo! August 8, 2006
Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 32 )
|
Forrest Kline, mad scientist of the booty-shaking jams of Hellogoodbye and faithful peta2 friend says this about their latest contribution to society, "No animals were harmed in the making of this album." Not really sure how animals could be harmed in the album making process, but you gotta love those crazy indie rock electro boys.
I went out and bought the album as soon as the record store opened this morning, so I hate to be the one to tell you, but if you didn't do the same, you are on the brink of losing major scene points. However, you aren't totally indie rock exiled just yet. Thanks to the band and peta2 you can win a free copy of the album! Three lucky people will get an autographed copy of the new album- and one grand prize winner will also get a Hellogoodbye t-shirt, poster, and some stickers.
To win these Hellogoodbye goodies all you have to do is leave the best (and by best I mean most pathetic) comment below expressing the reason why you think you should win. I will pick the winner-and alas bribes of soy ice cream will not work on me. I wish you well. Contest will end August 29th!!!
rock xoxo-lara
currently listening to:
Posted by Lara
Phone Fun With Your Local KFC August 7, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 4 )
If you're sitting around on, like, a Thursday night with fuck all to do, here's an idea that is lots of fun for a number of reasons: So AT&T and a number of other companies out there provide a relay call service, primarily for the hearing impaired, whereby you can make phone calls through your computer without actually having to do any talking. You heard me. Without talking. You just put in the number you want to call, and an operator will read out what you type to the person on the other end. Think of the possibilities!
One particularly fun use of this service is to call up your local KFC and try to find out "What that protest outside [their] restaurant with the giant chicken was all about?!" You can also incorporate jokes like, "Why did the chicken cross the road? ... To protest KFC!" or just waste their time with questions about Colonel Sanders and then tell them, "Actually I was just calling to ask you to stop torturing animals" right before they hang up. Whatever, you get the point. If you've never called KFC because you're nervous, well now you've got no excuse. The best part is that the operator has to sit there and read everything you say, so they're finding out about KFC's abuse of animals as well! Here's how it's done:
Step 1) Look up the phone number of KFC restaurants in your area using the KFC store locator.
Step 2) Use this AT&T relay service, AIM Relay, or any other relay service to place your call.
If you do everything right, your computer screen should look something like this:
LOLZ@KFC.
-Noah
Posted by Marta
Wisdom Teeth and Video Games August 4, 2006
Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
TAGGED:
Music
|
If I can keep my head up, I will also be mastering my video game playing skills with Fuse's Warped Tour Massacre! In the game, you battle it out on the Warped concert grounds, choosing either Justin Pierre from Motion City Soundtrack, Fat Mike from NOFX, Spencer from Underoath, or Geoff from Thursday as your fighter. Coincidence that all these guys support peta2? Maybe ... maybe not. You can play the game here. I recommend being Geoff - he gets the birds to help him out.
xoxo rock-lara
P.S. - A friend just sent me this video…All I have to say is that the tooth fairy better be paying me a visit!
P.P.S. I forgot to mention that the Gorilla Biscuits started their first tour today since 1991!
currently listening to:
Posted by Lara
Hey! Chicago Kids! Check This Out! August 2, 2006
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 0 )
|
If you live anywhere near Chicago, get your tickets now (they might sell out!) and bring a friend or two with you to one of the following screenings. The person who brings the most friends will get a free pre-order copy of Wake Up Screaming on DVD:
August 5, 7:00 p.m.For more info on the movie and to watch a trailer, check out WakeUpScreamingMovie.com. If you don't live in Chicago and can't make it to Indiefest, click here to pre-order a DVD and you can hold your own private screening in your bedroom with your sweetie baby.
The Seneca Hotel
200 E. Chestnut Street, Chicago
Order Tickets Here
August 6, 4:00 p.m.
The Village Art Theatre
1548 N. Clark Street, Chicago
Order Tickets Here
August 8, 12:00 p.m.
The Village Art Theatre
1548 N. Clark Street, Chicago
Order Tickets Here
August 10, 6:00 p.m.
The Village Art Theatre
1548 N. Clark Street, Chicago
Order Tickets Here
-Noah
Posted by Marta
Equal Vision Tees and BOYSETSFIRE August 1, 2006
Posted by Lara Sanders | Permalink | Comments ( 1 )
TAGGED:
Music
|
In other Equal Vision news, but on a much sadder, kinda devastating note, I just heard that after 12 long years of bringing rock to the masses, BOYSETSFIRE are breaking up.
Here is