So, it seems like some folks are having problems with cans of Soy Whip not working well. Check out these new instruction from the company. They're working on getting it sorted out.

So, looks like marshmallows are finally shipping out to us today. Shipping from Queens and it's gonna cost a bundle. So... they should be here by the end of the week, maybe by Thursday. But we can't promise they'll be cheap.

New book for sale online. Strike the match.

We just got this note from Josh Harper to pass around:

"To all my Portland friends and supporters,

I’ve been trying to find a way to thank all of you for your hard work on
my behalf, but after two months all my efforts have come up short. I
don’t know what I could ever say that would properly express my gratitude
so I hope you forgive this inadequate attempt.

For those of you who have not heard, my lawyer’s fee has now been paid in
full. This was no easy task, and it would not have happened without you
friendly PDX folks. Seriously, no other community worked harder to help
me out and I’ll never forget it. All of the time you spent on organizing
and attending benefits for me is amazing. I want you to know that those
bake sales, rummage sales, spaghetti dinners, eBay auctions, movie
nights, and other events really kept me going through a depressing time
and that the money earned is giving me a fighting chance to beat this
conviction on appeal.

The benefits were not without scandal though. My old friend Elaine was
talked into working at a kissing booth for the appeals fund. At one point
a gentleman approached her with a convincing story about needing a kiss
on credit. The smooth culprit in this case swore that he just did not
have a dollar on hand, but months later he still has not paid up. Dude,
you didn’t just steal a kiss, you stole a dollar from a guy about to go
to jail! Anyhow, kissing strangers for money exemplifies the kind of
sacrifices people were willing to make.

I guess now is as good of a time to announce this as any other. The
outpouring of assistance and moral support from you PDXers has made me
decide that I’ll be moving to Portland upon my release from prison. With
any luck the SHAC 7 will win our appeal and I’ll be joining you all within
two years. If the appeal fails than I will most likely see you in four to
five years. I’m pretty bummed at losing that much of my life just for
making a few speeches, but in a strange way paying that price has
introduced me to hundreds of friends I never knew I had and I’m more
thankful for that than I can convey at this time.


With love and respect,
Josh

P.S. Special thanks to Food Fight, the very best all vegan store on the
face of the planet and the best supporters a person could ask for."

Nice job. We lived in Poland for a while, so this makes us feel all warm inside to see.

So, in case you haven't heard, there is this "Vegan Vacation" thing going on in Portland next week. Check it out and get invovlved if it seems up your "alley."

Our "Don't Be a Jerk" shirt is back in a different color. All sizes are unisex. Word. Want one?

"While being arrested and tested, Gibson is reported to have used abusive language with Los Angeles County Deputy James Mee. He asked the deputy if he was Jew and then in profanity-laced words said, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” He also threatened the deputy with revenge. “Gibson almost continually threatened me saying he 'owns Malibu' and will spend all of his money to 'get even' with me,” a report prepared by Mee said."

So, we just got a box of random candles made by Molly Muriel (formerly Estrella soaps.) They're nice. Soy wax. Smell good. Made in recycled glass containers, so they're all different sizes and prices. Check 'em out if it sounds like something you need to make your house smell less like old socks.

New sticker! New sticker!

Thanks for the link Syd.

bad ass

A truce has been called. Thankfully. Let's try not to in-fight too much everybody. It's useless, right? Vegans for vegans.

Man. The passage of time fucks with you sometime. One day you get up, diddle around, argue with your wife, and then you find out one of the most important people in your life (at one time) gets hit by a train.

Makes you want to punch yourself for letting people fall out of touch, even if you're not crazy about them from time to time. It's a sobering feeling.

Take the chance today to get in touch with somebody that fell out of your life, if only to say "hey" and then fall out of touch again on a positive note. Fucking trains...

Look at what our good friend Karen from Progressive Counceling is putting on:

"You are invited to a screening of the documentary SOMA- somadocumentary.com - which will be held in Portland.

When: Sunday August 6, 2006 @ 7pm
Where: The Artistery, 4315 SE Division (Next to the new condos on Division)
How much: $5 donation
The film maker will be in attendance for discussion and questions.


"With difficulty walking, and half-blinded from torture by the Brazilian military dictatorship, 79 year-old Roberto Freire continues to develop somatherapy, completing his life's work. Incorporating the ideas of Wilhelm Reich, the politics of anarchism, and the culture of capoeira angola, Soma is used by therapists organized in anarchist collectives to fight the psychological effects of authoritarianism. Nick Cooper travelled to Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Bahia, and São Paulo to find the exercises, principles, voices, and movement of somatherapy."

Check out this new thingy from our old neighbors and friends at Otsu. This looks nice, no?

"The teen apparently had been arguing with relatives over gutting a deer during a hunting trip about 20 miles south of Seymour, Jackson County Prosecutor Stephen Pierson said."

In other news...

Officially here in the store and available to order online. Be the first on your block to get punched by angry hunters.

"A CIRCUS clown from Cumbria was arrested this week after clashing with animal rights activists – for the second time in less than a year."

(thanks Deb.)

Wheee!

Only $2! And the money goes to Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary. Plus the movie fucking rules! How can you go wrong? Come on, you know you have no other plans.

Yo. Peep this. Incoming in about 5 weeks. We are very excited to ride upon these stunt-woods. Thanks to Giancarlo, you done a bad-ass job. Stickers also coming soon.

Just ridiculous. And uncalled for.

Yay! Paddles!

Lookee! We made it into a "blog", whatever the fuck that is. Either way, it's nice to be noticed.

Nice.

"Vampires Lunch" is back. It's enough to make you feel like this.

My favorite band is on tour and coming your way. The pride of Portland: The Prids. Two reasons to see them, they're all vegan, and they make great music. And bring them a grab bag of soy jerky for the road.

Tour dates are on their myspace page.
http://www.myspace.com/theprids

Steven just delivered the fake meats. So, come and get your ham tube and chicken nuggs.

It's about damned time. Nicole finally brought us more of these awesome books. You need one. It will make your life less miserable.

Ah, it's that time of year again, where we ask for grocery bag donations. You know you have some. Don't worry, we won't be mad if you bring in Trader Joe's bags.

Sometime today we should be getting a few of the sizes for a few of the designs from "Vegan In Black." Maybe even some buttons? I dunno. If you're interested, swing by this afternoon.

Love lift us up, where we belong...

Our wonderful customers Thom and Virginia. Good lookin' out. He seems to be everywhere, why haven't we seen him yet?

Amazon has a vegan grocery section. We're going down in flames. Mmmmm, rice and corn pasta....

How the hell had we never heard about this? Looks like Compassion Over Killing (from DC) has put this site together. Nice job.

They just rode here after finishing the Seattle to Portland bike ride today. Not even one flat tire the whole way. They look good in bike shorts, too.

So, some friends saw Johnny Marr eating at Laughing Planet yesterday. Have heard rumors he lives here now. Could it be true?! I just might die...

A feces loving Supreme Court? Hell yeah!

Don't forget movie night coming up on Friday. You better come.

Visit Crazy Land, filled with MySpace profiles of people who are pro-ALF, pro-Farm Sanctuary, and at the same time pro-Minuteman anti-immigration Republicans.

Crappity crap crap.

One of our customers is trying to find people to help table with PETA2 at Warped Tour this weekend. If you're interested, contact Doreen Norton at doreen_norton@yahoo.com

Word.

Just got some "Peter Young is My Homeboy" and "Animal Liberation is not a Crime" buttons and some more black "Support Peter" tshirts in.

she's so cute, you gotta see her again.

"'Laura and I come from Texas,' Bush told his host German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a warm summer evening. 'One of the greatest compliments you can pay a guest is to have a barbecue.'"

So, we just got a fresh shipment of donut holes in, as well as all the flavors for the big bags of Snackimals. Get on it.

Finally, a valid reason to hate the French.

We got them there Field Roast Chao Cheese Balls. They're herby and delicious. And cheap.

One of my oldest and best friends, Jenn, is moving to San Francisco from San Antonio in August to attend grad school (and live somewhere not in Texas). She has a job lined up already, so she's financially stable. Jenn is top notch to say the least. If any of you out there are looking for (or know anyone looking for) a very responsible vegan roommate, she's your gal. She's preferably looking for a place in the city proper available Aug. 1st for no more than $750/month. Click the link to see her Craigslist posting.

Call Jenn Olivia
210-535-9826

Russian anti-fur poster design contest winners, or something like that.

Yay.

More funny funny. Watch "Monologue", video 3 of 3. Figure it out.

"Look out for the giant Mexican guy, he looks really pissed."

Brian Posehn rules. As does this video. Thanks Chris for pointing it out.

Finally, the animal rights movement might be getting a celebrity with real clout and respect. Could it really be true?

"The National Basketball Association (NBA) is opting to permanently bench leather balls in favor of better-performing, cruelty-free synthetic basketballs, like those already in use by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Women’s National Basketball Association, beginning with its 2006/2007 season!"

Pretty cool.

Yay! I really wish we could get this domain name...

"Kristiansen claimed that he and the other whalers 'don't have anything against the whale safari boats... but it's important to get across that it's the extreme opponents of whaling that travel out to see whales.

'We can't prevent them from being against the hunt, and they can't prevent us from hunting.'"

Wanna bet?

So this guy Daniel is riding his bike here from Georgia to move here. Looks like he's a week or so out from Portland, and when he gets here, he needs a place to crash for a bit until he gets sorted out with an apartment.

Anybody have some spare space? Write him through his website. Our pal Steve in Denver met up with him and said he's a swell guy for what it's worth.

We got here some cinnamon rolls. Chad wants one, but he's fighting the temptations. Man alive...

Go to this art show. It's one of our great customers. You might know them from the people who screened the Josh Harper benefit show poster. Great work.

@ Red & Black Cafe, 2138 SE Division, 7pm-9pm
free beer and wine (if you're into that shit)

From IDA:

"A report recently released by the Humane Farming Association (HFA) documents inhumane treatment of cows at Threemile Canyon Farms in Boardman, Ore. The ongoing cruelty is so shocking that dairy workers themselves have stepped forward to blow the whistle on their employer, endangering their jobs and livelihood to expose the abuse.

Statements from workers allege that some of the male calves are separated from their mothers at birth and left to starve to death. An employee reports, "Supervisors usually shoot unwanted male calves. They don't die right away. Some lie on the floor and bleed out. Some have lied for three hours and are still alive." The dairy reportedly also kills calves by bashing their heads in or by swinging the calves by their hind legs and pounding their heads against the concrete floor.

The report also documents how workers are told to slice off a section of a cow's teat without anesthetizing the animal. The cows' teats are susceptible to infection due to the concrete floors being covered with manure, urine and standing flush water. To make matters worse, workers report the massive farm continues to milk cows with infected teats, a situation that workers first reported in a February 2005 article in the Portland Oregonian newspaper. One worker says, "?the blood and pus draining from the teat will go into the milk when the cow is milked." Another worker states, "The boss tells us to milk the cows even if they know the milk is bad. The milk will look like pieces of cheese."

Several months ago, HFA filed a formal petition with Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers demanding that criminal charges be brought against Threemile Canyon Farms for animal abuse. Yet in spite of having extensive documentation -- including worker statements, pictures and even video -- Myers has yet to take any action to stop abuse at Threemile. The fact the state of Oregon previously provided a $20 million taxpayer-funded subsidy to Threemile makes the state's inaction even more outrageous.

What You Can Do:

Please contact the Attorney General by postal mail, phone or personal email.

Attorney General Hardy Myers
Oregon Department of Justice
1162 Court Street NE
Salem, OR 97301-4096
Tel: (503) 378-4400
Email: doj.info@state.or.us

Click http://www.hfa.org/campaigns/threemile_dairy_petition.pdf to read an abridged version of the HFA report. Also visit http://www.ufw.org/_board.php?b_code=res_gal&mode=view&b_no=2053&page=2 to see photos of the conditions that animals are forced to endure at Threemile Canyon Farm dairy. (Warning: the pictures are graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.)"

So, how about you take a minute to write one of these good folks a note to cheer them up? Don't be all heavy or anything. Just be all, "Yo! I'm sitting around playing PlayStation and hitting my little brother with a wiffleball bat and thought of you. Thought I'd say hi."

Make a new friend. Pick somebody, or all of them, and be a penpal. They all need pick-me-ups, now and in the future. And we know they'd appreciate it.

Hi there. We'll be partially opened/partially partyin' here at the store tomorrow if any of you feel like stopping by and bringing something to throw on our grill, maybe around 2pm. No turds, please. Bring yourself and a friend. Yahoo, 4th of July and all that shit.

Dear you and yours.

Friday night, July 21st, marks the return of benefit movie night! At an all new, much cheaper and DIY location! This time, we're showing "Better Off Dead" and all the money is going to our friends at Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary over in Salem. So, get ready, you have one hot Friday night coming up.

What: "Better Off Dead" Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary Fundraiser
When: Friday, July 21st, 8pm sharp.
Where: The Artistery, 4315 SE Division (you can park at Food Fight and walk up a block or so)
Cost: TWO DOLLARS (duh)

Feel free to bring vegan snacks to share. Not sure what the food situation will be like, this is a very informal movie venue. You might even have to sit on the floor.

Anyway, plan ahead, make it nice, have fun. xoxo The Management

If you skate and get bored, a coating of fiberglass love has been applied to the curb outside of the shop here. Pretty fun when you feel like dorking around. Come on over, it's nice outside.

If you haven't seen Chuck and Buck, you should be slapped.