We need 'em like no other. Bring them to us! Serious you don't even know how bad we need your bags!

Hey everybody, we're about to switch over our site to a new, hopefully improved, WordPress blog. Hopefully your RSS feeds won't get messed up, but if you really like us, it might be worth resubscribing to our RSS in a day or so when the new site is up and new posts start appearing.

Hopefully we'll be able to import our old Blogger posts so we don't lose our old content, but... if we do, that sucks, but sorry.

Ummm, Ok. Stay tuned.

"Yesterday, in courtroom 708 of the Multnomah County Circuit Court, Judge Adrienne Nelson was smiling while she dismissed Matt Rossell's case (IDA's Northwest Director) where he had been aggressively tackled and falsely arrested last February 7th at a puppy mill protest. The arrest occurred after a free speech event where the Radical Cheerleaders for Animal Rights had performed some cheers in protest of the store's sale of puppy mill puppies in their Lloyd Center Mall location in Portland."

""We were surprised to find mercury in every fish. And what surprised us even more is that about a quarter of the fish contain mercury at levels above the EPA safe level," said Donna Myers of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)."

Check out this awesome new shirt from VeganThis. Order it from 'em.

A really heartfelt response to the recent PETA "Save the Whales" campaign.

Don't forget this rad sale this weekend!

"True fashionistas know only the latest and most rareified trends will do. Many of them might have choked on their foie gras to order a pair of warrior-princess $1,495 Manolo Blahnik Cava Fur-Trim OTK Boots described on Neiman Marcus’ Web site as accented with “natural ocelot fur.”

However, the ocelot is an officially endangered species and protected under the Endangered Species Act. Not a good or likely choice for Dallas-based luxury retailer Neiman Marcus."

"The stench of monkey shit is thick at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, scenting the air long before you hear the screeching of the center’s 4,200 nonhuman primates."

Lovely vegan tiramisu, now back in stock. 5 bills. Get it.

This is pretty rad. Congrats to all the hardworking folks at MFA. Keep it up.

""I think it is a good thing because a lot of kids don't have that experience, and they already want to take prayer out of school as it is, and you see where our kids are ending up!" said Tyler resident Laura Tucker."

""We didn't pay 37 million zlotys ($11 million) for the largest elephant house in Europe to have a gay elephant live there," Michal Grzes, a conservative councilor in the city of Poznan in western Poland, was quoted as saying."

Ps. Poznan sucks anyway....

"The Willamette Week is working on a story about Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and a grant proposal to expand the Oregon National Primate Research Center. That's right, OHSU is seeking over 15 million dollars to build another primate lab on their Hillsboro "West Campus" and further increase the current census of 4,200 monkeys."

Try Vegan Week kicks off today. Have fun and learn some stuff.

So we are now carrying the Blossoming Lotus grab and go stuff again. Happy days. Choose from a vast array of treats, including a live breakfast parfait, a cashew hummus wrap, live pasta, a tandoori tofu wrap, and more!

"The incident started as the cow was taken from a trailer to be part of the birthing exhibit. That popular exhibit brings in pregnant animals that are ready to give birth. After the birth, that animal leaves and another is brought in.

"We had a lot of spectators, they started to cheer that we were bringing in another animal," said Bonna Perrin, President of the Kalamazoo County Fair Board.

That cheering is what spooked the cow on Tuesday, which found a way out of the birthing area and started charging at fairgoers.

"We ended up getting a calf to lure her back to the trailer," said Perrin."

Check out the details. Looks to be great again this year. Sign up and go.

"But if you read through the Life Sciences background-to-the-transaction section, and then the entire proxy and the merger agreement, you see that there is something else odd: no one wants to be associated with this company. This is the first merger agreement I have seen in years where the lawyers are not listed in the notice provisions — in fact, they are unidentified; the lenders on the financing are also not disclosed; nor is the auditor — disclosed in its Form 10-K, expect a local one I have never heard of.

The reason is almost certainly that Life Sciences is a target of protests by advocates for animal rights, through its ownership of the Huntingdon facility in Britain. Since 1999, the company’s management, employees and others associated with the facility have been perhaps the biggest targets of the European animal rights movement. In fact, look at page 19 of this presentation given by the investment bankers to Life Sciences’ special committee. When was the last time a board considered animal rights issues in their sale? And you’ll note the slide detailing these activities is blank for confidentiality reasons.

The animal rights problem clearly affected this whole process. Two of the four bidders cited these issues for their refusal to bid, and Life Sciences trades 40 percent to 50 percent below its peers on Ebitda and price-to-earnings multiples because of it."

Oh crap, we're almost out of bags and forgot to order more this week. Help us survive the weekend by bringing us your refuse. Pretty please.

"Operation Backfire: A Survival Guide for Environmental and Animal Rights Activists" by the National Lawyers Guild.

Check it. Bookmark it. Subscribe to that RSS feeds. Pay attention. Help out.

"If you thought you knew all about your vegan deli in Southeast Portland, think again! We've just added a big list of choices to our menu including fabulous new sandwiches. We're now serving freshly made organic sandwiches, big plates of satisfying nachos, smothered burritos, tacos, and our own special brand of delicious "burgers". We also now have fresh veggie juice and so much more! We even make the only organic gluten on the west coast for our sandwiches!"

""There's no way the world can or should take these risks," Prinn says. And the odds indicated by this modeling may actually understate the problem, because the model does not fully incorporate other positive feedbacks that can occur, for example, if increased temperatures caused a large-scale melting of permafrost in arctic regions and subsequent release of large quantities of methane, a very potent greenhouse gas. Including that feedback "is just going to make it worse," Prinn says."

"Hi, just wanted to give you some more information on my new all vegan food cart.

It's located at SW 3rd and Washington and is opened from 11:30am to 3:30pm. I serve rice and quinoa bowls, with organic vegetables, beans and different sauces.

Here's a link to some reviews.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sonny-bowl-portland

thanks,
Sanjay"

So we finally got this amazing stuff back in stock. There's been a lot of requests for this stuff, come and get it.

"Tuesday, August 18, 2009 @ 07:30 PM
Powell's City of Books on Burnside, Portland, OR

Every day, in laboratories, food factories, and other industries, animals by the millions are subjected to inhumane cruelty. In The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights (St. Martin's Griffin), PETA founder and president Ingrid Newkirk teaches readers hundreds of simple ways to stop thoughtless animal cruelty and make positive choices. With public concern for the well-being of animals greater than ever — particularly among young people — this timely, practical book offers exciting and easy ways to make a difference."

""This means they can understand about 165 words, signs and signals. Those in the top 20 per cent were able to understand as many as 250 words and signals, which is about the same as a two and a half year old."

Thanks to everybody who turned out for movie night, raised roughly $125 for the piggies. Not bad for hanging out with friends watching a good movie, huh?

If you couldn't make it and want to donate still, there will be a donation jar at the store through the month for your spare change or $20s.

"Join us on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at the Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary from 2 to 6 pm. Wine & Music at the Farm is our annual fundraiser to help care for the animals who have been rescued from former lives of abuse and neglect. This year has been particularly difficult for horses and the calls for help come on a daily basis. Meet our new arrivals and learn about their recovery. Tax dollars do not fund these animals in need. Your hearts do!

Scott Beckstead from the Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, will be our guest speaker. At our no host bar (ID required), local wines will be available; food will be served and we will be having a quilt raffle, oral and silent auction, hay rides, tours…, and much more. RSVP required. Cost: $35 / party or $10 / individual. All ages invited. Please NO DOGS! For more information please contact Wayne S. Geiger, President, by email or call 503•394•4486."

"Please contact The City of Portland in response to the recent death of a 23 year-old horse, Balatore, who collapsed last Saturday after suffering a major heart attack while pulling newlyweds in a carriage during the ninth day of a heat wave where temperatures exceeded 90 degrees. Portland currently has no regulations for companies that uses horses to pull carriages.

KATU covered the story detailing how Balatore died in the streets of downtown Portland in front of the main branch of the library while pulling passengers in a cart with a "just married" sign on the back.

It is an unacceptable abuse to allow hoses to work in such extreme temperatures and older horses such as Balatore should have long ago been retired.

Please contact Dan Anderson, the City of Portland's Bureau of Transportation liason, and politely request a complete ban on carriage horses within city limits.

Remind them that horses do not belong in the city, and there is nothing romantic about forcing a horse to pull heavy loads on pavement in the middle of traffic. This tragic example - Balatore's death - should be a wake-up call to an animal loving city like Portland to make the compassionate choice to ban the carriage horse industry, falling in line with other progressive cities which have instituted a ban including Santa Fe, New Mexico, Reno, Nevada, Camden, New Jersey and Biloxi, Mississippi.

Horses simply don't belong in the city. The hard pavement is dangerous for their joints and legs, the shoes used limit effective circulation and the horses do not have free access to much-needed water throughout their working hours. These horses are vulnerable to injuries, car collisions, exhaustion and, as in the case of poor Balatore, death.

Please immediately contact:
Dan Anderson, Public Advocate, Bureau of Transportation
dan.anderson@ci.portland.or.us
503-823-1384

You can also contact the mayor at:
Mayor Sam Adams
sam.adams@ci.portland.or.us
503-823-4120

For more information about animal abuses within the carriage horse industry or campaigns to protect working horses, please contact the NW Office of In Defense of Animals 503-249-9996 or matt@idausa.org."

Got these awesome new dog treats in for your puppy-wuppy. Online soon, please hold on.

All Vega products on sale! 20% off until 8/25. Get on it.

"We'll be meeting on the first Friday of the month to ride to a location that promises tasty vegan food or to a potluck spot, then we'll continue the night out with another ride to a bar, cafe, or other fun spot."

Moving Beyond Our Differences from Let Live Foundation on Vimeo.

"McDonald’s McGriddle to Wendy’s “Baconator” to “baconnaise” to bacon-infused vodka, bacon has become a ubiquitous ingredient in many diets in this era of extreme food combinations. Arun Gupta of The Indypendent writes, “Behind the proliferation of bacon offerings is a confluence of government policy, factory farming, the boom in fast food and manipulation of consumer taste that has turned bacon into a weapon of mass destruction.”

Being vegan isn't about being perfect. It's about trying your best to do the right thing, or doing less harmful things. Don't be a jerk. Try to suck less. With this adorable button!

This lovely 1" button (or badge if you are from England) is sure to make you the talk of the party! Nothing says "Approach me, I'm approachable!" like items such as this button.

A 1" button, the background is colored magenta. The type reads "Vegan Means I'm a Sex Machine." Maybe this is for you, or your teen.

"Humane Consumer is dedicated to providing up-to-date resources for conscientious shoppers concerned about the effect their dollar has on animal welfare.

Humane Consumer promises to extend beyond federal, private, and non-profit standards to provide lists of truly humane manufacturers of groceries, home goods, supplements, body care, cosmetics, pet care, and apparel."

"Recently, Ruby and Rose were rescued on their way to the slaughter house, and instead of the nightmare of the abbatoir they have found themselves in a meadow filled with chamomile flowers on a sanctuary in the hills of Cascadia. Ruby is a yorkshire/hampsire pig, and Rose is yorkshire. Both are about 6 months old, and weigh around 250 lbs -- "market" age and weight, according to slaughterhouse standards, still just babies according to common decency. They are not meat. They are intelligent, loving beings who play, communicate with each other, and have definite personalities. After a life of abuse and exploitation, they are getting to know gentle hands and kind words and are responding to love. Now, when they see or hear their favorite humans they come running and squealing in joy. Ruby loves to have her tummy rubbed, and will roll over like a dog for that pleasure. Rose likes to play with sticks, and is often seen running through the meadow with a stick in her mouth like a dog. Both enjoy exploring together, and are finally able to express their natural talents and desires. Pigs build nests, travel together in social groups called "sounders," and spend much of their time exploring their environment. They have a complex language and are quick to learn from each other and from other animals with whom they interact, including humans. In their natural environment, they have a cohesive culture, which is passed down from generation to generation. Yes, pigs are COOL! "

Just got this letter:

"hello... Members and shoppers of People's Food Coop are being asked to fill out a (sort of long) survey of opinions about the future of their beloved coop, including question about People's carrying meat! As you may know, People's is mostly vegetarian, except for "pet" food, and the farmer's market can sell chicken and fish because of a member vote that happened about 5-6 years ago. As People's is exploring whether or not they should open a second store in another neighborhood, they want to know if their members and shoppers are interested in buying meat there! JUST SAY NO!!! The surveys (one is for members, the other for shoppers) can be found at the website: www.peoples.coop/survey. Please take the survey and encourage the Board of Directors, and the Collective to keep People's store vegetarian for human consumption! People's tries to take the high road when it comes to ethics involving animals and the environment. We need a strong voice in the survey saying that People's carrying meat would be an absolute hipocracy! Thank you for posting this and sending it to all People's members and shoppers in Portland. We don't need to make meat more available than it already is! "

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Introducing some fancy new dog treats from the fine folks at Max & Ruffy's. You wouldn't feed your human child crap would you? So what's with all that weirdo stuff in dog food? Nothing but quality in these treats. Let your dog know you appreciate all of their patience.

So we finally have The Best Soda In The World, Maine Root, back in stock. Blueberry, Sasparilla, Lemon Lime, Root Beer, and Ginger Brew available for your pleasure.