You can read it here.

However, this morning, upon waking up, I was met with two incredibly heartbreaking stories from the news.  The first takes the form of an incredible article on Anti-Gay bullying and suicides in the Anoka-Hennepin school district (MN).

The article is here, and from the Rolling Stone.  They profile the NINE CHILDREN WHO HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE IN THIS DISTRICT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, the characteristics of the district that contribute to this plague, and the broader political and social implications.

This photo of mourners is from the Rolling Stone article.

As I mentioned when I posted this to facebook – its important to recognize the horror of this pattern, fight to change it, and also extend our efforts to the other forms of bullying all too common in our society.  Being bullied for being gay is one of the top three forms that this violence takes.  However, kids who are not white or overweight are also frequent targets.  This needs to stop.  Kids who engage in this behavior need to be appropriately sanctioned and educated.  ALL adult role-models (not just parents, but politicians, actors, EVERYONE) needs to be held to a higher standard of behavior.

The second article was this from the SPLC highlighting a hate crime at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside .  However, this is only one event that has occurred in the University of Wisconsin in the last few years.  Others can be read about here and here.

We have got to get our shit together people.

Happy reading!

Mumbai/Finn2/Dr. Javier/Spot is lucky, he is going to a wonderful forever home on Saturday. However, currently in the Minneapolis animal control there are twenty five cats that will be put down in the next week if they don’t find foster or permanent homes. Three of these cats need to leave today, or they will be put down tomorrow.  They are all young (less than a year old). Most are male.  None were given up because of behavior problems.

See their photos here.

These animals have been abandoned by their families.  This happens all too frequently in times of economic downturn when families realize they can no longer afford to care for pets.  It also happens too often after Christmas.  People buy young animals as gifts for family and friends, without considering the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Please, find it in your heart to help some of these young animals.  Even if you don’t live in Minneapolis, there are pets at your local animal control facing these same stakes.  If you do live here, and are willing to help, contact Pet Project Rescue at maia@petprojectrescue.com as soon as you can.

and 80 year old Jean Argus

I’m going to spend the weekend in Johannesburg and then travel to Mozambique where we will spend a week relaxing before Danai and Celo’s wedding.  I plan to see the sites, learn a lot more about Mozambican history, and coax Jessie into going to the beach with me.  I also intend to spend a lot of time soaking up Danai, Mikha and Celo.

On my way home, I’ll be spending 26 hours in Amsterdam.  I intend to go to the Anne Frank House (Haus), the Homomonument and the Amsterdam Historical Museum.  Then I’ll get to spend the night with Kim!

It’ll be a great trip.  Expect a lot of pictures.  And pray that my plane doesn’t crash and I get home to cuddle with my kittens and dog.

(I can’t import the photo, but you can see her here.)

I hear it is good luck and extra karma points to save a life right before Thanksgiving.

If you can help, please contact Pet Project Rescue by emailing maia@petprojectrescue.com or filling out the foster application here.

As a foster, the organization will pay for food, litter and anything else you’ll need until your friend finds its forever home.

First, thank you so much to those who were able to help.  We were able to save enough cats last week such that animal control did not have to put any down on Friday.  THANK YOU!!  However, there is still a huge need for fosters for cats and dogs (especially big dogs – over 50lbs) during the holiday season.  This is the time of year when most animals are given up by their families either due to financial crises or other troubles.

To top it off (and relate the troubles to Conquest) The Housing Authority of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate recently passed an ordinance forbids companion animals (pets) in tribal housing on the reservation.  As of January 1st, there will be over 200 homeless dogs and cats on the reservation.  If people are caught hiding their pets, the tribal government has the power to kill them on the spot.  Obviously, people are looking for folks to take their pets and most of them are ending up in the Twin Cities and looking for foster or adoptive homes.

If you are interested in filling either of these needs please contact Maia at Maia@petprojectrescue.com and fill out the foster application form here: http://www.petprojectrescue.com/volunteer-application

Please feel free to forward this message/link to anyone you think may be interested.

Unfortunately they do not have enough  foster families to take in all the animals currently abandoned (the number of homeless animals rises dramatically when people find themselves in difficult economic positions).  If they can’t find foster homes by Thursday night for a pit mix puppy and several cats and kittens, they will be put down/killed on Friday morning.

As a foster you would just provide a house and some love for an animal until it can find a forever home.  The agency provides food, litter, other needed items.  You, in turn, get to be a hero and get some snuggles.

If you can provide a temporary home for one of these animals, you can contact Maia at Pet Project Rescue (maia@petprojectrescue.com) or fill out the foster application here: http://www.petprojectrescue.com/volunteer-application

If you can’t do it, but know someone who may be able to, please please please forward this message to them.

You will literally be saving these animals lives… And you’ll be my personal hero.

Today, I had a new experience as a teacher.

About a half hour into a 2.5 hour class, I had a young man, we’ll call him Glen, enter my classroom and look around.  He was of traditional college age, carrying a backpack and an umbrella.  I thought perhaps he was lost.

I stopped lecture and asked the lad ‘can I help you’?  He mumbled something in response.

I tried again: ‘are you in this class?’

‘No’ he responded.

‘Are you lost?’

more mumbling… he continued to scan the room.  My students began to chuckle.

‘Are you looking for something or someone?’

no response from Glen, but more chuckles from my class.

Glen started to leave and then stopped.  ’Can I stay?’ he asked.

I clarified ‘you want to listen to class?’

He nodded.

Dumbfounded and put on the spot, I said ‘well, I guess if you can find a seat’.

He sat down in the last open chair, pulled out a notebook and started taking furious notes from my PowerPoint slides.

About ten minutes later the Community Service Learning center on campus came to present service learning options for my class.  Glen stayed for the entire hour-and-a-half presentation, equally engaged.  After class ended, my students filtered out, and Glen remained in his seat.  He pulled out a book and started reading as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

I’m pretty sure there is a policy against letting people sit in on your classes.  But Glen caught me so off guard I didn’t know what to do.  It was kind of creepy, and I felt super uncomfortable.  I hope he doesn’t come back next week so I can avoid dealing with him.  Any advice?