I learned a new word: Zoonotic

I love monkeys! I really do! I also believe that as cute and funny and mesmerizing as they are, they should never be kept as pets. Why? Well, it's bad for people, and it's bad for the monkeys.  One of the many problems is Zoonotic Disease. immy Kimmel explains it here, joking that Joey and Chandler from "Friends" are dead because, "Marcel the monkey bit them and gave them monkey rabies, and they died."



I real life, it's NO JOKE.  The woman who was attacked by a "pet" chimp in 2009 not only had her face and hands mauled off, she contracted an infection from the monkey which caused her to GO BLIND.



You can help prevent horrible accidents like this: Protect Primates and People from Dangerous and Inhumane Trade

Today is World Spay Day!

Every
10 SECONDS

A CAT OR DOG IS

PUT DOWN IN

A U.S. SHELTER

What?!?? Every 10 seconds?  Too sad!  Have you ever been to an animal shelter? They make me sad because can't possibly take them ALL home with me!  This is the TWENTIETH anniversary of world spay day.  My little friend is spayed, and I'm so glad I did it.  Before I adopted her, they guy who had her made her pump out THREE litters of puppies, before the age of two and a half.  What kind of life is that?!  Anyway, she doesn't have to worry about getting knocked up anymore, because she is spayed!  Now she can just enjoy the rest of her life.

My parents' dog was adopted from a guy who didn't neuter the dog for a long time - and up until then a lot of other dogs would react really aggressively to him once they realized he wasn't neutered.  Once he got neutered, other dogs liked him better so from a behavioral standpoint alone, it was totally worth it.

More info about why all pets should be spayed or neutered here: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/magazines/2014/03-04/world-spay-day/infographic.html

Now for this furry interlude

These videos totally make me wannabegan... (via dlisted.com)

http://dlisted.com/2014/02/18/hot-slut-of-the-day-226/


Also, I admire this woman so much: Alicia Williams, a client services receptionist at The Duluth Animal Hospital in Duluth, Georgia.  She has these two rescued pets:

http://dlisted.com/2014/02/17/hot-sluts-of-the-day-30/

That thing on the right is the cutest chicken I have EVER SEEN!  WAAAANT!

FWD: New York City: FREE Screening of 'An Apology to Elephants'!

Please join local activists for an intimate screening of "An Apology to Elephants," an HBO documentary narrated and produced by actor Lily Tomlin. This memorable film explores the beauty and intelligence of elephants as well as the psychological damage that these majestic beings endure in captivity.

Following the film, local animal rights activists Rose McCoy, who appears in the film, and John Di Leonardo of Long Island Orchestrating for Nature will expand on the topic of animals used in the circus industry.

When:	Saturday, February 15, 7 p.m.
Where:	Bluestockings Books (at the café and activist center), 172 Allen St., New York, NY 10002 (See this map.)
Cost:	Free
RSVP on Facebook

(This came to me via email from PETA.  I LOVE elephants, I love Lily Tomlin, so I'll be there!  Let me know if you are too so we can meet in real life! -Wannabegan)

Happy Lunar New Year, it's the Year of the Horse!

Last night January 31, 2014 marked Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year but it's also celebrated in lots of other Asian countries).   It's supposed to be all about getting together and eating a ton of food with your family, cleaning out all the clutter in your life beforehand, settling debts, etc etc.  I had to read the wikipedia page for it, because even though I am of Chinese descent, I grew up in the Midwest and I don't know all the customs. (Picture above courtesy of a mass email from my Aunt, I hope that the Chinese reads Gong Hay Fat Choy, otherwise I'm no different than when people don't know what their tattoos say).

So let's talk about horses for a second (the animal, not the people born 12x years ago), because they had a rough year in 2013!

• NYC Horse Carriages continued to operate: in the scorching heat and sun, freezing snow and rain.  They walk all day on the hard pavement, breathing exhaust, pulling heavy carriages and tourists, they get in accidents, and some are forced to work while injured by sketchy drivers (I'm not saying all drivers are as bad as that guy, but I've seen so many run red lights, text while driving, etc). 
• Horses died while racing:  These animals are given "performance enhancing" drugs, then given other drugs to cover up the use of the illegal drugs, forced to race when they are injured, drugged up with painkillers so they don't know they are injured, and then they injure themselves to the point where they have to be euthanized.  That industry is incredibly corrupt and cruel, once you start reading about all the sad things that happen to race horses, you'll never want to watch a race again.  
• Horse meat was found in the human food supply: This is really messed up on so many levels.  Especially because a lot of horses sent to slaughter come from the racing industry, where as mentioned above they are pumped up with chemicals that should not be in the food supply.
• Horses were slaughtered:  Healthy American horses are shipped to Canada and Mexico to be cut up and sold as meat (see above).
• "Horse Soring" exists - Certain kinds of show horses have burning chemicals applied to their legs so they walk weird - help end that practice!

So here's to a fresh start and hoping that 2014 and the Year of the Horse is better for them!  So far, NYC's new mayor DiBlasio already promised to retire the horses in the carriage industry (and they all have adoptive homes waiting for them), that's a good start. Also, Congress has temporarily blocked horse slaughter in the US, you can help make it permanent!   GONG HAY FAT CHOY!

Wannabegan in the Sun

Hello from the verandah of my hotel in Jamaica!  The weather here has been so beautiful! I've been swimming in the ocean every day, letting my hair dry naturally in the sun, napping in hammocks and chaise lounges, and generally feeing incredibly grateful for my wonderful life!  

The sun can get intense here, even though it's December.  Being an observant and card-carrying Asian woman, I eschew the sun for fear of inviting wrinkles and sun spots. My favorite sunscreen (and I've tried so many!) is Aubrey Organics SPF 30 Unscented Sensitive Skin Sunscren.  I'm super picky about sunscreen and this is my favorite because it is:

• Cruelty-free (a requirement for me)
• Uses minerals as opposed to hormone disrupting chemicals as active ingredients (a requirement for me)
• Fragrance free
• EWG safety rating of 1
• not sticky
• not pasty-white

IN ADDITION to wearing lots of sunscreen, I supplement with:

• SPF 50 extra-long sleeve hoodie (with thumbholes, so it covers the back of your hands) from Uniqlo
• Wide brimmed hat (gift from my aunt, but I've also gotten nice ones in the summer at Uniqlo)
• Solar Shield over-your-glasses sunglasses (polarized lenses make the sky and water look even more beautiful!)
• SPF 50 mini sun parasol by Totes

PS I tried a sample of Yes To Cucumbers Natural Sunscreen SPF 30, which isn't fragrance-free, but  it is:

• 97% Natural
• SPF 30, Broad Spectrum
• Water resistant (40 minutes)
• Hypoallergenic
• Petroleum, SLS, & Paraben Free
• Cruelty-free

I found it a little stickier feeling than the Aubrey sunscreen, so that's why I didn't list it as my favorite, BUT I have a promo code!  It's "YESTOSUN" and it's good for buy one get one 50% off on their website.  The sample came with a big order of Yes to Carrots products that I will review once I am home and start using them!

Super Sad on a Rainy Day

This weather this morning was cold, dark, windy, and wet.  Cars were driving erratically (I was almost hit by a cab running a red light) and it was tough walking to work even with my boots, coat, and umbrella.  Then I see this poor horse clomping through puddles and getting rained on.  The driver had his nice big umbrella for himself, but there was no umbrella for the horse (although I do see some kind of inadequate plastic sheet thrown over the horse's back).  Can you image walking around outside wearing wet clothes all day long?

If you are ever in New York, DO NOT ride in a horse drawn carriage!  I've seen those poor horses out on the street with no blanket during 15° F weather, in 90°+ F weather, and in rain/snow/sun.  They breathe car exhaust, walking on hard pavement all day, pulling heavy heavy loads.  Did you know they live in old tenement apartments and have to walk up staircases to get to their stalls?  I've seen carriage drivers run red lights, and I've seen them text and phone while "driving." The horses die prematurely and are involved in tons of accidents, which cause injury to people, horses, and property.



Fortunately, those horses should be off the street soon. NYCLASS did a ton of work this year to help promote compassionate mayoral candidates, and the winner Bill De Blasio will hopefully end allowing them on city streets.