Tom's of Maine sells out to animal tester Colgate-Palmolive

Kiss that sweet cinnamint toothpaste goodbye, people. Tom's of Maine has gone the way of so many other responsible companies that have sold their good names and philosophies of responsibility to companies that exploit animals. This time it's Colgate-Palmolive that's putting on the snow job and paying out a cool $100 million cash to put ethical business practices and animal friendliness in the back seat. Tom and Kate argue that having a well-known company like Colgate market animal-friendly brand will increase the visibility of these products and, in response to consumer spending on these brands, shift a company's profits away from cruel practices and ultimately make responsible business practices the most profitable way to run the company. But is that what really happens? Given the relatively small sector of society that's even aware of the horrors of cosmetic testing (thanks in no small part to lobbying by these cosmetic giants to prevent legislation banning outdated, unnecessary, and unreliable animal tests even when alternatives exist!), it seems that multinational buyout of organic and animal-friendly brands is just another way to pad a bottom line fattened by cruelty and abuse.

Fortunately there are still companies out there that do not test. Please seek these brands out and vote with your dollars for cruelty-free and humane products made by companies with a conscience and a vision for a better world for all beings. I specifically recommend Beauty Without Cruelty and Kiss My Face, and Clear Conscience. And there are many others.

Lester at the rainbow bridge

I lost my little finch Lester today. He was flying and eating yesterday as normal, but today, his buddy Reginald let me know that he was lying still at the bottom of the cage by flitting up and down, up and down, sending out his little locator calls that would never again be answered.

I had him for quite some time: He was born in 2000, and he came to me just before Thanksgiving that year. I got him from a woman who worked in a laboratory. He was among infertile males and females that were to be euthanized in a study of finch reproduction and breeding. Initially given 100 days to live, he lived a fine 5+ with me. I hope he knows that he was loved, and we will all miss him, especially little Reggie, who was looking everywhere for him. Sometimes these sudden things happen with finches, but that won't stop me from mending Reggie's loneliness with another little friend.

So the search begins for this new friend. Fly forever in sunny skies, Lester. You will not be forgotten.

The property is now yours (aka closing day)

So now I'm the proud co-owner of an old house. What an emotional weekend, which started on Friday at approximately 2 pm. It was the usual stuff: sign your name everywhere, write some checks. But it was so exciting. The sellers were lovely people, and I can tell that the house was a place they loved and now recall with fondness. The house feels so great to be in, too. It's just laid out so nicely and fits us comfortably. We celebrated that evening and camped out for the night in what will be the master bedroom. We opened a bottle and lit some candles. We saw the sun come up the next day (partly because the air mattress had flattened to the point that Scott was basically sleeping on the floor, LOL), and we spent some time taking stock of everything with our electrician, who came by in the morning. There's work to be done to be sure (some of which happened today with the ripping up of the carpet in the dining and living rooms), but it already feels like home to me. Hey, home is where your soymilk maker is, and I took mine over as part of a carload of stuff today, so there ya go.

In like a lion

We got a huge amount of snow today! Not really that unusual for March in these parts but most unwelcome as far as I'm concerned. So I had a little shovelling tonight. Quite a bit, actually, but it gave me a chance to catch up with a senior citizen neighbor who looked a little crestfallen yesterday when I told her I was moving soon. I have vowed to keep in touch with her--she lives close to my workplace, so it should be easy if I just make the effort. The show is really beautiful, but it's so bad to drive in. I almost ground to a halt on my street, which was barely plowed, even after work hours. I really need to get some snow tires on the bitchin' Civic.

Herbivore

Scott was so thoughtful and got me a gift subscription to Herbivore magazine, all set to arrive at the new house!! I hope he's ready to see my radical side, which will no doubt come to the surface just a few pages into the first issue I receive. ;-)

Lynn
I've named the lady beetle Lynn, a good unisex name. S/he was missing yesterday during my shower, and I was so worried! But she was back by this morning, and I think she dined royally on her raisin all day. She was out and about tonight but had disappeared by the end of my shower. I hope all's well. She's really a cutie, and I'm fascinated by the whole thing. There for a while, I was spending more time fretting over him than I did showering, and then I'd have to hurry before the hot water ran out. The old running-out-of-hot-water shower in the winter is simply unacceptable. So now I'm just trying to relax a bit. But I do hope spring comes soon...