800: It’s a rather large number to comprehend. Let’s break it down for a minute.

It is…

* 266 2/3 times the number of pets I have in my apartment (400 times if you don’t count my roommate).

* More than double the paycheck that just got handed to me.

* Six times my body weight.

* Just a few short of being Noah’s age.

* The number of dogs seized from a Tucson, Arizona triple-wide trailer this afternoon.

About 800 dogs. Chihuahuas, terriers, and Pomeranians.

Don’t forget the birds. There were 82 parrots residing with the elderly couple and their 800 small dogs.

Where did they all fit? Here’s a few of the couple’s solutions to the space dilemma:

1. Pile pups one dozen high into small crates.

2. Allow doggies to gnaw off one another’s paws, thus making more room.

3. Some may die. Even though this is money lost, it is also new space. Just push them to the side.

4. Keep going with the flow: breed and sell, breed and sell. Remember more dogs = more money!

5. A clean home is a happy home. In a happy home, a happy dog runs around a lot. Therefore, a filthy home will cause those mutts to stay inactive. Just say no to cleaning up after them!

6. Sick dogs also move slower. Let them get kennel cough, and do not take them to the vet.

People never cease to disgust me.

Today’s the day that middle school students actually enjoy going to math class (though my sister and I always loved it!). It’s Pi Day!

In mathematics, the Greek letter pi = 3.14…..and then like one trillion more numerals. Today = March (3) 14. Hence, today is Pi Day!

But why do middle school students like it? Well, my friends who missed out, cool math teachers order pizza pies or bring in dessert pies to celebrate!

So have it; bring a little math into your life! If you make and bake it all from scratch then you are using math, too!

Just remember, make it vegan!

Vegan pizza recipes:

* Watch a YouTube chef put together a pizza pie from complete scratch, crust and all!

* By a crust (check the ingredients), slap on some sauce, sprinkle with casein-free soy cheese, and add all of your favorite toppings.

* Order up a tomato pie for delivery.

* Check out Recipezaar - there are 51 recipes that have both “vegan” and “pizza” as keywords.

Vegan Pie Recipes:

* The Almost Vegan drooled over a pie crust and filling recipe back in 2006.

* Whoa, forget the pies … VeganYumYum’s dessert section is way better. Just call it a pie, or bake it in a pie-shaped tin or something.

P.S. While I’m talking about pies … I highly recommend the movie Waitress with Keri Russell.

Last night I watched VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club for the first time because absolutely nothing else was on and I had already finished my Joan of Arcadia DVD from Netflix.

Turns out, it was definitely not time (completely) lost.

Aside from being the season premiere, it was also an episode that introduced the contestants to raw vegan food!

The overweight and out-of-shape pseudo-celebs walked into a room with a spread of food. From a far they were excited. Cake!? Pizza!? As they neared, they lost enthusiasm. Raw vegan pizza?! What’s that?

Most of them began trying the food, as the nutritional specialist told them about the healthy foods they were tasting. But their reactions were barely shown. Instead, viewers got negativity.

“I’ve tried vegan food,” said plus-sized model Toccara, formerly from America’s Next Top Model. “I don’t like it!”

Luckily, thankfully, they pointed out to her that the grapes she was eating and the tomatoes that she enjoyed were vegan! Vegan does not have to equal weird, unusual food.

Dustin Diamond a.k.a. “Screech” from Saved by the Bell had the best reaction ever! “No way! Have you smelled vegan farts?!”

I was hysterically laughing out loud.

Not that I fart or anything … Vegan or not, I am a lady.

I have never kept it a secret that I love America’s Next Top Model. I judge Tyra not for her kooky nature, as I myself have been known to be a tad goofy (meet my parents: I come by it honestly).

I groan and roll my eyes in distaste when model-contestants on the show are given fur as part of their wardrobe; but, this is part of the fashion industry that I have chosen to emerge myself into.

I think, “Somebody, please, stand up for your own beliefs and just say `NO,’” when their challenge is to pose for an assigned position on a controversial subject matter (e.g. fur, vegetarianism, abortion). Though I know that these wannabes fear for their career if they were to do so.

And yet I have continued, through all of this, to watch ANTM.

Cycle 10 may only be 4 episodes in, but it has already managed to add to - and far surpass - any minor annoyances I previously had with it.

As the photo shoot began, my phone was already ringing.

Here’s the rundown:

Shoot Location: Meat-packing district of NYC, inside an in-use (as in currently replete with raw carcasses, hooks, etc.) walk-in refrigerator.

Wardrobe: Lingerie and such fashioned from pinned-together slabs of raw beef.

Hypocrisy Level: HIGH! Last year the theme was “green” … as in treating our planet well … as in not disrespecting, contaminating, and wasting hundreds of pounds of dead animal flesh that was not “green” in its production thus far anyways.

Relation to Fashion: … ?

Number of Once-Faithful Viewers Lost: Let’s start counting.

1. Me.
2. My friends.
3. EcoRazzi writer Parrish.
4. Members of the Vegan Freaks discussion board.
5. Allie, from Allie’s Green Answers
6. Mom Is Teaching mom, Summer
You???

* Leave a comment if ANTM lost you (or will now never have you) with this episode and I will add you! *

UPDATE: Check out how Tyson Beckford and Niki Taylor showed up Tyra with Make Me a Supermodel from the same week!

Click for a larger version

Check out the Deflocked archives, or reflect back to my other favorite strip.

Back in January porn king Ron Jeremy posed for a PETA ad about getting your pets fixed. Now, I don’t understand Ron Jeremy’s fame; I cannot think of a person that I would less enjoy watching do the horizontal mambo. But, alas, my post about his photo campaign has been one of my most-read ones to date.

It’s true: sex sells. And now Jenna Jameson is the one dishing it up for PETA’s benefit.

The famous porn vixen dressed as Bettie Page in a jet-black wig with bangs and a pleather bikini - which you can win along with her autograph - to prove that pleather is sexy.

At first I was disappointed with the lack of words included on her ad. Then I checked out her personal MySpace page. Jenna posted about this campaign, and was of course bombarded with nay-saying commenters. Here is a great quote that Miss Jameson wrote in response to these negative, angry PETA haters:

Actually, everything is open to interpretation. I believe in options, and there are a lot of options beyond leather or fur.
I love the idea of opening peoples mind to new options…
So relieve yourself of a bit of your hostility, and broaden your horizons..
Much love
jenna

Much love to you, too, Jenna!

Mr. Sir Beatle-man Paul McCartney posed for a new PETA ad campaign, but didn’t stop there. His photo advertisement is also helping to kick start a new promotional Web site - Veggie Testimonials - where surfers can easily peruse all celebrity PETA ads and testimonials.

On Sir McCartney’s picture ad, in the upper right-hand corner is an excellent, thought-provoking quote (albeit poorly worded) from the British, knighted musician:

“Many years ago, I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realized, ‘I am killing him - all for the passing pleasure it brings me.’ And something inside me clicked. I realized as I watched him fight for breath that his life was as important to him as mine is to me.”

“I Am Paul McCartney, and I Am a Vegetarian.”

This classic rock legend has been a longtime supporter of animal rights (and PETA), showing his beliefs in every way possible including writing song lyrics about animal testing.

Last year he designed the “Eat No Cow” tee shirt that he is shown wearing in the above campaign. Purchase one for yourself for $18 through PETA’s online catalog.

Visit YouTube to watch his “Nod Your Head” music video in which he wears the shirt.

Farm Sanctuary co-founder and president Gene Baur kicked off his book tour last weekend with a New York event.

Don’t miss out on meeting this amazing man, listening to his presentation, and having a great opportunity to mingle with other like-minded folk! Check out the list of stops that Mr. Baur will be making as he works his way across the west coast the rest of March, then back around the east coast in April.

If you can’t make it to any of the signings, visit his Web site to find out more about his new book: Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food.

I may even visit two stops on his tour!

As we are in the midst of Canadian seal hunt month, I am being bombarded with mailings - both virtual and tangible - about this annual event. But some things that V of FurReal has been saying have inspired me to look past the facts presented to me by animal rights organizations.

Finding unbiased (to either side) information was not easy. But here is what I now know:

* Seals are hunted in Canada, Greenland, Namibia, Norway, and Russia. People desire their pelts for coats, blubber for oil, meat for pet food, and genitals for an aphrodisiac.

* Although there was once only an estimated 1.5 million harp seals remaining, Canada’s total allowable catch (TAC) of 270,000 per year has helped restore the population to an assumed 9.5 million.

* The hooked clubs - hakapiks - used during hunts have deemed “as humane as the killing methods used in commercial slaughterhouses.”

* In 2006, the European Commission called for a ban on the import, export, and sale of all harp and hooded seal products. In 2007, Belgium unanimously became the first to fully ban them.

* The U.S. was previously involved in the hunts, but now maintains a ban on the commercial hunting and killing of all marine mammals. Only indigenous people of the U.S. are allowed a small number per year.

* Such practices can be traced back as far as 10,000 years ago. However, seal bodies and parts are not utilized to nearly the extent that they once were.

* Seals have a swimming reflex so that they continue flipping around while being skinned. One side claims they are still alive; the other says they are dead.

* Regulations set by Canada state: “Every person who strikes a seal with a club or hakapik shall strike the seal on the forehead until its skull has been crushed. … No person shall commence to skin or bleed a seal until the seal is dead.”

* Pictures and video footage of the killings show hunters running, motionless seals looking behind them, and lots and lots of blood.

Celebrities have done an excellent job lately with demonstrating how many, many ways there are for a person to speak out and make a difference on behalf of animals.

There have been extreme measures of rescue: Hayden gets her hands wet for the whales; Nigel goes polar to photograph the baby seals.

There have been drastic steps towards achieving vegan fashion: Natalie designs fashionable, leather-free shoes; Tobey bans all leather.

And twice now actress Katherine Heigl has displayed one of the easiest ways that the everyday person can impact others: she wore two different pro-animal rights (both by PETA) tee shirts on two different occasions.

Click on each photo to be directed to ordering information for that shirt … or be unique and find or make your own!

What a beautiful month March is - flowers can begin to stretch to their roots, heavy winter wear begins to change into lighter spring fashions, and Canadian fur hunters head out to beat to death hundreds of thousands of baby harp seals.

These adorable creatures are ran at full speed, while they barely move, and brutally clubbed and spiked in the head because some people think their fur looks fashionable.

More people in the fashion business, however, are beginning to stand out and say that it’s not worth the blood shed. The latest is America’s Next Top Model judge and famed photographer Nigel Barker.

Barker went to Canada to photograph these scared baby seals with the Humane Society recently in hopes of enlightening the public - especially the fashion industry - about the cruel nature of this culture.

HSUS has a page dedicated to Protect Seals where you can watch video footage, see more of Nigel (shown on location with the HSUS in the photo here), read news articles about the Canadian fur trade, and learn about how you can make a difference.

Through PETA, Pamela Anderson is also adding the seals to her long list of animal rights issues with a petition asking the Canadian government to step in and help, that she is asking you to sign.

Here are a few brief headlining articles that work their magic as PR for animals, vegetarianism, and healthy goodness in general.

Enjoy! (Links are in the bold text)

* CNN Living provides a great look at both sides of the declawing debate, speaking to PETA, Humane Society, and a pet owner who recently declawed her cats.

* CNN Money was in on the game, too, with an announcement of a new soy milk product put out by Canada’s best-selling soy brand, So Good.

* Michigan , Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio faces a 2,000+-pound chicken recall, reports All Headline News. Meijer Inc. recalled their Discovery Cuisine Red Curry Chicken and Jasmine Rice after the U.S.D.A. reported suspecting listeria (a harmful bacteria) in the product.

* redOrbit takes from a BBC News report and studies at University of Minnesota to conclude that eating breakfast every day gives you a slimming edge over your peers. But my mom already knew this.

* Yahoo! News covers medical studies about, and one mother’s direct experience with, the ability for diet to impact - both positively and negatively - hyperactivity and ADHD.

“I don’t judge people who eat meat - that’s not for me to say - but the whole thing just sort of bums me out,” said 14-year vegetarian Tobey Maguire, in an interview with Parade magazine from April 8.

Now the world has learned that Mr. Spider-Man is also “bummed out” by the smell of leather. In fact, you may not enter his house - at which he has been known to hold celebrity parties - with any leather whatsoever.

Guests to the Maguire residence (who are the main source of this ban revelation) must remove any leather shoes, belts, purses, and more before entering his $3.5 million Beverly Hills mansion that he shares with wife Jennifer Meyer (in the photo here) and daughter Ruby.
It is said that women have even been seen leaving $4,000 bags at the door!

“I’m close to being a vegan, but I’m not one, technically,” Maguire added in Parade.

“I don’t eat eggs, or nearly any dairy - no cheese or milk. I do eat honey, and a piece of milk chocolate here and there…. It’s never really been that hard for me. I’ve never had any desire to eat meat. In fact, when I was a kid I would have a really difficult time eating meat at all. It had to be the perfect bite, with no fat or gristle or bone or anything like that.”

Wow. It’s like Tobey and I are, like, totally connected and one with each other. That’s my story word for word! Except, I don’t ask people to remove their clothing before entering my apartment.

As I mentioned yesterday, I love asking vegetarians and vegans what they like to eat and cook on a regular basis. I suppose it is my way of gathering ideas for my own menu.

On Friday, I asked my vegetarian coworker Megan if she had a favorite recipe. Here’s what she said:

“I don’t know any fancy recipes off the top of my head, and maybe this is just me, but I never get tired of cannellini beans, frozen mixed vegetables, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese (or not cheese) over pasta with a little bit of olive oil.

“If you need more stuff, and were feeling like making a side dish, I’ve been eating a lot of mixed green salads with walnuts and dried fruit (craisins, etc.).”

Thanks, Megan! The salad sounds like it came from my mom’s kitchen.

Try Galaxy Foods’ Vegan brand Parmesan-flavor Grated Topping (shown here; note: only purple-label Galaxy Foods are vegan) to make this recipe vegan.

I enjoy asking other vegetarians what they like to eat. It’s just one of my things. After asking a vegetarian coworker this question Friday (read her response on Monday), I got to thinking about sharing more of my tasty concoctions. Just so happens, this same day I came home and cooked a delicious dinner. So here is what I ate Friday night.


SALLY’S T.G.I.F. MEAL

* Prepare Jasmine brown rice

* Slice/chop/smallify and saute asparagus, mushrooms, vegan ground sausage, and some form of tomatoes. I used a can of chopped tomatoes mixed with sauce. And the sausage was Gimme Lean (shown here), and although I never liked the real deal I love the spicy flavor that this adds to a dish.

* Serve the saucy goodness over the rice. Enjoy it; love it; tell me that you made it!