Shame on Sea World? Death of a trainer.

It’s sad. It’s awful. And let’s not let trainer Dawn Brancheau die in vain. In my last week’s post, where I’m giving away whale watching tickets, I started the post by joking, “No, whale watching isn’t a hot topic ...” Unfortunately, now whales and their entertainment value, are on the lips of many with Wednesday’s death of the 40-year-old trainer.

All the facts are still coming in, but, to me, it sounds like the animal went mental. I say that not to be flip, just to be frank. By no means, am I saying the trainer got what she deserved—as it’s horrific; I only wonder when we will put an end to the animal circus.

Reported facts say people saw the whales agitated, playing or fighting with each other and refusing to obey commands to splash the crowd before the attack. Those watching the killing, while eating at the “Dine with Shamu,” show (do you see the silliness of those three words by the way?) saw the female trainer petting the whale when it grabbed her and plunged into the water. It reappeared on the other side of the tank and leaped up holding her, her face bloody. “The whale circled round and round, turning her over and over,” they said.

Now if you know me, you know have a big heart for animals (have been a Veggie for 20 yrs.) and don’t support the life of tricks many of these captive animals are forced to live. A 12,000-pound, 22-foot long force of nature trapped and forced to swim in circles day after day whose only purpose is to splash on command is inhumane. It’s mind-numbing. It’s flat-out greed on the part of parks. And it’s something bad waiting to happen.

Yes, it’s important to learn about these animals, and to show kids their vast beauty, but we can do it other ways. Many other ways: on Alaskan cruises (I’ve been, it’s awe-inspiring), on TV, on local whale watching trips and more. No, I’m not a fan of zoos; I really only go to The Wild Animal Park, as I respect their open terrain. Do I take my kids to the circus? No. Do I support Barnum & Bailey and the likes? HELLA no. And have I been to Sea World? Of course. But I don’t go often. I’m not saying there should be no zoos or aquariums, but it’s a fine line of what animals are okay in captivity, in their enclosures, in their forced habitats. It’s a fine line for sure, but a 12,000-pound animal trapped in such a torturous space goes way over the line.

If we stop supporting these shows and cheering in the splash zone, the demand will die and the animals can live free. Too holier-than-thou? Too PETA-speak for you? Sorry, but animals don’t have a voice, so I speak up where I can.

What say you?

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Sassy Cindy McCain. And Foxy Sarah Palin.

What do you think of these moxie media ladies? Did you see Cindy’s NOH8 subtle statement? And are you watching Sarah on Fox?

Personally, I love Cindy’s move and message. Wow, what a gutsy act, and I feel like it got a little lost in the media, so I wanted to call it out.

The usually quiet and reserved Cindy recently posed for this NOH8 Campaign with this loud-and-clear, silent vote for Marriage Equality. Turns out, Cindy contacted the nonprofit photo project to pose, following in the steps of daughter Meghan. Love that the mom-daughter duo took such a public stand in spite of hubby and daddy John McCain’s opposing position. It brings the “stand by your man” message into 2010, I think. And I dig that John handled it well, respecting their opinions, but held firm on his own. “We are family,” but we aren’t issued to drink the kool-aid. Cheers to that.

And as for the other recent right wing media move, Palin on Fox, well it’s not as much of a lovefest from me. Go figure (code for: see my Palin on Newsweek post), but I’m open to watching. Are you? I do think it was another gutsy move on her part, as she put herself in the spotlight with a big bullseye target for those who love to hate her and are just waiting for her to trip up. And of course, it’s savvy, as Palin fans are thrilled that she now has her own media platform to speak her mind regularly and clear up any matters instantly.

I surf all the stations, CNN, FOX, MSNBC, so I tuned into watch her debut a few weeks ago. Her banter with O’Reilly was okay, I think he went a little soft on her, I think she totally dodged some questions and overall I think she blatantly used the platform for Pres. vs. Commentary. I expect more hardball hitters from Bill or I’m out. And as for Palin on Glenn Beck’s show, I watched that too, and almost did that throw-up-in-your-mouth thing from the creepy love-to-love ya hour of “the world’s gonna blow if you aren’t President, Sarah!” Really, Beck, why didn’t you just fall to the ground, bow three times and kiss her feet (or suck her toes, seriously, what was going on there?).

FOX will get ratings, advertisers will be thrilled, but the whole Fair & Balanced tag is getting a little watered down now with Palin, Huckabee etc. O’Reilly better bring it, or they are so gonna need me to write a new tag for them soon. Have you watched lately? Catch me up.

What do you think? Love or hate Cindy and Sarah’s latest? Right on to the right wingers or still no way and left all the way?

Me? Usually left, but officially and Indie.

It's Raining Mommy Redemption

Yesterday, I went in search of cover for my kids in preparation for StormWatch 2010, and we are now equipped with, count ‘em, 4 umbrellas! This is seriously a big deal in my house.

For the last 20 years, if it rained, I got wet. No biggie, right? The wet dog look was just so me. I couldn’t be bothered with pesky umbrellas. The Search and Rescue to find an umbrella in my house was simply never worth it, and I was, frankly, accustomed to the Debbie dart-and-dash run from A to B. It was what it was. And my kids were following course.

So what’s with the umbrella arsenal now? Mom Guilt, of course—that deafening drone, which eventually can’t be ignored.

You see a few weeks ago when it rained, I saw all the other kids in their super cute raingear, fun boots and trendy chic slickers. My kids? I preached the “What, you’re gonna melt? You’ll be fine!” Or I’d send ‘em with Daddy’s boring black pop-up—IF I were lucky enough to find it in my two-second check out the door. Then, it happened, I saw THAT look from my girl. The one you catch every once in awhile when you see your kids look at other kids with kid-envy and love for others’ mommies. Ouch, right in the heart. My girl’s friend had one of those perfectly charming, clear, bubble, old-school umbrellas that poured a message of “love and a well-cared child” (ok, I exaggerate, but you know what I mean).

So yesterday, we were off to the store in search of cover and Mommy Redemption. I didn’t find the old-school charm, but we found penguins and zebras fixes that will do just fine. Plus, I picked my girl up some polka dot Paul Frank rainboots on sale. Wow, Mommy-score bonus points.

So we’re weatherproofed, and ... I’m getting there, as usual … a drop-by-drop journey to be “one of those moms” who always has it all together. A girl can dream. And, let’s be serious, so can my kids.

Stay safe this rainy SoCal week.

It’s alive! 10 surgeries & Heidi says give me more.

Somebody just dubbed her the “Frankenstein of the iPod generation,” great line. For the love of Jesus, what was she thinking? Here’s Heidi Montag on the cover of People with her newest new nose, bigger boobs, tucked ears, sucked neck, higher brows, smaller chin, fatter cheeks, new hips, butt and “more.”

The 23-yr. old reality “star” from The Hills just dropped 30k on her new extreme nip-tucked self. She admits she’s addicted to plastic surgery (uh yea) and can’t wait to get more.

Oh Spencer, why didn’t you stop her? Strike that. Heidi’s mom would have stopped her I’m sure, but she didn’t get the chance, as she wasn’t even told. (Imagine being her mom and seeing your all-new girl.)

So ... the post-Heidi? She’s got that Jennifer Grey thing—you know she’s in there somewhere, but can’t quite figure it out.

And ... the new fab Heidi hits just as her new album drops. Well played. Hey, that’s fame. And we may all now remember her name, even if we can’t quite recognize her face.

Sorry Heidi, but boob move, bad message, and, really, you told the world you got a new vajayjay?

Funniest take on Speidi’s Heidi is still Anderson Cooper’s shot last year after her Miss Universe performance, saying. “She tweeted she had so much fun, and she also thanked God. I don’t think God had anything to do with this production.” Click the video below for more.

Oh, and speaking of AC, who’s in Haiti of course, imagine if the holy-rolling Heidi would have used her Hollywood cash for the true down and out’s of the world instead of her continuous how-hot-am-I makeovers? Can I get an amen?

Gotta go give my girl an extra “you’re great just the way you are” hug and smooch.

Sorry, I know there are more important matters in the world as mentioned above, but a little levity helps me keep going.

Profile, profile, profile. Enough of the PC nonsense.

After flying over the holidays, I’ve decided that I’m over all of our politically correct American ways. I say profile like El Al. How about you?

On December 21st, I was against profiling as I leisurely headed to Florida—more worried about forgetting all my kids’ video games than I was remotely preoccupied with Nigerian Al Qaeda accomplices. That was the departing flight.

The return flight, post December 25th underwear bomber whackjob, was a different story. I was spooked. I profiled with my eyes, kept my ears open and honestly wished the US would be watching my back more and protecting my kids more, so I didn’t have to think about where the exits and fire extinguishers were if the side of the plane went up.

Another thing that stuck with me on my airport travels home were images of our soldiers all over at all gates … in their fatigues, with fresh crew cuts and backpacks in tow. They were all well-mannered, but expressionless mostly. You could tell they had heavy hearts. And with every camo’ed uniform, I got a little more PO’d and much less PC; wondering why 30,000 more of our guys had to be sent off to fight these crazies, yet we had to be all proper and PC and couldn’t even profile characters that might fit the bill standing next to us in the airport.

Let’s get serious. El Al airlines has had the world whacks after them for years, yet remained terror-free on flights since they started profiling 30 years ago. We aren’t even stopping all-cash, no-luggage, one-way travelers from Yemen after their family members alert us.

I know the system is always going to fail in some ways, so let’s take all the extra reasonable precautions possible and pull aside those who fit the profile. If you’re Arab, male, 18-30, etc., and we want to question you because people from your part of the world are trying to kill us everyday, it is what it is. That comes with the territory when you want to come here. And if you don’t like it, pick another country.

Harsh? Perhaps. But I didn’t like sitting in 21 A on the way home, and wondering if I should leap over the seats if I see 18A’s underwear light up. And you never know what a Mama Bear might do. Thank God for that guy who took down the Nigerian, thank God for US soldiers I had on my plane, and shame on Janet Napolitano/Homeland Security for saying the US did everything right and that the passengers and crew acted together to take on the terrorists December 25th. That’s your job, lady, and you all should have never let him through in the first place.

Let the profiling begin.

(No, I’m not ready for the body scans yet; unsure of the radiation, etc. Let’s see how backroom “sitdowns” go first.)