The Pew Research Center has done a survey of both the general public and scientists. The whole thing makes interesting reading but there were a couple of points I wanted to highlight.

The first one concerns using animals for research. I would have thought this one was pretty popular with both groups. You know, the whole “medical research saved my grandmother,” type of thing. While it is very popular with scientists (93%), regular folks were much more skeptical (52%). That’s still a majority but a lot better than I would have guessed.

And the other issue is the effect of regulations on animal research. While I think the regs we currently have are pretty much a joke, that doesn’t stop the other side from trying to get out of them. So do the scientists think the laws are restricting progress? It seems only 27% do.

I’m struck by the fact PETA or HSUS could be commissioning these sorts of polls and it would be very useful information. Much more than a new Holocaust ad or a new happy meat campaign.

I’m setting here working on the computer and I look over to see how Ozzie is doing. The parrots are a lot like small children, if they’re too quiet, you need to check on them. And when I look, Ozzie’s not in her cage! So I start looking to see if she’s jumped off on the floor and in need of rescue. Finally I hear a squawk and what do I see?

Apparently she’d decided to take a nap in the sheet I use to cover her cage. Maybe the world’s just a bit too much for Ozzie at times.

From the fine folks at the Onion News Network comes this piece on Taco Bell’s new Green menu. It may be vegan, but not in a good way. I think. Take a look and leave your opinion in the comments.

Taco Bell’s New Green Menu Takes No Ingredients From Nature

And I don’t even want to know what the pink stuff is. Vegan or not.