Spay and neuter your porn stars

By Michael J.W. Stickings

I have mixed feelings about PETA. On the one hand, I tend to agree with them on issues like fur (which is, in my view, indefensible, unless you live where there are no alternatives, or unless you just can't live without it, in which case it's not fashion fur but necessity fur -- big difference). On the other hand, I do consume some animal products, and I find some of their advocacy both overly aggressive and misguided.

(Though it's odd that PETA's website currently features an anti-fur campaign with notorious gun-toter Gilbert Arenas -- who is, I think, being unfairly scapegoated by the NBA. Good for Arenas, but the optics aren't exactly great at the moment.)

And their in-your-face, sometimes over-the-top ad campaigns? Well, I generally don't mind them. Take Alicia Silverstone's famous naked vegetarian PSA, for example. Very effective. And it helps that she's very attractive.

What about the new naked Sasha Grey spaying/neutering ad? Has PETA finally "jumped the shark," as Jonathan Chait alleges? Is it exploitation, manipulation? And is there any link between a hot naked porn star and spaying/neutering your pets?

Chait is right that the link is "particularly tenuous," but isn't all advertising, to some extent, exploitation and manipulation? After all, if the intention is to attract attention to a serious issue, I think PETA has succeeded. And I suppose there actually is a link between "too much sex" for humans and too much "sex" for your pets, the latter of which can result in a population explosion. So why not go the porn route? (Although, how is too much sex bad for Sasha Grey? How is too much sex with her bad? I don't get it.)

Maybe it could have been a bit less in-your-face, though I'm not sure what's wrong with having the gorgeous Ms. Grey, Soderbergh actress and adult film starlet (from what I understand -- I wouldn't know, of course) in your face. She looks unbelievably incredible here, does she not? (Much better than usual. You know. She's usually much more, well, bland.)

So it's a stretch, yes... but enjoy.

Oh, and spay and neuter your pets. Please. It's important.

Support PETA, oppose the FDA's abuse of animals

By Michael J.W. Stickings

I don't always agree with its priorities, nor with its methods and tactics, but, in general, as a proponent of animal rights, I applaud PETA for the work it does to bring attention to, and to fight, the rampant and horrific abuse of animals in our "civilized" society.

This full-page ad appeared in yesterday's Washington Post. It features Andrew Von Eschenbach, the head of the FDA (Federal Dog Abuse). Here's how PETA puts it at its Stop Animal Tests site:

In addition to millions of mice and rats—hundreds of thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, birds, and primates are poisoned each year with pesticides, industrial chemicals, vaccines, and drugs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) often require that these substances be tested in at least two animal species, even though these tests do not accurately predict how a substance will affect humans. Beagles have become the dog of choice for most tests because of their size and gentle nature.

These dogs spend their whole lives in barren cages, deprived of everything natural and important to them. They are denied the love of a family, a home, and the freedom to run, play, and feel the earth beneath their feet.

Please. TAKE ACTION. Say NO to the abuse of animals by the U.S. government. Say NO to the abuse of animals period.