Killswitch Engage Announce Alive or Just Breathing 10th Anniversary Tour

Sammi Chichester | Oct 01, 2012 | 0 Comments and 0 Reactions |

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To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of Alive or Just Breathing, Killswitch Engage will tour this fall. The band intends to play that album in its entirety, as well as some newer material.
Alive or Just Breathing is considered by many to be one of the albums that created and defined the genre of New Wave of American Heavy Metal. Therefore it’s pretty fitting that fellow NWOAHM pioneers Shadows Fall will be the main support for the tour as they are usually associated with that genre as well.
For Killswitch Engage, it’s the right time to go back to 2002 as original vocalist Jesse Leach has been back with the band as of earlier this year. Leach left the band just after Alive or Just Breathing was released.
Advance tickets for this tour will be $20.02, furthering the anniversary. Tour dates are posted below.

November 25      San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
November 27      Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
November 28     Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
November 30     Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
December 1       Kansas City, MO – The Beaumont Club
December 2        Dallas, TX – Trees
December 4        St. Petersburg, FL – The State Theatre
December 5        Pensacola, FL  – Vinyl Music Hall
December 7        Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
December 8        Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
December 10      Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
December 11      Columbus, OH – Al Rosa Villa
December 12      Toronto, ON – Opera House
December 14       Buffalo, NY – The Town Ballroom
December 15      Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
December 16      Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
December 18      So. Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
December 19     Northampton, MA – Pearl Street
December 20      Portland, ME – State Theatre

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A 14 year old girl, together with six other child workers under 16, were recently discovered working at a factory in China (HEG (Huizhou)) that supplies electronic products like Samsung. These children labored under deplorable conditions, working 11 hours a day, 26 to 28 days a month to make mobile phones, DVDs, stereo equipment and MP3 players for Samsung. This is the same workload as adult workers at the factory, but the children only receive 70% of a formal worker’s pay.
I played a leading role in organizing networks of labor activists, researching factories and conducting worker education and legal assistance programs in China before I came to the US. Improving conditions for Chinese workers has been my life's work and passion. When the organization I direct, China Labor Watch (CLW), conducted and published a report uncovering underage child labor at a Samsung factory, I wanted to take action

The abuse, uncovered in a new investigation conducted by my organization CLW, shows clear violations of Chinese labor laws. While the precise number of child laborers throughout the factory is unknown, investigators suspect that as many as 50-100 under age children may work for this factory alone.

Wu Xiaofang (an alias this young female worker used as well as the name she used on her fake ID in order to get into the factory to work) was only 14 years old. She told China Labor Watch investigators that the factory refused to take her to the hospital for treatment when she fell on the stairs accidentally. The factory’s management even rejected her request for sick leave and deducted 6 days of her wages. Similar abuses happened again two months later. Xiaofang was fired by the factory without any compensation in July.

According to China Labor Watch’s analysis of the hours, salary, and overtime pay listed on Xiaofang’s paystub, her approximate overtime was between 70 and 84 hours in this month. The daily subsidy for night shifts is just over $1, and she received a total of 77 RMB in subsidies for her night shifts this month. Xiaofang worked 11 night shifts during this month, each shift lasting from 8pm to 8am. This paystub clearly shows how the factory was treating this 14-year-old girl. Despite the evidence, Samsung’s supplier alleged that Xiaofang made up a story about her terrible working conditions.
Please join me in calling on Samsung to stop using child laborers at its Chinese employers, to make sure they are compensate for any work they have already done and that they return to school. Finally, Samsung should establish an independent hotline for workers to report abuses like this to prevent them from happening again.

Have Pomaranians: definitely read this

Ten Steps to Your Dog’s Dental Health

Did you know that regularly brushing your dog’s teeth and providing her with a healthy diet and plenty of chew toys can go a long way toward keeping her mouth healthy? Many pooches show signs of gum disease by the time they’re four years old because they aren’t provided with proper mouth care—and bad breath is often the first sign of a problem. Give your dog regular home checks and follow the tips below, and you’ll have a very contented pooch with a dazzling smile.

1. The Breath Test

Sniff your dog’s breath. Not a field of lilies? That’s okay—normal doggie-breath isn’t particularly fresh-smelling. However, if his breath is especially offensive and is accompanied by a loss of appetite, vomiting or excessive drinking or urinating, it’s a good idea to take your pooch to the vet.

2. Lip Service

Once a week, with your dog facing you, lift his lips and examine his gums and teeth. The gums should be pink, not white or red, and should show no signs of swelling. His teeth should be clean, without any brownish tartar.

3. Signs of Oral Disease

The following are signs that your dog may have a problem in his mouth or gastrointestinal system and should be checked by a veterinarian:

• Bad breath
• Excessive drooling
• Inflamed gums
• Tumors in the gums
• Cysts under the tongue
• Loose teeth

4. The Lowdown on Tooth Decay

Bacteria and plaque-forming foods can cause build-up on a dog’s teeth. This can harden into tartar, possibly causing gingivitis, receding gums and tooth loss. One solution? Regular teeth cleanings, of course.

5. Canine Tooth-Brushing Kit

Get yourself a toothbrush made especially for canines or a clean piece of soft gauze to wrap around your finger. Ask your vet for a toothpaste made especially for canines or make a paste out of baking soda and water. Never use fluoride with dogs under six months of age—it can interfere with their enamel formation. And please do not use human toothpaste, which can irritate a dog’s stomach. Special mouthwash for dogs is also available—ask your vet.

6. Brightening the Pearly Whites

Taking these steps will make brushing a lot easier for the both of you:

• First get your dog used to the idea of having her teeth brushed. Massage her lips with your finger in a circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds once or twice a day for a few weeks. Then move on to her teeth and gums.
• When your pooch seems comfortable being touched this way, put a little bit of dog-formulated toothpaste or a paste of baking soda and water on her lips to get her used to the taste.
• Next, introduce a toothbrush designed especially for dogs—it should be smaller than a human toothbrush and have softer bristles. Toothbrushes that you can wear over your finger (or a clean piece of gauze) are also available and allow you to give a nice massage to your dog’s gums.
• Finally, apply the toothpaste to her teeth for a gentle brushing, as in step 7.
• A veterinary exam beforehand may be helpful to find out if your dog’s gums are inflamed. If your dog has mild gingivitis, brushing too hard can hurt her gums.

7. Brushing Technique

Yes, there is actually a technique! Place the brush or your gauze-wrapped finger at a 45-degree angle to the teeth and clean in small, circular motions. Work on one area of your dog’s mouth at a time, lifting her lip as necessary. The side of the tooth that touches the cheek usually has the most tartar, and giving a final downward stroke can help to remove it. If your dog resists having the inner surfaces of her teeth cleaned, don’t fight it—only a small amount of tartar accumulates there. Once you get the technique down, go for a brushing two or three times a week.

8. Know Your Mouth Disorders

Getting familiar with the possible mouth problems your dog may encounter will help you determine when it’s time to see a vet about treatment:

• Periodontal disease is a painful infection between the tooth and the gum that can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Signs are loose teeth, bad breath, tooth pain, sneezing and nasal discharge.
• Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused mainly by accumulation of plaque, tartar and disease-producing bacteria above and below the gum line. Signs include bleeding, red, swollen gums and bad breath. It is reversible with regular teeth cleanings.
• Halitosis—or bad breath—can be the first sign of a mouth problem and is caused by bacteria growing from food particles caught between the teeth or by gum infection. Regular tooth-brushings are a great solution.
• Swollen gums develop when tartar builds up and food gets stuck between the teeth. Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth at home and getting annual cleanings at the vet can prevent tartar and gingivitis.
• Proliferating gum disease occurs when the gum grows over the teeth and must be treated to avoid gum infection. An inherited condition common to boxers and bull terriers, it can be treated with antibiotics.
• Mouth tumors appear as lumps in the gums. Some are malignant and must be surgically removed.
• Salivary cysts look like large, fluid-filled blisters under the tongue, but can also develop near the corners of the jaw. They require drainage, and the damaged saliva gland must be removed.
• Canine distemper teeth can occur if a dog had distemper as a puppy. Adult teeth can appear looking eroded and can often decay. As damage is permanent, decayed teeth should be removed by a vet.

9. Chew on This

chew toys can satisfy your dog’s natural desire to chomp, while making his teeth strong. Gnawing on a chew toy can also help massage his gums and help keep his teeth clean by scraping away soft tartar. Ask your vet to recommend toxin-free rawhide, nylon and rubber chew toys.
P.S.: Gnawing also reduces your dog’s overall stress level, prevents boredom and gives him an appropriate outlet for his natural need to chew.

10. Diet for Healthy Teeth

Ask your vet about a specially formulated dry food that can slow down the formation of plaque and tartar. Also, avoid feeding your dog table scraps, instead giving him treats that are specially formulated to keep canine teeth healthy.

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ASPCA Happy Tail: Milo and Mia

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 1:15pm

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After losing her beloved cat, Cookie, Wilma Trani’s friends suggested she visit the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City. She shared the following story with us about her first trip to the Adoption Center, and her subsequent adoption of brother and sister kittens, Milo and Mia.
My love and obsession for cats started 20 years ago. I have cared for a total of five cats, and I adopted all of them from shelters—I never have any regrets.
We recently lost our most precious, spoiled and much-loved cat of ten years, Cookie, to a serious illness, leaving us with empty hearts and an empty home. We longed for the company of another cat, but wanted to look around.
My friends adopted their cat at the ASPCA Adoption Center about two years ago, and they had a positive experience and suggested we visit. So,on a beautiful day in April, my daughter and I decided to take our first trip to the ASPCA to "just look" at the cats—who were we kidding?
We walked into the building and saw content cats in a beautiful and stimulating environment and immediately knew we were not there to just look but to adopt.
After filling out the paperwork, a pleasant woman escorted us to a nice, clean room full of cats and, immediately, we saw two adorable three-month-old kittens—a brother and sister pair. It was love at first sight!
Two hours later and a phone call to my understanding and loving husband, we walked out with two cute additions to our family—Milo and Mia.
They are funny, adorable, mischievous, loving, naughty and spoiled. We love them to pieces, and they are adjusting well to their new home and family. Our hearts and home are no longer empty!

the Dog

Fundraising Page for Help Larry the Dog Run for the ASPCA
October 28, 2012 at Los Angeles, California

My name’s Larry the Dog and I want to tell you about an exciting new adventure I’m em”bark”ing on. As you may know, I have a thing against puppy mills. Simply put, they stink! So, I’ve signed up with Team ASPCA to help spread awareness about this important canine issue, while raising funds to fight against all kinds of animal cruelty.

It’s not going to be easy. I’m a dog used to short walks around the block. But on October 28th, that’s all going to change. I will be joining hundreds of Team ASPCA participants from across the country in running the 2012 Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Halloween Half Marathon. Sure I get to work out with awesome professional trainers, and I’m super excited to meet new friends. But, most importantly, running for Team ASPCA will allow me to help puppy mill dogs!

The simple truth is most pet store puppies come from puppy mills. The more people who know about this connection and pledge not to buy ANYTHING (including toys, pet food, and kitty litter if cats are your thing) at pet stores that sell puppies, the better off dogs like me will be.

Will you please help me spread awareness about puppy mills and raise crucial funds for the ASPCA by supporting my run? Even a small donation will go a long way in helping the ASPCA fight to end animal cruelty, homelessness and neglect. Woof and thanks!

— Larry the Dog

PS. Be sure to track my progress and cheer me on by following the hashtag #SeeLarryRun on Twitter! I could use the moral support.