the untold horror of the california heatwave

I'm sure you've all heard about the heatwave in California right now. Apparently the entire state is experiencing temperatures over 100 degrees for the 12th day in a row. When I was a kid, temperatures this high would force my school to close. But such a high heat for so long is unheard of.

Over 50 people have died throughout the state due to the heat. But what really upsets me is the loss of life among the cow population. Apparently in Chino (where Ryan from "the OC" is from and no, Chino's not ghetto...it's kinda rural), some dairy farms are reporting losing two to three cows a day. In the Inland Empire (which is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Vegas) Tony Rodriguez, owner of Three Palms Dairy in Chino said, "They're dropping like flies. In the 20-plus years I've been doing this, I've never seen anything like this." According to the SD Union Tribune, "In the San Joaquin Valley, a combination of the heat, bigger dairies and fewer plants to properly dispose of dead animals created a backlog of carcasses." So dead cows are just sitting there. Rotting. Amongst their bretheren. Can you imagine the tremendous sense of loss? Meanwhile the survivors are probably mourning and wondering, Oh my God, am I next?

I don't know why but I love cows. They're such harmless, gentle creatures. And they produce such yummy milk (which I won't drink until it's been processed and the fat's been removed). Unfortunately, they're stinky. In fact, for the full 40 minute drive through the IE on your way to Vegas, you are forced to breathe in their stench. But despite the foul odor, they're sweet and lazy. And so useful. Their lives must be made a priority.

photo courtesy of AP

So, please, Mother Nature! Stop the slaughter. End this heat. Save the happy cows from California! End their suffering now!