VEGAN POETRY

Paws-Ta Dinner - SUPPORT WINDSOR HUMANE SOCIETY!

2007-06-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a delicious way to support a VERY good cause - the Windsor Essex County Humane Society - here's an event you will NOT want to miss...

SUNDAY JUNE 10th
“Paws-ta” Dinner
Rack ‘n ’Roll Club
from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at Rack ‘n’ Roll or by calling The Windsor-Essex County Humane Society at 519-966-5751

Helping out the Windsor Humane Society is one of the BEST things you can do to help animals who don't have a voice...or a home. Supporting the Humane Society - means you are supporting them - directly - the animals in THIS community who are homeless, abandoned, abused - but NOT forgotten.

Helping the Windsor Essex Humane Society DO THEIR JOB - is one of the greatest gifts you can give our animals.

I hope to see you there.

For more information - visit the Windsor Essex County Humane Society's webpage.

Dan

NOT PROUD TO BE A CANADIAN...when it comes to the seal slaughter.

2007-04-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

SEAL HUNT DEMONSTRATION
TO PROTEST THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF CANADA’S SEAL HUNT 02/04/07

Hey everyone, in my previous post I sent out some info that was passed along to me, and you'll probably find it an interesting read, if you oppose the horrific seal hunt which is happening RIGHT NOW in Canada.
Don't get me wrong, I love Canada, and I would not live ANYWHERE else in the world if given the option. But the Seal hunt does not make ANY sense to me as a Canadian.
It is a) HORRIFIC for the environment, b) POINTLESS - it's for FUR - the meat is wasted and and discarded, and lastly: C) it is unbelievably inhumane.
These are puppies we - not some country we know nothing about - WE are slaughtering - for FASHION!
I don't think of ANYTHING could be more UN-CANADIAN than that...and if you feel the same way - stand up and DO SOMETHING - grab a sign and join me THIS THURSDAY - TOMORROW - to protest this violent and BLOODY Canadian tradition.

It's free.

All you have to do is care.

I hope to see you there...here's some info:

WHAT: This is an international seal hunt demonstration on both sides of the CANADA-US border to protest
Canada’s seal hunt, the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world. We are inviting people to come out, support the rally, and send a message to the Canadian government that we want the seal hunt to end.

WHEN: Thursday, April 5th., from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for the Canadian demo. (The American demonstration is from 5:00 p.m – 7:00 p.m.)

* In Windsor, the demonstration is located on Park St. across from the CAN-US tunnel exit.
* In Detroit, it is located alongside the Consulate General of Canada on Jefferson St. This is beside the Old Mariner’s Church, in front of the CAN-US tunnel exit.

Signs will be provided, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own signs with messages such as ‘Ban the Seal Hunt,’ ‘Stop the Cruel Killing of Baby Seals,’ etc.

WHY:
1. CRUELTY: Journalists, veterinarians, animal protection agencies have documented, filmed and reported their findings to the Canadian government. There are videos available on web sites.

First of all, this hunt is fixed on killing seal pups. Most are under one month old. They are defenceless and not even able to swim yet. This hunt takes place in the springtime, a few weeks after the birthing period from March until May. The killing involves use guns and hakapiks, a spiked stick repeatedly bashed over the pup’s head. It is a shockingly cruel slaughter.

The hunt shows clear violations of Marine Mammal Regulations and Cruelty Laws.
These include: 1) As many as 42% of pups being skinned while alive
2. seals which are shot and left to suffer and slowly die
3. live seals being dragged by hooks across the ice for long distances

NOT SUSTAINABLE: This is the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world. Over 300,000 seal pups will be killed this year. It is a drastic loss of marine life. Scientists and conservationists are critical of this management plan. At its present numbers, this hunt is not sustainable and could very well endanger the future of the harp seal population. Global warming has already destroyed much of the ice cover in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence resulting in a 90% mortality rate and the death of thousands of young seal pups. Despite the loss of life, the seal hunt will move ahead and target the surviving seal pup population in the Gulf’s northern part and in the Front off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

PLEASE JOIN US IN PROTESTING CANADA’S CRUEL SEAL HUNT

SEAL BABIES

2007-04-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Baby seals are drowning.
The lack of ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has led to a mortality rate for seal pups that could exceed 90%. And yet the cruel hunt to kill baby seals continues.
The Canadian government has announced that 270,000 seals can be taken in this year's hunt. Yet according to the government's own scientists, this number is well above the amount of seals needed to maintain a sustainable population.
Your voice is urgently needed to protest this unnecessary and irresponsible hunt. StoptheSealHunt.org is your number one resource to help these baby seals, 98% of which will be between two weeks and three months old when they are cruelly clubbed or shot.
Surveillance flights are reporting that there are virtually no harp seal pups to be found in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Without ice, mothers are forced to give birth to their pups in the water before they can swim.
In light of these tragic ice conditions, the responsible thing for Canada's government to do would have been to call off this year's seal hunt.
Tragically, the Canadian government continues to put politics ahead of science.
Add your voice along with thousands of others from around the globe to create a unique online community that celebrates your participation in putting an end to this cruel hunt.

1) Act: Visit StoptheSealHunt.org>> http://go.care2.com/e/R7lj/gYjv/xRDH
2) Join: Upload your photo and protest message.
3) Share: View images and comments from other activists around the world.

The new interactive site features a Seal Hunt blog with daily updates from Canada, audio podcasts, and videos and photos from IFAW hunt monitors at the scene of the hunt.
You'll also receive information on how to take action as well as multiple ways to enlist others to support our fight against this inhumane practice.

Vegetarian Heaven at Mi Mi Gardens, Windsor

2007-03-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

Mi Mi Gardens is just TOTALLY INCREDIBLE.
They have an EXTEND-O Vegetarian / Vegan menu that spans LITERALLy two full pages.
Their tofu roll, wrapped in rice paper and filled with rice noodles and tofu - served with a DELICIOUS peanut-thai type sauce, is to die for.
Their spicy Hot and Sour soup (be sure to specify vegetarian) is to die for - and I am one picky kid when it comes to Hot and Sour.
Lemon Tofu with rice, BBQ Mushroom on Rice Noodle Salad, Curry Vegetables with pan fried Vermicelli, Rice stick noodles sauteed w/ onions and bean sprouts -there is SERIOUSLy not a single bad item on this menu!
If you have a carnivorous party - or you're going on a date and you're not sure if the other half of your party eats meat - this is the place...very small inside, but cozy and cute - and trust me - the food is so spectacular you WILL be a returning customer.
Mi Mi Gardens - Vietnamese & Chinese Cuisine - they DO deliver!!
Located at 440 Tecumseh Road East (just off Highland, across from the Lumberjack!).
All dishes can be made with no msg or peanut, if necessary - and they are also known for catering to special diets, like diabetic.
BROWN RICE DISHES available.
call 519-258-1893 for delivery!

SEAL DEMONSTRATION

2007-03-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

SEAL HUNT DEMONSTRATION

WHAT: This is an international seal hunt demonstration on both sides of the CANADA-US border to protest Canada’s seal hunt, the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world. We are inviting people to come out, support the rally, and send a message to the Canadian government that we want the seal hunt to end.

WHEN: Thursday, March 22nd. starting at 4:30 for the Canadian demo. (The American demonstration starts at 4:30 p.m. also.)

* In Windsor, the demonstration is located on Park St. across from the CAN-US tunnel exit.
* In Detroit, it is located across from the Consulate General of Canada on Jefferson St. alongside the Old Mariner’s Church, in front of the CAN-US entrance.

WHY:

CRUELTY: 1) Studies showing that some 42% of seal pups were skinned while alive
1. Video documentary showing seals shot and left to suffer and slowly die
2. Videos of live seals dragged by hooks across the ice for long distances

UNSUSTAINABLE: This is the largest marine mammal slaughter in the world. Over 300,000 seal pups will be killed this year. It is a drastic loss of marine life. Scientists and conservationists are critical of this management plan. At its present numbers, this hunt is not sustainable and could very well endanger the future of the harp seal population.

NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE: Less than one-half of one percent of Newfoundland’s economy is generated by the hunt, and sealers earn less than 5% of annual income from hunt, yet global opposition to the seal hunt has already cost fisheries $350 million in lost snow crab exports to the U.S.

RISK TO CANADA’S REPUTATION: Intense opposition to the seal hunt expressed in protests around the world. Politically, a number of countries have introduced resolutions calling on Canada to end the seal hunt or have introduced legislation banning the import and sale of harp seal products.

PLEASE JOIN US IN PROTESTING CANADA’S CRUEL SEAL HUNT

Attention All Vegetable-atarians!

2007-03-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Windsor and Detroit people - there is an upcoming event which will probably interest anyone remotely interested in vegetarianism and what not.
It's in honour of a VERY special day:
MEAT OUT DAY!
Even if you aren't a vegetarian - how bout you do it for ONE DAY and help the world out in extending a great big "F-YOU" towards every company and every person who has not yet adopted "humane" methods in "manufactoring" food.

Hell - you might end up becoming a convert yourself - and join the rest of us tofu-shovelling hippies in the cult of vegetarianism.
I assure you though - it's not that bad.

Here's some info on the event:

WINDSOR-ESSEX VEGETARIAN SOCIETY

Presents a lecture

On the
ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL

MEAT-OUT DAY

By
Dr. Harshad Joshi

Followed by
Dinner ($6.00)

Saturday, March 24th, 2007, 5:30-8:30 PM

Optimist Community Center
1075 Ypres, Windsor

For information call
776-4796, 254-3504
250-7693

Admission Free

Hope to see some of you there,

laters,

Dan

NOT Proud to be Canadian...when it comes to the Seal Hunt.

2007-03-17T22:46:00.000-07:00

The LARGEST slaughter of marine mammals on EARTH - happens in Canada with the annual Seal Hunt.
Not a proud moment for this Canadian.

Last year, our peace-loving government permitted the slaughter of more than 330,000 harp seals.
These beautiful baby animals - all usually under 3 months of age are shot or repeatedly clubbed during this horrific "Canadian Tradition".
Sealers bludgeon the animals with clubs and “hakapiks” (clubs with metal hooks on their ends) and drag the seals—who are still conscious—across the ice floes with boat hooks. An estimated 42 percent of the animals are skinned alive. Hunters toss dead and dying seals into heaps and leave their carcasses to rot on the ice floes because there is no market for seal meat. Veterinarians who have investigated the hunt have found that hunters routinely fail to comply with Canada’s animal welfare standards.
It is legal in Canada to kill seal pups when they are about 12 days old. Many seals killed in last years hunt had not yet learned how to swim or eaten their first solid meals. Baby seals are helpless and have no way to escape from the sealers’ clubs.
These are puppies being slaughtered.
PUPPIES. In this country.
There is NO MARKET FOR SEAL MEAT.
This is a HUNT that is based SOLELY on FASHION - for their fur.
The sealing industry claims that it is killing more seals because of an increased demand for fur. Although the U.S. banned the sale of seal fur in 1972, anyone wearing the fur of minks, rabbits, foxes, or any other kind of animal is responsible for creating a demand for fur, which pushes Canadian hunters to club more seals each year.
Click here to help stop the slaughter.
Please tell everyone you know about Canada’s cruel slaughter of baby seals and urge them to contact the Canadian government. Forward this page to a friend.
We live in the year 2007.
We do not need fur to keep warm any more than we need fur as a status symbol.
We need to tell "rich" people that fur only makes them look STUPID.
Disgusting.
IDIOTIC.
Cruel. Inhumane.
FUR is not a status symbol - unless you want your status to read "Heartless ASSHOLE".
Canada is NOT benefitting from this HORRIBLE tradition.
Seals are peaceful, sweet creatures - and although there is a plethora of HORRIFIC seal hunt pictures - I chose to post this picture - which I feel captures the essence and beauty and peacefulness of this hunted animal.
Seriously - no one can justify this practice.
It's cruel - any way you slice it - and no matter what kind of market we are in - no one can justify profit off suffering or killing for something as trivial as fashion.
You disappoint me, Canada.
Please do anything you can - this is one part of a heritage we need to disown.

Peace,

Dan

FLAMING TIPS: Vegan Candles?!?!?!?!

2007-03-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

When I first started looking into veganism - I was shocked at all the surprising places animal by-product showed up.
For example: Candles.
And it's more than just the beeswax (stolen from industrious bees' hives) that make most candles a vegan no-no.

Many candles are also made with tallow (a slaughterhouse product derived from beef or sheep fat), and cetyl palmitate, a waxy oil taken from sperm whales' heads or from dolphins.
How insane is that!?!
Seriously - WHY? Why must there be animal product in something as simple as a candle?
I don't get it.
So - below is a list of companies that sell "Vegan" candles - usually made with soy wax. Just check them out - and think about it the next time you light your favourite candle - what (or WHO) it is you are REALLY burning....

Artistic Candle Company
1-877-557-4940 (fax)
customerservice@artisticcandleco.com
www.artisticcandleco.com

Barn Loft Soy Candles 574-643-2500

barnloftcandles@Lneti.com
www.barnloftcandles.com

The Candle Bakery
mailto:Bakeryinfo@thecandlebakery.com
www.thecandlebakery.com

Different Daisy 740-820-3146
differentdaisy@yahoo.com
www.differentdaisy.com

Ethical Wares (UK) +44 1570 471 155
mailto:155vegans@ethicalwares.com
www.ethicalwares.com

The Flame Candleworks Company, Inc. 568-944-5651 1-877-944-5651mailto:1-877-944-5651chakrarose@earthlink.net
www.theflamecandleworks.com

Good Humans 831-420-0118mailto:831-420-0118feedback@goodhumans.com
www.goodhumans.com

Greenridge Herbals1-866-250-HERB
greenridgeherbals@hotmail.com

www.greenridgeherbals.com

Hanna’s Candles 1-888-242-6627

sales@hannascandles.com

www.hccbrands.com

Kiss My Face 1-800-262-KISS

www.kissmyface.com

Lamplight Farms 1-800-328-7717

sales@lamplightfarms.com

www.lamplightfarms.com

NaturaLights Candle Boutiques 1-800-774-0104

www.naturalights.com

Natural Soy Scented Candles 830-896-3221830-792-3221

kim@natural-soy-scented-candles.com

www.natural-soy-scented-candles.com

Nature’s Gifts, Inc. 1-877-464-4929

info@ngiwax.com

www.ngiwax.com

Pangea Vegan Products 1-800-340-1200

www.veganstore.com

Pier 1 Imports 1-800-245-4595

www.pier1.com

Rudgewick Candles (UK) +44 01543 428 882

Sensia 1-800-777-8027

customerservice@sensia.com

www.sensia.com

Soy Candle Works1-800-470-4061

www.soycandleworks.com

Soy Scentsations440-260-9708

sales@shelbydistributing.com

www.shelbydistributing.com/soycandles.htm

Tulalit.com custserv@tulalit.com

www.tulalit.com

Vegan Essentials 414-607-19531-866-88-VEGAN

www.veganessentials.com

The Vegan Store (UK)+44 1273 302 979

imailto:information@veganstore.co.uk

http://www.veganstore.co.uk/

Bad News means Good News

2007-03-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

Well folks,

Since we last spoke, which was back in early December of 2006 - I am happy to report that I have remained 100% vegan!
YAY! YAY! APPLAUSE SOUND! APPLAUSE SOUND!
Perhaps everything DOES happen for a reason..who knows...but just after the ball dropped in Times Square NY and 2007 paraded its purrrty face in like a storm of confetti and glitter - my gallbladder exploded and had to be removed.
This forced me on a VERY low-fat diet for QUITE a while, and franky - after doing that - veganism feels easier than ever, which rocks.
Here's the secret: Just don't buy non-vegan shit!
Done!
If you don't buy ANY non-vegan food...then there is NOTHING in the house you CANNOT EAT!! An entire WORLD of possiblity opened up.
okay, I'm being a little stupid now.
But seriously - the whole point of this blog was my struggle with becoming vegan...and perhaps i am speaking too soon...but something is different now.
It's just...easier. It just...is.
Period.
Go figure.
At any rate, rather than continue on about my struggles with being a vegan - I am going to shift the content of this blog more on animal activism, insteresting articles about current issues regarding animal rights - and maybe cover some of the demonstrations that take place in and around Windsor - Detroit.

Look forward to reading me!

Dan

Holiday Prep Time

2006-12-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

Hey Peoples...

I'm LONG overdue right now in the blogging department.

But with the holidays coming, part of me can't help but long for one of my OLD favorite non-vegetarian dishes: Gravy.

Mind you - I then immediately think of what it is made of and trust me - it's the last shit I want to pour on my CREAMY potatoes...

Hmm...CREAMY potatoes...

Yeah, I miss those too.

So, and I know I touched down on this in the Thanksgiving spot - I fished up a little recipe that I am promising to try before Christmas time.

This way - if it works - I can bring it to my mom and dad's place, for xmas din-din.

As a sidenote - that's a really tough aspect that you don't usually hear about with regard to vegetarianism - your friends and family.

Suddenly, it makes the idea of a potluck...a bit of a stumbling block.

Does this mean your friends now have to bring things you CAN eat??

Does this mean mom has to scramble to make something OTHER than turkey for your holiday feast??

Horrid.

And no - it doesn't, at least not for me.

In fact - I feel like I'm being annoying sometimes....that awkward feeling you get when someone says: "I just made some DELICIOUS turkey chili...i can't wait for you to try it!!" and then you see the disappointment in their face sink in and they're like: "Wait...you can't have any...shit..." as they think desperately of what ELSE they can whip up for you on a second's notice.

Crappy, horrible feeling. And I hope to NEVER EVER make anyone feel this way - that they have to go out of their way to accomodate me. I hate that.

And - if you any of you out there HAVE any vegetarian friends - and you DO feel like you wanna make something...hey - this might help you out for the OTHER side of awkwardness!!!

Vegan Mashed Potatoes and Gravy...

5 large potatoes, diced

1 cup liquid nondairy creamer (try Silk brand)

2 Tbsp. margarine1/4 cup fresh chives,

choppedSalt and pepper, to taste

• Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. • Drain the potatoes, place in a bowl with the remaining ingredients, and mix until smooth.• Serve hot.

Makes 4 to 5 servings

GRAVY:

2 cups boiling water

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

3 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

1 vegetable bouillon cube

1/2 cup fresh mushrooms,

diced1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

Onion salt, to taste

Unbleached all-purpose flour

• In a large saucepan, simmer all ingredients except the flour for approximately 5 minutes.• Slowly add the flour by tablespoons, whisking after each addition, until the desired thickness is reached.• Keep warm. Preparation time: 10 minutes

While I am still not COMPLETELY sold on the idea of Soy in potatoes...I think the gravy sounds delicious. I always preferred non-meat gravy anyway...to think it's made with the fat that is cooked off an animal...yuck.

So nasty.

So there you have it folks...mashed potatoes and gravy - Vegan Style.

No harder than the regular versions, which use animal product.

Pretty much the exact same deal.

I'll keep you posted - and if anyone tries any of these - let me know!!

dan

Veganize: An Update on Stumbling Blocks

2006-11-13T21:04:00.000-08:00

I've been a pretty good vegan lately.
I realized today that I have not eaten an egg or drank milk directly since I began this little delve into veganism.
Do I miss either?
Fuck no.
I was never much of a fan of milk to begin with. I only really drank it in tea, coffee or cereal...but soy milk is the perfect substitute for me.
It serves the purpose milk did, that's all I care about.
Eggs...I loved LOVED LOVED eggs.
With a passion.
Do I miss them?
At first I did.
The smell of scrambled eggs made my mouth water.
The heavenly scent of two round orange and white globes frying on a buttered frying pan made me wet myself with excitement and anticip...ation.
Present day: fuck no.
I realize that I do not need eggs - directly anyway.
indirectly...that's another story.
I HAVE had pieces of cake on a birthday.
This contains both eggs and milk.
I have had a timbit here and there.
It's hard to remove myself from food - when the bad food is not in a whole form.
This is my biggest struggle.
Wait, correction.
Cheese, is my biggest struggle.
While I do my best - I buy only vegan cheese, soy cheese, rice cheese for sandwiches or veggie burgers...I skip cheese on pasta, I stopped eating macaroni and cheese and I even avoid cheesecake....so help me...when midnight rolls around, and I'm baked off my ass w/ the munchies and someone comes up w/ the bright idea of ordering a vegetarian pizza...and that sucker comes and i can see the strands of melted cheese hanging off it like little luscious droopy fingers saying "come hither ...come hither.."
So help me, I blow my vegan diet to fuck and indulge in that shit.
Cheese is hard, especially on pizza.
Now I'm not saying I am perfect.
I still have so much to learn.
Here is what is important to me: I try.
I try every single DAY.
And I realize that every single time I take a bite of that timbit, or that vegetarian pizza with mozzarella....I realize EXACTLY what I am doing and I don't fool ANYONE, including myself.
I may have stopped wearing leather belts and shoes...and I may have stopped eating dairy and eggs directly...and I may buy vegan cheese and avoid anything with mozzarella or say "no cheddar" on my veggie subs... but I am FAR from being a FULL VEGAN with my current menu. Some of it is a learning process...some of it is weakness.... But I am trying, on a DAILY BASIS to rid myself of ALL animal product consumption and I find concentrating on what I AM doing helps me make less slip ups.
It's like an addict....one day at a time.
Reading really helps...animal rights meetings really help but they are just so difficult to get to because they begin at 5pm on Mondays.
I work until 5 - and to make it that much more difficult I have my radio show at 7pm...so it's just nearly impossible to get there.
But it helps being around like-minded people...and I made a promise to myself - that I am ONLY going to work towards CUTTING BACK...never adding on.
And the good thing - I haven't broken that promise yet.
Knock on wood...

Dan

Absolutely Incredible

2006-10-18T05:37:00.000-07:00

This story is pretty amazing...it's incredible what we can learn from animals - especially our pets - who obviously, love us more than they even love themselves.
I think there's a message for EVERYONE in this story, for real...

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (AP) -- After a disabled woman's cat started a house fire, her specially trained dog came to the rescue, then died trying unsuccessfully to rescue the cat.
Jamie Hanson said her 13-year-old dog Jesse brought her artificial leg and a phone she used to call 911.
"She got me outside and then she heard the cat upstairs and she went up there to get the cat, and she wouldn't come back to me," Hanson, 49, said at a news conference Monday at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center, where she was being treated for her injuries.
She received third-degree arm burns in the fire Sunday night at her home in Rhine, south of Elkhart Lake. Both pets died.
Hanson, who lost a leg in a car accident three years ago, said she was on the couch watching television when the cat ran over the back of the couch.
"And he jumped onto a table that had a candle on it and tipped it over and lighted the artificial plants on fire," she said.
Hanson said she fell off the couch and was unable to get her artificial leg from the table, "so my dog got my leg for me and went and got the phone and brought the phone to me so I could call 911."

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Alternatives

2006-10-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

Okie Smokie Folkies...
So - now that we established in my last post that Turkey = The Dark Lord of Satanic Hell, I thought I might lighten up this most morbid blog with a few "Well what the fuck are we supposed to eat on Thanksgiving" day tips - that I found easily enough on the internet (and through my own grocery store purusal since becoming meat-free.

I think the first thing that immeidately comes to my mind when I think of meat-free alternatives for turkey, would be - the obvious: Tofurky.
It's basically a LARGE lump of tofu, tamari, and then usual garlic, rosemary, olive oil flavourings we've grown to LOVE about turkey.
You can roast it up with veggies and TA-DAH!!!
Turkey Dinner.
Ahem..I mean, Tofurky dinner.
Except...Tofurky gets some not-so-decent reviews from many people.
Personally - I have yet to taste an actual Torfurky.
I do buy the lunch meat occaisionally - mostly for convenience - it's easy to slap a few pieces of psuedo lunch meat between two pieces of bread and squirt some mustard and/or NAYonaise on it and call it "Lunch".
I don't mind the taste.
But - I've always liked the taste of tofu and soy...so perhaps I'm a bad person to ask.
What if you find Tofurky disgusting? Or even the meer THOUGHT of tofu makes you wanna gag just like you did back when your mom forced you to choke back Cream of Wheat when you were a kid?
Well....I've done some research, mainly to help out with my own family because I think my mom might be a bit stumped on what to do for Thanksgiving Din Din this year seeing that her only son has recently come out of the closet as a...vegetarian/wannabe vegan.
This is for you, mummy...
Let's start with what can be kept:
I think my two favorite things about Thanksgiving Dinner - are mashed potatoes and gravy.
Both - not vegan.
Gravy - not even vegetarian.
However, I have come to learn that you CAN still make creamy mashed potatoes with Soy milk - BUT - Rice milk will make them taste EVEN better.
ANd of course - add all the garlic you want.
And as for the gravy...
Believe it or not there are many packaged gravy's you can buy out there that have absolutely NO traces of beef, chicken or turkey fat or bi-product.
It does not taste the EXACT same - but - when poured over creamy mashed potatoes - it WILL
satisfy that craving.
As a butter alternative - use soft, melted garlic cloves instead ...after you've tasted THOSE on potatoes, you want wanna go back!!
Or - you could always cook small red potatoes - which are softer than baked potatoes and pour the faux-gravy over those..
Of course - freshly, baked yams are always a treat as well...

Stuffed butternut squash is another main course substitute for Turkey.
Roast the squash until it's almost done and then stuff it with quinoa or wild rice that's mixed with dried fruits, mustard powder and brown sugar. Then leave the stuffed squash in the oven till it browns and the sugar has melted into a glaze over the stuffing. This makes for a MEGA delicious and completely VEGAN main course - and I guarantee it will have your house smelling JUST as holiday-esque as any dead bird roasting in your oven will.

Some people I've talked to say it is best to skip the main course altogether.
That there IS NOT a good substitute for a bird - so why not just AXE the damn thing right out of the holiday tradition - PERMANENTLY and concentrate on making more savory and traditional side dishes - with a vegan twist!
For example, green bean cassarole, roasted carrots and potatoes, garlic squash, spaghetti squash (a personal favorite of mine), an autumn medly salad - with dark greens, cranberries, walnuts and a tangy sauce, or maybe a pumpkin soup or steamed spinach.
Stuffing can be made with whole wheat bread crumbs, the usual seasoning and vegetable boullion - and tastes EVERY BIT as good as regular stuffing (normally found shoved up a turkey's twat).
Barbecued corn on the cob is always a DELICIOUS TREAT - ANY time of the year - as are spicey stewed tomatoes - which also serve as a DELICOUIS gravy alternative on mashed potatoes.
And of course - the usual dill pickles, olives, raw cucumber and carrot sticks make great munchies to go along with dinner.
And - if you are stuck on having a main course - a vegetarian lasagna is ALWAYS a great alternative. Everyone love lassagna - and usually, the meat is NOT missed if it's done right.
Of course, being vegan and enjoying a lassagna do not go hand in hand all that comfortably...but - at your local Zehrs market - if you go in the health food section - I've seen VEGAN LASSAGNAs sold - so they are out there (and they are surprisingly good).
You can use a soy based cottage cheese instead of the rocotta - and it is seriously JUST AS GOOD.

Another great main course is stuffed Zucchini.
Stuff them with whole wheat bread crumbs, garlic cloves, soy margerine, your favourite combo of herbs, garlic salt, nuts, onions, maybe even some cranberry - and roast 'em up!!
One of my favourite lines about cooking was from the show Six Feet Under. "Cooking is alchemey."
It is!!! Fuck it! Stuff it with what you WANT!!!
Make it YOUR OWN!
Go nuts! Great creative! Choose what you stuff it with based on smell and colour!! You'll know when to stop! Regardless...I think these are some DAANG tastey alternatives to a traditional HOliday dinner - without even straying too far from the "Tradition" part.
I found all of these in about two seconds off the internet - and none of them have weird ingredients. They all have easy to follow directions (no harder than cooking a fucking turkey, anyway!) and you can find any and all of it at any supermarket.
And remember - when in doubt - lentils, beans, legumes and RICE are FAIL SAFE!!!

So on that tastey note...
bonne appetetite...mon vegetarians...

Dan.

"NO THANKS" to ButterBall Thanksgiving Turkeys

2006-09-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me a few days ago: "Don't you MISS eating meat?"

Maybe last February, I may have answered "A bit..."

Perhaps I have re-programmed myself...perhaps I have been re-programmed...regardless - I can no longer see chunks of meat as food.

I see it as pieces of a dead animal.

For real.

Something that was once alive, was killed, and then had pieces of it chopped off from its cadaver and presented as "edible".

GROSS. Seriously.

Someone asked me yesterday what my plans for Thanksgiving are.

"You're AT LEAST going to have turkey on Thanksgiving, right?"

Uh...no.

Then I started thinking about all the turkeys who are dying - or getting ready to die - a HORRIBLE death - right at this very second for that exact day.
It sucks to be a turkey on thanksgiving.
It's a mass slaughter - HOLOCAUST for Turkeys on thanksgiving - and I think this is a tradition we need to END for real.
WE buy turkeys because we are SUPPOSED to.
In truth - it's just the dead body of a bird - plopped on a plate with a bunch of bread crumbs and spices shoved up her fucking twat.
Appetizing anyone?
Barf.

Yet - we buy it because "everyone buys turkey on thanksgiving".
Why??

For real - why not make it a fucking day of grace - and show the ANIMALS who FEED US a little thanks by deciding to NOT EAT ANY OF THEM on that day.
Give thanksgiving BACK to the chickens and turkeys and pigs we love to mass slaughter around this most "thankful" time of year.

I know that won't fly well with everyone - so at least - if you ARE going to buy a turkey...don't buy it from Butterball.
Here's why:
(from peta.org)
Butterball workers were documented punching and stomping on live turkeys, slamming them against walls, and worse during an undercover investigation at a Butterball slaughterhouse in Ozark, Arkansas.
One Butterball employee stomped on a bird's head until her skull exploded, another swung a turkey against a metal handrail so hard that her spine popped out, and another was seen inserting his finger into a turkey's cloaca (vagina).
One worker told an investigator: "If you jump on their stomachs right, they'll pop ... or their insides will come out of their [rectums]," and other Butterball workers frequently bragged about kicking and tormenting birds.
PETA's investigators discovered these horrors between April and July, 2006, during an undercover investigation at a Butterball plant that slaughters approximately 50,000 birds each day.
Butterball turkeys are killed using a process that involves hanging live birds by their legs, shocking them in an electrified bath of water so that they become paralyzed (though they still feel pain), slitting their throats, and then running them through a tank of scalding-hot water for defeathering.
Because Butterball's current slaughter method gives workers access to live birds, the animals often suffer when workers become frustrated or bored and desensitized, as was the case at this Butterball plant and the other poultry plants that PETA has investigated.

See...this shit makes me so sad and frustrated that we are supporting this TORTURE still.

It's NOT FUCKING RIGHT.
DO NOT SUPPORT BUTTERBALL.

The workers are probably under-paid and fucking psychotic with rage and confusion and desensitization from seeing 50,000 birds slain a day.
Evil breeds evil in my opinion.

A turkey is a beautiful, MAGNIFICENT, bird and we have NO FUCKING RIGHT to do this to them. IT IS NOT RIGHT. Read the above article again. Read it again. Read it again.

Seriously.

Who would WANT to support that?

The one thing I'm thankful for this year:

I stopped being a slave to the meat industry.

Dan

COOOL VEGETARIANS

2006-09-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of some of the coolest vegetarians I know of...feel free to add any to the list:

Albert Einstein,
Alice Walker
Alicia Silverstone, vegan
Allen Ginsberg, poet
Ally Sheedy, actress
Alyssa Milano, actress
Amy Ray, musician from Indigo Girls
Andre 3000, vegan, from OutKast
Angela Bassett, actress
Angie Everhart
Annie Lennox
Anthony Kiedis, singer of Red Hot Chili Peppers
Belinda Carlisle, singer of the Go-Go's
Bernadette Peters,
Bill Maher,
Billie Jean King
Billie Joe Armstrong,
Bob Dylan,
Bob Marley,
Bonnie Raitt,
Boy George,
Bruce Springsteen,
Charles Darwin
Chrissie Hynde,
Christena Appelgate,
Christie Brinkley,
Cyndi Lauper,
Conor Oberst (vegan, bright eyes)
Darryl Hannah,
Demi Moore, vegan*
Doris Day, actress
Dwight Yoakam,
Eddie Vedder,
Elizabeth Berkley,
Elvira
Elvis Costello
Emily Dickinson
Emmylou Harris
Eric Stoltz
Erkyah Badu
Fiona Apple, singer
Gandhi
George Harrison
Grace Slick
Gwyneth Paltrow
H. G. Wells,
Ian McKellan
India Arie,
James Cromwell,
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jane Goodall,
Jane Wiedlin, musician of the Go-Go's
JD Salinger
Jeff Beck
Joan Baez
Joaquin Phoenix
John Lennon,
Johnny Cash,
Kate Bush
K D Lang, singer
Kim Basinger,
LaToya Jackson,
Leonard Cohen,
Leonardo Da Vinci,
Linda Blair
Linda Carter
Linda McCartney,
Lisa Bonet,
Lisa Kudrow,
Mark Twain,
Martha Plimpton,
Mary Shelley,
Mary Tyler Moore,
Meatloaf,
Melissa Etheridge,
Michael Stipe,
Morrissey,
Natalie Merchant,
Natalie Portman,
Nina Hagen,
Pamela Anderson,
Paul McCartney,
Percy Bysshe Shelley,
Peter Gabriel,
Peter Tork,
Pete Wentz,
PJ Harvey,
Plato,
Prince,
Reese Witherspoon,
Ricki Lake,
Ringo Starr,
River Phoenix,
Rivers Cuomo,
Rosa Parks,
Ru Paul,
Sade,
Sadie Frost
Sandra BernHart,
Shane MacGowan,
Sinead O'Connor,
Sir Isaac Newton,
Stella McCartney,
Steve Martin, not vegetarian- eats shellfish
Suzanne Vega,
Tea Leoni*
Thom Yorke,
Thora Birch
Tracy Chapman,
Vincent van Gogh,
"Weird" Al Yankovic,
Wendy O'Williams, singer of Plasmatics
William Blake,
Woody Harrelson, vegan
Yoko Ono.

some of my favorite artists for real!!! SOO COOL!

The Politics of Meat

2006-08-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

There was a woman waaay the heck back - who published a piece of work called The Vindication of the Rights of Women. Her name was Mary Wollstonecraft and she's looked at today as one of the forerunners of the feminist movement.
Back then - she was patted on the head and looked at as an IDIOT with BIG DREAMS - but full of nonsense.
"Stupid woman...to THINK for a MOMENT that your SPECIES feels pain, or is capable of hurt - or capable of ANYTHING other than GIVING US MEN PLEASURE. You dumb, silly, stupid, dreaming woman. Very cute that you actually wrote something...but let's face it honey...we both know those words you wrote really don't make much sense, do they?"
Her view - and the feminist view that women were not only NOT doormats, but were actually INTELLIGENT humans worthy of more than bearing children or making for a good punching bag - were made fun of.
A man published an essay in RESPONSE to her Vindication - called "A Vindication of the Rights of Brutes" - which was meant to refute her stance - and parody it.
He compared feminist notions and the "idea" of equal rights for women to the likes of giving rights to barnyard animals. He basically said EACH instance was EQUALLY ridiculous.
Saying "What next?? Equal rights for a DOG?!?!? A horse...? A CHICKEN??? Give me a BREAK!!!!" As he dipped a dead chicken wing in hot sauce (which his wife prepared for him) and tore flesh from the bone.
Of course - this seems ludicurous now...but what will our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and the millions of people who will come AFTER us think of the way we treat animals today?
Vegetarianism IS EVOLUTION. And that's it.
Just as the on-going fights with racism, sexism, homophobia and countless other "phobia" and "isms" which for some reason, seem to have society by the very shrivelled testes - we need to END THIS.
Of course - no one is fighting for a dog's right to VOTE.
A dog, cannot vote.
Just as no man would ever fight for his right to have an abortion.
A man, cannot have an abortion.
But an animal - lives. Feels pain. And - is a BEING.
An animal does not LIVE to serve any other purpose - except live.
We forget that a piece of veal is months and months of starvation and suffering.
We forget that when the the slaughtering knife comes closer - the cow cries and cringes with WIDE and TERRIFIED EYES - unable to CALCULATE what is about to happen to it.
People at my work say this is not true.
It is.
When ANYTHING is being STABBED - I don't care if you are a HUMAN, a PUPPY or a fucking ELEPHANT - YOU KNOW YOU ARE BEING STABBED.
When something is being CARVED UP ALIVE - this is TORTURE.
It's not our RIGHT as humans.
It is not "part of the food chain".
It's suffering. Torture. Pain for our gain.
THAT is NOT "serving a purpose".
It is us - enslaving it and torturing it.
We are COMPLETELY disassociated with what we eat.
This is a problem.
We see a cow as a cow. And we see a burger as a burger.
The two are seperated.
Now I know I still have SO MUCH to learn about this - about the politics of meat, the devastating effects factory farming has on our environment, the ACCEPTED INSENSITIVITY for our ANIMALS who own this PLANET JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE THAN US.
And sadly, this insensitivity is instilled INTO US SINCE BIRTH.
Personally, I don't think ANYONE will ever fully grasp how big it is.
But we have a SIMPLE CHOICE:
Eat animals - Or don't.

We have to learn that there is NO SUCH THING as "meat".

"Meat" is a dead animal, packaged up in a pretty pink bow.
"Meat" is a manufactured word - manufactored by people who want to manufactor animals and hush the SCREAMS of the animals burning in tight-fitting cages.
"Meat" is a made up "IDEA" that SUFFERING is merely a part of the food chain, something we are dependent on, a STAPLE to a healthy diet.
"Meat" is a nicer way of saying "Dead Animal" - a more appetizing way of saying "Freshly slaughtered", a polite way of describing a friendly and peaceful creature who was gutted, skinned and bled to death.
Meat is 3 million animals killed EVERY SINGLE HOUR OF EVERY SINGLE DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SO THEY CAN GIVE US PLEASURE.
So we can have our Barbecues.
So we can sprinkle chicken on our caesar salads.
So we can microwave chicken pot pies and say "Oh my...I REALLY like this recipe...how did you get the meat so tender - it just SLIDES right off the bone!!.." - "oh...I soak it in oil and slow cook it for 8 hours."
Animals are NOT ours to take, capture, torture, starve or eat.
Rabbits, animals, dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, turkeys, cows, pigs, buffalo, shark, fish, salmon, are sandwich filler, frozen dinners, processed lunch meat, concentration camp VICTIMS.
Cramped, dirty, bleeding, infected and INSANE with FURIOUS RAGE and HELPLESSNESS from what we do to them - what we ARE doing to them right now.
Sound familiar? Sound ridiculous? Sound absurd?

Women, jews, gays, blacks - we were ALL there and we STILL haven't fucking recovered.

"What next?" writer Thomas Taylor asked in A Vindication of the Rights of Brutes, "Equal rights for LOWLY animals?"

Well, Mr. Taylor - YES.

Exactly that. Except they were NEVER "lowly".

They were only ever beautiful. And WE made them our slaves.

It's THEIR TURN FOR A REAL SHOT AT LIBERATION.

PLEASE

STOP

EATING

MEAT.

VIVA LA BANANA!!!!

2006-08-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

My sister recently sent me an article about the mysterious, the whacky, the WEIRDO of ALL FRUITS - The Banana!!
Since I was a kid, I've loved bananas - and I make sure that not a single visit to the grocery store goes without a visit to my fine potassium-drenched friends.
Hey - if they are good enough for the monkies - they are good enough for MOI!!
Now, apart from the convenience, the delicious taste and the versatility of the banana - I didn't really know much about these babies.
Until now.
Now - my most FIERCE suspicions are confirmed: The Banana is TRUELY a BANAN-TASTIC FRUIT - and has so many purposes...I kinda feel like a sixth grader in LOVE for the very first time....
Did you know, bananas can help out people suffering from the following...

Anemia -- Because of their high iron content, bananas have the ability to stimulate hemoglobin production in the bloodstream.

Bone Mass Decay In Salt Eaters - Some science guy found out that "The potassium [found in bananas] appears to counteract the bad effects of high-salt diets by preventing bones from decaying at a fast rate."
FUCK YOU, Osteoperosis!! BANANAS GOT MY BACK, BITCH!

Constipation - If you're blocked up, stick a banana in your ass and hold it there for like, 10 seconds.
Just kidding.
Stick it in your mouth. The banana's high fiber content helps to restore normal bowel function. It also contain pectin, a water-absorbing nutrient which aids in firming your stool. Mind you - I've never had a problem in this category - in fact - this might work AGAINST me. ANyone know of a fruit that WON'T make you shit like a madman? Contact me.

Depression - Like turkey, bananas contain tryptophan, a protein that converts to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is instrumental in facilitating relaxation. Low levels of serotonin are believed to cause mood disorders including depression.
In ENGLISH - bananas make you happy.
At least, they make me happy. And that's all that matters.

High Blood Pressure - The Canadian Food and Drug Association or whatever they fuck they are called actually ALLOWS the banana industry to make official claims that bananas reduce the risk of blood pressure problems.

Nervousness - Bananas are high in the B-complex vitamins, which are known to have a calming effect on the nervous system. And for real - sometimes I'll be at my computer all pissed off about something - not being able to write, not being able to learn a song on bass...or download a song on bass..whatever. I'll have a banana: All life's mysteries and problems are INSTANTLY SOLVED.

Strokes -- Strokes frighten me. Not that I do anything that could induce a stroke..but still..the very idea...*shiver*.
A study of 5,600 people revealed that those with the lowest intakes of potassium were 50% more likely to suffer a stroke. "THEY" say, that adding a banana to your regular diet can cut the risk of death by stoke by as much as 40%.

Ugliness - The Body Shop uses some 250,000 bananas each year in the manufacture of its beauty products. In Central America, mashed bananas are used to relieve dry skin. Other homespun banana beauty treatments include exfoliating masks (blend mashed bananas with cosmetic clay), hair conditioner (combine mashed banana with a few drops of almond oil) and hand moisturizing lotion (mash a banana with 2 pats of butter).

Hangovers - So help me god. I woke up one morning after a night of downtown bru-ha-ha and, putting it bluntly - I felt like I spent the night absorbing punches to my stomach and head. I was still a fucking mess and in NO shape to go to work. All I could muster to intake were two glasses of britta water, and a good ole banana. On my way to work, i found myself cranking the car radio and tapping my foot with the window rolled down. "HOLY FUCK!" I explained, beaming ear-to-ear. "I feel FUCKIN' GREAT!"
Thank you, mister banana.

Heart burn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. I'm a big sufferer of heartburn...I pop tums like they're lifesavers...and I must say, since I started eating bananas on a weekly basis - I haven't had so much as a fire-burp. No more pepto and tums for me :)

Morning Sickness: I can't really vouch for this one - and I'll never be able to PERSONALLY try it out - but they say that snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. And if "morning sickness" is anything like "morning hangover sickness" - I can SURE attest to that working!

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. I gotta try this.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. How "cool" is that?

Temperature control: Speaking of temperature...Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. Since I will never be an expectant mother - or father - I found this summer - mowing down a banana really DID help me keep cool. Don't ask but it worked.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan. Again - bananas make ya HAPPY!!!

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Unfortunately - LIFE PARTNER - who DETESTS bananas - will never realize this benefit and will have to do it the hard way :(

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that, if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart,with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! Fuck - use duct tape if you want. My dad did! He didn't use the banana - but I know if I EVER get a wart again - i'm gonna bananasize that bitch STRAIGHT OUTTA MY LIFE!!

So there you have it peoples....go BANANAS with the info I've just relayed and don't thank me...thank your big yellow buddy - the banana.

He just wants to help us. Let's treat him kindly.

night,

Dan

FUCK FUR FUCK FUR FUCK FUR

2006-08-21T17:44:00.001-07:00

I was tricked today. I was on the VERY popular youtube.com and was looking up whacky videos of Anna Nicole Smith. Just because.
I heard she did a PETA add for anti-fur.
It was very cool.
A play on Marilyn Monroe's Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend video - from the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes film.
The theme was "Gentlemen Prefer Fur-Free Blondes" - and I couldn't agree more.
Fake fur is JUST as nice as real fur.
Actually, no. That's wrong.
Fake fur is TEN TIMES *NICER* - in EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD - than real fur.
Anyway - I was watching this video - and suddenly - it switched to a mink farm.
I shut it off after 10 seconds because at first I had no idea what I was looking at.
I immediately BURST into tears.
If no one has ever seen a fur factory - I do NOT advise it.
But - perhaps you should.
When it comes to FUCKED UP SADISTIC BULLSHIT LIKE THIS - IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS.
How this is legal..is fucking beyond me.
These animals CRY and are left to squirm in IGONY while they are HUNG FROM THEIR EARS.
There is NOTHING - and I mean NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING humane about fur.
NOTHING.
It is fucking GOD DAMN REPULSIVE.
It is clothing - BRED IN PAIN.
Clothing TAILORED IN SHEER SUFFERING - and not just "slaughter-house suffering".
They should be so lucky.
This is slow, agonizing TORTUROUS suffering.

It is nothing ANYONE should see - but most importantly - nothing ANYONE should EVER fucking have to endure - so some person can show off a fucking status symbol.
People who wear fur and flaunt fur - need to be BOOED.
I don't care if you go home and eat a steak dinner.
I don't care if you eat chicken wings.
I don't care if fry up fish and poor vinegar on them and serve them with french fries.
But FUR is FUCKING HORRIBLE.
I stopped wearing my leather belt, my leather watch and my leather shoes as well.
But fur.
Fur is just fucking EVIL.
Rather than post disgusting and gross pictures of US classy humans torturing these beasts so their skins can make a cameo in a J-Lo video, I instead decided to post pictures my friend Danielle sent me.
Two animals - who are gentle - probably two of the most GENTLE creatures in the world - who are preyed upon by us for two RIDICULOUS purposes:
FUR and SPORT.
These are trophy animals.
To shoot a deer...makes you a fucking man.
You get a pat on the back.
You're on of the boys - for WHAT?!
Because you pulled out a gun, dressed up like a fucking piece of white trash GI JOE with your rich fucking office buddies and fucking snuck up on a sweet and KIND timid dear and SHOT IT when it couldn't even see you?!?!
Fucking cowards. Fucking Cowards. Fucking Cowards.
These creatures have NEVER done ANYTHING but set an example of how EACH OF US should be living our lives:
In harmony.
Peacefully.
We don't need to shoot them for clothes, for trophies, or even for food.
We do not need animals to sustain ourselves anymore.
Those days have come and gone.
We do not have to be HUNTERS to live.
We have evolved.
At least - we tell ourselves that.
But then I see a video like this - and places that still make THOUSANDS of dollars - not off fur - but off the suffering and exploitation of these animals who we disregard as "just rodents".
Yeah - so what? They are just rodents.
Let them BE fucking "just rodents".
Hell - let them be - period.

Ugh...I can't write anymore...it's just too horrendous to even believe that so many people ARE okay with this.

Dan

10 Reasons Not To Eat Pig

2006-07-29T15:28:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen...the most HARMLESS animal in the world!!!!

Seriously - have you EVER heard about a SINGLE injury inflicted on ANYONE by a pig???
We've heard about nasty dog bites, snake pites, bird bites and rat bites...but a pig...
they just wanna be loved. And - they have the mental capacity of a 3 year old..sounds crazy - but it's completely true. Smart piggies!! Here's 10 GREAT reasons why you shouldn't eat em.

1) Porking You Up
It’s a fact—ham, sausage, and bacon strips will go right to your hips. Eating pork products, which are loaded with artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat, is a good way to increase your waistline and increase your chances of developing deadly diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, asthma, and impotence. Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters. Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than pure vegetarians are. Every time you eat animal products, you’re also ingesting bacteria, antibiotics, dioxins, hormones, and a host of other toxins that can accumulate in your body and remain there for years. Learn more about animal products and your health.

2)Pigs Have Feelings Too
Ninety-seven percent of pigs in the United States today are raised in factory farms, where they will never run across sprawling pastures, bask in the sun, breathe fresh air, or do anything else that comes naturally to them. Crowded into warehouses with nothing to do and nowhere to go, they are kept on a steady diet of drugs to keep them alive and make them grow faster, but the drugs cause many of the animals to become crippled under their own bulk. Learn more about cruelty to pigs. Check out these videos from pig farms in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

3)Pigs and Playstations
Think that you can outplay a pig on your Playstation? You may be surprised. According to research, pigs are much smarter than dogs, and they even do better at video games than some primates. In fact, pigs are extremely clever animals who form complex social networks and have excellent memories. Eating a pig is like eating your dog! As actor Cameron Diaz put it after hearing that pigs have the mental capacities of a 3-year-old human: "[Eating bacon is] like eating my niece!" Learn more about pigs.

4)Pigs Prefer Mud, Not Crud
Pigs are actually very clean animals. If they are given sufficient space, pigs are careful not to soil the areas where they sleep or eat. And forget the silly saying “sweating like a pig”—pigs can’t even sweat! That’s why they bathe in water or mud to cool off. But in factory farms, they’re forced to live in their own feces and vomit and even amid the corpses of other pigs. Conditions are so filthy that at any given time, more than one-quarter of pigs suffer from mange—think of your worst case of poison ivy, and imagine having to suffer from it for the rest of your life. Learn more about what happens to pigs in factory farms. Check out the mange-ridden pigs on these South Dakota and Nebraska pig farms.

5)Farming Family Values
Factory farms are pure hell for pigs and their babies. Mother pigs spend most of their lives in tiny “gestation” crates, which are so small that the animals are unable to turn around or even lie down comfortably. They are repeatedly impregnated until they are slaughtered. Piglets, who are taken away from their distraught mothers after just a few weeks, have their tails chopped off, their teeth are clipped off with pliers, and the males are castrated—all without painkillers. Learn more about cruelty to pigs.

6The Manure Is Blowing in the Wind
…A pig farm with 5,000 animals produces as much fecal waste as a city of 50,000 people. In 1995, 25 million gallons of putrid hog urine and feces spilled into a North Carolina river, immediately killing between 10 and 14 million fish. To get around water pollution limits, factory farms will frequently take the tons of urine and feces that are stored in cesspools and turn them into liquid waste that they spray into the air. This manure-filled mist is carried away by the wind and inhaled by the people who live nearby. Learn more about how factory farming damages the environment.

7) Bacteria-Laden Bacon and Harmful Ham
Extremely crowded conditions, poor ventilation, and filth in factory farms cause such rampant disease in pigs that 70 percent of them have pneumonia by the time they’re sent to the slaughterhouse. In order to keep pigs alive in conditions that would otherwise kill them and to promote unnaturally fast growth, the industry keeps pigs on a steady diet of the antibiotics that we depend on to treat human illnesses. This overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of “superbacteria,” or antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. The ham, bacon, and sausage that you’re eating may make the drugs that your doctor prescribes the next time you get sick completely ineffective. Learn more about the effect of eating meat from sick, diseased, and drugged animals.

8)Hell on Wheels
More than 170,000 pigs die in transport each year, and more than 420,000 are crippled by the time they arrive at the slaughterhouse. Transport trucks, which carry pigs hundreds of miles through all weather extremes with no food or water, regularly flip over, throwing injured and dying animals onto the road. These terrified and injured animals are rarely offered veterinary care, and most languish in pain for hours; some even bleed to death on the side of the road. After an accident in April 2005, Smithfield spokesperson Jerry Hostetter told one reporter, “I hate to admit it, but it happens all the time.” Learn more about cruelty to pigs during transport.

9) Killing Them Without Kindness
A typical slaughterhouse kills up to 1,100 pigs every hour, which makes it impossible for them to be given humane, painless deaths. The U.S. Department of Agriculture documented 14 humane slaughter violations at one processing plant, where inspectors found hogs who “were walking and squealing after being stunned [with a stun gun] as many as four times.” Because of improper stunning methods and extremely fast line speeds, many pigs are still alive when they are dumped into scalding-hot hair-removal tanks—they literally drown in scalding-hot water. Learn more about what happens to pigs at slaughter.

10) Ditch the Bacon and Get Fakin’
Save pigs from hell and yourself from bad health by feasting on faux pork products instead. Stuff a sandwich full of Yves brand veggie ham slices, or throw some Lightlife Smart Bacon into a sizzling skillet—the freezer and “health food” sections of your local grocery or health food stores are packed full of these and other tasty substitutes. Check out VegCooking.com for hundreds of recipes, product recommendations, vegan meal plans, and a shopping guide.
Think before you eat another sausage link—order a free vegetarian starter kit full of delicious recipes and celebrity features today!

Soiree...

2006-07-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

Went to a "soiree" the other night.
Hoity toity.
All that jazz.

A few of the guy's noticed I kept declining the BBQ and stuck to the veggies.

So finally, one of them asked:
"What, are you a vegetarian or something?" (asked rudely).

"I am," I SMILED back - and just left it at that.

I hate it when people ram ANYTHING down your throat - so I figured a polite and short answer would suffice.

"Hmm...", he said. "I thought vegetarians were supposed to be SKINNY."

Stop. The. Fucking. Press.

Not only did you just enquire rudely about my eating habbits, you then plop a cherry on top by calling me fat.

Now - I know I COULD afford to lose like, 5 pounds or so...but you know what? FUCK THAT.
I refuse to feel bad about myself anymore - I've done it for far too long.
I've struggled with body image since I was 9 years old and frankly, I'm sick of it.
We all want a perfect body - we all aren't going to get it.
That's a part of life.

It's fuckwads like this - who make people feel bad for being what they are.

In short - if you're fat - be fat.
if you're thin - FUCK YOU!

Just kidding.

but seriously...making a remark like that to a stranger - OR to someone you know is a VERY ugly thing to do.
it brings your self-esteem down a notch. That's a HORRIBLE thing to do to anyone and I have no idea why he tried to do it with me.

Mind you, I didn't exactly react with dignity either.
I went "crazy vegetarian ACTIVIST" on his ass.

I told him he must be mis-informed about what a vegetarian can eat - and that I'm living proof - having a little extra luggage around my mid-section - that you can still be healthy on a vegetarian diet.

I also told him how frightening it is when people - especially someone at a party promoting GAY RIGHTS and GAY PRIDE - display a closed-minded mentality about things that differ from them - and that ANY hostility he has towards vegetarians is probably just his own internalized GUILT about eating meat morphing into something ugly - like an insult to put me down.

I love helping people re-associate themselves with the animals they have learned to call meat. I love helping people UNLEARN. I am STILL in the process of UNLEARNING myself.

But this fucker. he had some kind of big bully syndrome going on...

People HATE vegetarians for some reason. They become AFRAID. They want to make them feel stupid, lowly, RIDICULOUS - DUMB.

I would in turn - like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to this person - who said those ignorant and RUDE words to me.
I would like to THANK HIM - because you just cracked open a WHOLE NEW can of worms.
I vow - NEVER AGAIN - to feel ashamed of my CHOICE to NOT SUPPORT the meat industry.
And I vow - NEVER AGAIN - to feel any shame in ANY extra pounds I carry around my waist.

So thank you, Mr. Insult, for helping me out in your round-about way.
I'm gonna have me a big OLE slice of watermelon - and LOVE IT!!!

Dan

National Ice Cream Day!

2006-07-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

Did you know, in 1984 July was named National Ice Cream Month? And - the third Sunday of July is International Ice Cream DAY!!! That's TOMORROW FOLKS!!!
Sure it was an American thing, implemented by Ronald Reagan (asshole) - but - not a bad idea...
Unless of course, you've given up dairy or are lactose intolerant.
I've ALWAYS been an ice-cream-a-holic.
I love icecream in a cup, on a cone, in a sunday, drenched with caramel sauce - the more chocolately the better!!
Second to that - I LOVE me a good ole fashioned ice cream sandwich! The cheap kind...with the two soft chocolatey waifers and the creamy vanilla ice cream in the middle.
You know the kind...
Anwyay I was feeling MIGHTY left out - especially seeing that it's Ice Cream month - and there were a few frozen Rolo bars in the freezer that were starting to look PRETTY FUCKIN' GOOD, despite the fact that there was pussy cow milk in them.
"Fuck it," I kept thinking. "Ice Cream GOOOOOD".
Then, I discovered two AMAZING products that are TOO good to be true.
here's a short review of each:
Purely Decadent Soy Delicious Chocolate Brownie Almond.
Now - just in recent weeks - I've come to realize lots of people have a soy-phobia.
Personally, before this vegan gig - I never gave soy much thought either way.
I never bought it - but was NEVER grossed out by it either.
I fell in love with soy milk the SECOND I tasted it and even if I dropped the vegan lifestyle - I don't think I would go back to cow milk because I prefer soy so much more now.
Anyway - this ice"cream" product...FUCKING ROCKS. Seriously. Whether you're craving for a chocolate fix or an ice cream fix - THIS WILL DO IT. It is so rich, so BLOODY delicious - I can't even gush enough.
The real test though - came when Life Partner tried it. I was nervous. Although I like the taste of soy - it DOES have its own taste and not everyone has the same taste buds...
He tried it...HE LIKED IT!!!!!!!!!! In fact - he said it was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!! And Life Partner is a SNACK conosieur...he closes his eyes when he eats - and I can't think of anyone else who has a BIGGER appreciation for tastey food than him..except....well...about 30 of my other friends.
But - to get the gold star from Life Partner CONFIRMED my suspicions: Purely Decadent Soy Delicious Chocolate Brownie non-dairy ice cream is a 100% FLAWLESS substitute for ice cream...you probably won't even KNOW the difference. Seriously.
So much healthier, so much richer - and not a single cow was milked in the making.

Secondly....my favorite:
Ice Cream Sandwiches WITHOUT ANY DAIRY!!!
Too good to be true? I thought so right away.
The true test came around 11pm last night. I had the munchies and when i get the munchies - my NUMBER ONE late night snack, especially on a humid and rainy late Friday night...is an ice cream sandwich.
I grabbed a Soy Delicious Li'l Buddy and cracked her open.
Perfect.
EXACT same texture, size, flavour - it hit the SAME SPOT a dairy ice cream sandwich would have hit.
NOTE - there was a SLIGHT soy after-taste - but EASILY over-looked...because I like the taste of soy.
In short - Li'l Buddies are FUCKING DELICIOUS and you have NO CLUE how relieved I am to find BOTH of these products, because Ice cream was a real tough treat to give up and if anything was going to throw me off the wagon - it would be that.
But - not any more.

Even if you're not vegan - I suggest you go out and try either or both of these products, just for the fuck of it. You might be TOTALLY surprised, seriously.
I was.

Happy I-SCREAM day...

Dan

Just Another Vegan Wednesday

2006-07-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

A stellar day for veganism.
Breakfast:
1 cup v8 juice
1 bowl granola
1 cup soy milk

snakc
1 peanut butter granola bar

lunch:
1 cup veggie chili
2 clementines
2 rice cakes
1 cup soy nice peach yogourt

snack:
maybe 1/4 cup of unsalted peanuts

lunch:
veggie burger w/ whole wheat bun
1 clementine
glass of V8

night snack:
3 glasses of wine
2 handfuls of p-corn :)

Yum Yum Yum.
Did my first animal protest tonight and it ROCKED!!!

hearts and farts,

dan

Summer Food

2006-07-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well...half way through summer and I have to give myself a pat on the back.
While I did fuck it up with the jello shots a few weeks back, my fuck ups have been kept to a minor degree.
However, they ARE there.
I kinda bombed the vegan thing on Friday at a party my sister took me to.
Nothing major - but - I had some cheese in some DEEELICIOUS salsa dip....
Again, not a biggie.
I think my bigget goal with this switch to vegan is to NEVER go HITLER on my self with it.
Meat - is a different story. I feel far stronger about eating an animal...but animal bi-product...while I try to avoid it COMPLETELY - I will allow myself a slip up ONCE in a while.
I spoke with a VERY active animal activist a few days ago and she said that she believes going vegan is LITERALLY a life long process.
Coming from her - this comforted me.

Summer is a tough season to go vegan though, I must admit.
Another drink I must bid fairwell to - is the blessed Caesar.
My love affair with Caesars has been a strong and passionate one...we've made love on many a summer afternoon, on sunny patios and in air-conditioned bars.
Unfortunately...it's made with clamato juice.
So, fuck you Caesar. We're breaking up.
My new girlfriend: Bloody Mary.
She's not a virgin, she's DEFINETELY been around the block a few times - but sorry bitch - she's vegan.

Also - I've been working promotions at all kinds of fairs and festivals...and let me tell you - festival food is VERY limited.
I worked Epicure Fest yesterday - which is LITERALLY a festival of the area's "finest" restaurants...and while they did have SOME vegetarian options - for a "food fair" they were VERY limited.
Lots of "stabbed shit" all over the place, scewered chunks of meat on sticks everywhere you turn.
I had an avacado roll and a spring roll - and a pad thai noodle bed that tasted like...well...I guess what I imagine a brick of feces might taste like.
So I dumped it and made myself a veggie burger when I came home.

Here's what I had this weekened:

Saturday:
breakfast:
Bowl of granola, 1 cup soy milk, 1 clementine

lunch:
avacado roll, veggie spring roll, 1/2 a nasty pad thai (the feces tasting one that I dumped).

din din:
veggie burger (no bun - cuz i wasn't that hungry), large asian-crunch salad with soy croutons and a banana

Sunday: (today, so far...)
bowl of granola w/ chopped banana and soy milk.
1 so(y) nice non-dairy strawberry yogourt
1 glass of calcium fortified zero sodium V8.

I also plan on juicing up some veggies today - before they go bad. Beets, carrots and some fugi apples...should be yum yum.
ANd I'll probably have dinner at my parent's house which means I'll be having prime rib and chicken wings.
Just kidding.
My parents - being some of the most ACCEPTING people in the entire UNIVERSE are supportive of the switch and even went as far to go buy veggie patties and veggie burritos for when I come over.... awwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

I met a TON of vegetarians this weekend though...TONS! And vegan enthusiasts.
I really do think it is a growing trend, which rocks.

I'll also be attending my first ever animal rights meeting tomorrow at 5:15pm in the back of the 10,000 Villages store (in the same plaza as Hurricanes in Olde Sandwich Town).
I'm pretty excited - even just to TALK to like-minded people...I think I'll get a BUNCH of ideas from them - and I'm also excited to offer some of mine too...

laters,
dan

Today's Progress Report...

2006-07-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

A pretty good day...

Breakfast:
1 cup of granola
1/2 cup soy milk
1 banana

mid-morning work snack:
1 clementine

lunch:
1 sandwich on 12 grain made w/ tofurky and "nay"onaise (no dairy)
2 unsalted rice cakes
1/2 english cucumber, raw chopped.

mid-afternoon at work snack:
1 clementine

Din-din:
2 cups of Asian crunch mix salad w/ soy crunchy noodles and vegan-friendly teryaki dressing
1 portobello shroom burger on a whole wheat bun (yeah, I'm addicted).
1 glass of V8 juice w/out sodium

evening snack:
2 bacardi breezers while watching Canada's Next Top Model.

Comments:
It's actually pretty fun planning out meals in advance. That sounds fucking lame - but seriously - it is. Puting THOUGHT into what I am eating - is by default - helping me eat a more balanced and HEALTHY diet.
I find I have more energy during the day - I get more accomplished in a day - I am less hungry at night and as a nice cherry on top - a few people commented at work that I dropped a couple pounds.

AND best of all - I have NO GUILT when I put something in my mouth. That was the worst. Not being able to enjoy my food before. Everytime I put a piece of beef strogenoff in my mouth - so help me GOD - every time I bit into a hamburger, this little TINY voice in my head would say "Yep...enjoy it...cuz that was SOMEONE before you slapped part of it between two pieces of bread."

Again - I never wanna be the kind of guy who makes OTEHRS guilty about eating...I could care less -but I was talking to LIfe Partner tongith about it - and I must say - amongst animal activists - it really IS a cult mentality, in a way.
Mind you - it is all meant to help you and support you in your diet - for the GOOD of your health and the animals well being - but - it is a BIT of group think factor weighing in.
The more I read, learn and TALK to activists who are HUGE vegan advocates - the MORE my stomach turns when I see meat on a menu.
The FASTER I walk by the meat section...which is a good thing.
I feared that it would wear off after a while and I would start CRAVING meat again, but the more I read up on it - the more turned off I am.
I hate jump starting something and making some GRAND statement before i've even been doing this for a full 6 months...but I think I'm COMPLETELY hooked OFF meat forever.

Yay!!!

Also - I am taking it a step further in a few days. I'll be attending an animal rights meeting on Monday night before Girlie So Groovie - and then...I think I might check out a circus demonstration that's happening in Windsor on the 12th.
More info on that later...

At any rate, I'm outtie...

Dan

Portobello XXXtravaganza!!!!!!

2006-07-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Today, I took it to a whole new level!
I "kicked it up a notch".
I went a-grocery shoppin' for goodies - stocked up on some fresh veggies and milk, munchies and even a wee little jingle ball for Pluto so she would stay happy....and...
some portobello mushrooms.

Okay - I never cooked these things to save my life. Ever - so I was completely ready to write them off as "not practical" or "over my head".

I was wrong.

Ladies and gentlemen - I would like to introduce my latest 100% Vegan creation:

The Porto-Burger-Bello-Rama-Lama-Ding-Dong
*ideally, these should probably be barbecued over an open flame...I decided to pan fry (I know not as good) because it kept looking like it was about to rain...

Here's what you need for two:
- 2 Whole wheat hamburger buns
- two portobello mushrooms
- 1 clove of garlic
- oregano
- garlic salt
- freshly ground salt/pepper
- a few leaves of lettuce
- 1 purple onion
- 1 table spoon Verve brand non-dairy margerine
- 2 table spoon (per burger) Nasoya Nayonaise (non dairy/non-egg)
- 1 table spoon (per burger) Yoso Spreadables: Jalapeno lactose free soy sandwich spread
- Vegetable oil for cooking

Instructions:
*Please keep in mind - this was ALL guess work on my part.
Remove stems from Portobello shrooms.
Leave the shroom "gills" on.
Dice up 1 clove of garlic until it is cubed - not TOO fine..but - each little section should be cut into approx. 3 pieces....chunky, but diced.
Splash 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil on frying pan.
Drop 1 table spoon Verve margerine on frying pan.
Put on low heat, let everything sizzle up..
Throw on diced garlic...
let it fry for a bit - on VERY low heat...just kind of...bubbling nd sizzling SLOWLY in the oils...it shouldn't be hissing and splattering - if it is - you have the heat on too high.
When it looks like the flavour from the diced garlic is really merged in with the oil and melted soy margerine - toss on some oregano and garlic salt and give the pan a little shake..almost like you are making an oily-garlic flavoured sauce. When this is hot enough this is what will cook the mushrooms.
When it looks like a nice juicy sauce (not too juicey, just like...enough so it kind of runs when you tip the pan) - drop the Shrooms on the pan - top DOWN.
this is very important.
The top of the shroom (the part that would face the sky when growing from its stem) MUST be the side that is ON the hot pan - gills facing upward.
This saves all the juice from immediately running out through the gills (i did some research).
You can turn the heat up a little bit now - to get it sizzlin...
The garlic pieces should be getting moist and juicey and plump..turning a beautiful yellow colour...
Let the shrooms fry for like, 5 - 8 minutes - check to make sure they are not sticking...give the pan a shake here and there to get the juices flowing.
Then - for the last minute - flip them over onto their gills - and let them fry for about 1 to 2 minutes, just to finish them off.
They will have gottten much blacker - but not burned...they should still be very juicey.
Kill the heat.
On yer handburger buns - spread the Nayonaise on one half and the Soyo spreadable on the other....slap some lettuce and ringed onion - and toss your JUICEY, garlic-fried portobello shroom on the bun - and ...you have yourself one of the TASTIEST and COMPLETELY vegan treats know to mankind.
The only other place I have ever had a portobello burger is at the Brick House - and while they are good...they have NOTHING on the Porot-Burger-Bellow-Rama-Lama -Ding-Dong.
For real.
It is a thing of beauty.
And - it was quick and easy, and impressive.
Seriously - if you are ever having guests over and aren't sure what to make them - this meal is SOOO good - they won't even realize it's PURE vegan.

It's some gourmet shit.
I had a nice Soy yogourt for dessert which was semi-okay...not the greatest, but - you can't win 'em all.
For breakfast this morning I had a sliced nectarine and some freshly juiced beets/carrots/fuji apples - with some lime and a clementine orange thrown in for some sour yum yum.

A five star day, vegan wise!

laters,

Dan
-

What to Eat?????!!!!!

2006-07-03T07:40:00.000-07:00

I think, for me - it's ALL about convenience.
THAT is the hardest part about (trying to) eat vegan.
I don't miss meat a single bit.
I don't miss cheese and I TOTALLY prefer soy milk to cow milk now - I wouldn't even THINK of going back.
Eggs...yeah - I loved eggs..but you know what? I haven't bought a carton of eggs in almost a fucking year - so I obviously didn't love them THAT much.
BUT.
It's the little things that get me....
Eggs popping up in pie crust...
Milk showing up in birthday cakes...
Cheese, glorious cheese melted in LAYERS on steaming hot pizzas...
THAT's where I find my self salivating for animal bi-product...when they are in their most processed forms.
I've been posting my vegan meal plans periodically on this blog - breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner - all are pretty easy plans.
I did some research today and discovered someone was kind enough to map out a "vegan meal plan" - BASED around 3 VERY IMPORTANT details:
1) Simplicity
2) Convenience
3) Time efficiency

While I would LOVE to be a master raw vegan chef - whipping up feasts and practicing the green and magic art of vegan alchemy...I just don't have the fucking time.
I need management.
I need direction.
I need a fucking cheese pizza, dammit.
Just kidding.
But, I need help.
And I need some creative ideas.
And I found these vegan meal plans to offer me EXACTLY that - hopefully they'll help you too!

Day 1
for men and women, ages 19-50

Breakfast:
1 bagel with 2 teaspoons vegan margarine (or almond butter),
1 medium orange,
1 cup Cheerios cereal, and
1 cup Soy milk

Lunch:
Sandwich of hummus made with
3/4 cup chickpeas and 2 teaspoons tahini
on 2 slices of whole wheat bread with
3 slices of tomato
and 1 medium apple

Dinner:
1 cup of cooked pasta with 1/4 cup marinara sauce,
1/3 cup carrot sticks,
1 cup cooked broccoli (frozen or fresh),
1 whole wheat roll

Snack:
1/2 cup trail mix (mix of nuts,
raisins, and sunflower seeds), and
1 cup Soy milk

Day 2
for men and women, ages 19-50

Breakfast:
1/2 cup calcium-fortified orange juice
1 medium banana,
2 slices whole wheat toast
with 1 Tablespoon nut butter (peanut,
almond, cashew, etc.),
1 cup Wheat Chex cereal, and
1 cup soy milk

Lunch:
1 bowl of instant veg soup (read the label),
10 saltines with 1 Tablespoon
nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)
1 medium orange,
and 1/2 cup carrot sticks

Dinner:
1 veggie burger Burger on a bun
with a large slice of tomato,
and 1 medium baked potato

Snack:
1 cup Soy milk, and
1 cup kidney beans mixed with 1 Tablespoon salsa
served with 1 ounce lowfat tortilla chips

Day 3
for men and women, ages 19-50

Breakfast:
1 cup calcium-fortified orange juice,
Scrambled tofu: 1/2 cup tofu,
1/4 cup onions, and 1 teaspoon oil
and 2 slices whole wheat toast
with 2 teaspoons vegan margarine (or almond butter)

Lunch:
Sandwich made with 1 large pita bread,
1/4 cup shredded lettuce, 1/4 cup chopped tomato,
1/4 cup grated carrot, 1 Tablespoon SOY mayonaise
1 cup of lentil soup/ or black bean soup - or 1/2 cup lentils (you can get 'em in a can - trust me!)
1 medium banana, and
1 cup Soy milk.

Dinner:
1/2 cup kidney beans with 1 cup cooked
quick brown rice and 2 Tablespoons salsa
1 cup frozen mashed squash, and
1 cup unsweetened applesauce

Snack:
1/2 cup trail mix (mix of nuts, raisins,
and sunflower seeds), and
1 cup Soy milk

Day 4
for men and women, ages 19-50

Breakfast:
1-1/2 cups cooked quick oats
with 3 Tablespoons wheat germ,
1/4 cup raisins or dates, and
1 ounce chopped walnuts
1 cup diced cantaloupe, and
1 cup Soy milk

Lunch:
Burrito with 1 whole wheat tortilla,
1/2 cup black beans, and 1 Tablespoon salsa,
and 1 ounce lowfat tortilla chips with 1/4 cup salsa

Dinner:
6 ounces calcium-fortified V-8 juice,
Stir-fry with 1/2 cup diced tofu,
1 cup frozen stir-fry vegetables,
2 Tablespoons soy sauce,
1-1/2 cups cooked quick brown rice,
and 1 teaspoon oil, and
3 graham crackers

Snack:
1 cup Soy milk and
3 cups popped popcorn w/ butter flavour

There you have it veggie heads...4 days of SHEER vegan eating...nothing too hard and NOTHING you can't find at your local grocery store.
Nothing weird or out of the norm at all actually...

Anyway - I'm for SURE gonna be trying a few of these this week...I'll keep ya posted...

Dan

Places to Eat

2006-06-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

A tiny - but not horrific struggle with this vegan thing is finding a restaurant to eat.
Okay, wait.
I don't want to EAT a restaurant.
Fuck, you know what I mean...
It's shocking how many restaurants DO NOT have vegan or even VEGETARIAN options.
Check this out:
Gilligan's - NO VEGGIE BURGERS!!
Red Lobster - Unless you're getting a side salad, you WILL be picking dead fish out of your food.
Applebee's - the neighborhood grill...but apparently, it's a neighborhood who can't even make a salad without putting meat into it.
A tad frustrating, but hey - no one's forcing me, right?
Still...you'd think there would at least be the OPTION? I mean - it will only bring MORE people in, right? The meat eaters will still be happy - and the vegetarians can feel like they fit in with all the other normal meat eaters of society....
If the veggie burger is prepared the right way...they MIGHT even blend right in...
In case you don't want to blend in - I've compiled a list of my favorite vegetarian-friendly places around the great City of Roses...

The first off - is pretty obvious:

Place: Bubi's Awesome Eats
Location: 620 University Ave W.
Why: If you're craving a burger - check it out...not ONLY can you get EVERY SINGLE ONE of their UNIQUE burgers in a TVP burger - you can ALSO ask for multi-grain buns!!! Their menu boasts: The World's BEST TVP Burger!! And I have to say...I'm not sure if I've tasted better...
Sure you may have to skip the creamy garlic sauce - but the vegetarian and vegan options are PLENTIFUL all over this menu.
Make sure you check out the Russian Peanuts - DEEEP cooked garlic cloves served with pita.

Place: Taloola Cafe
Location: 396 Devonshire Rd.
Why: VERY vegetarian/vegan friendly - SUPER comprehensive menu spelling out which are vegetarian and which are vegan friendly dishes. Meat eaters will be happy to know they ALSO serve SOME limited meat dishes - but my personal faves are: tofu droo sandwich, The loaded veggie lolla, and - experience an old classic a WHOLE NEW WAY: 100% natural peanut butter on multi-grain w/ jam/banana or grated carrot, and the AMAZING Antipasto Party red pepper spread, eggplant, artichoke and pesto. They also offer raw juices, juiced right infront of you - the ambience is BEAUTIFUL and the people are really friendly. EXTENSIVE loose leaf tea menu as well...and they WILL tell you what each tea does and how long it should be steeped for maximum flavour and effect. FOUR FUCKIN STARS - this place kicks ass!!
It's actually pictured above on this blog today.

Place: Cafe Crepe
Location: 33 Amy Croft Drive Lakeshore,
Why: While it does serve many meat dishes - they do have some GREAT veggie option. And - the bonus - you can make your own crepes – with PLENTY of REALLY cool veggie toppings to put inside – leaks, kale, grilled zucchini, asparagus, spinach..etc. Mega tastey...

Place: Bamboo
Location: 401 Riverside Dr. W.
Why: This is a very vegetarian/vegan friendly catering company! They have a pretty big vegetarian section on their menu - including vegetable parilla, tofu fumar, el terra asparagus, picante haricot vert. Pretty hoity toity...but hey - more options are a good thing!

Place: Three...A Tasting Bar
Location: 63 Pitt St. E.
Why: Very ritzy, but REALLY good. A little pricey too. I highly recommend this place if you wanna go on a like, a date and impress someone, if someone is impressed by hoity toity-ness...
i tell ya...they have this HUGE veggie combo platter - and there is shit on there I never even HEARD of. Never tasted anything like it - didn't even know what the fuck it was - even after the waitor came along and used a fucking pointer stick to tell us about EACH item (true!) - I still had no fucking clue. I THINK it was veggie....regardless - it was FANTASTIC! If you have lotsa money to drop - hit it upstyle the vegetarian way.

Place: World Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant
Location: 60 University Ave. W.
Why: They have a HUGE Vegetarian section to their menu including Tikil Goman (Cabbage cooked in martathon turmeric sauce), Goman Watt (spinach, garlic ontion green pepper, tomato), Kik Alicha (mild yellow peas cooked w/onion garlic turmeric + tomato sauce), Meser Wat( red lentil cooked w/ onion, garlic and marathon tomato sauce), Aziffa (green lentil, onion, green chilies, olive oil, lemon dressing served cold), Shiro Wat (ground pea w/ onion, tomatos + green chilies) Leave it to the Ethiopians!!! Yum Yum Yum Yum.

Place: Taj Mahal
Location - Huron Churc Road (near Harvey's)
Why: They are an all-you can eat buffet - fresh nan, chick pea massala, curried veggies, stewed lentils, and fresh naan bread...it's AMAZING.
Also - a PRETTY big salad and fruit bar too! What they do not have in ambience - they make up for in taste! And - very cheap. Fans of Indian food - even the meat eating kind - should really dig this place....

bonne appettite, my dear vegetable-heads...

dan

2006-06-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

A few months ago - Peta launched a campaign, asking everyone to write letters in to local fur sellers - stating how disgusted you are with the fact that they sell fur - and I recieved a reply. I wasn' t nasty in my letter...
I just pointed out plain as day facts - like animals that are "farmed" for their skin are usually beaten, stomped, axed or electrocuted to death and most of the time, left unconscious and in AGONY for up to 5 hours - STILL ALIVE after they have been SKINNED.
Of course - this is after they spent their short lives living in FILTHY, CRAMPED conditions.

Anyway...the person wrote me back, and was also VERY polite.
She stated that there are MANy wrongs in the world and that there is NO WAY we can fix all of it.
There are people starving, child abuse, wife abuse, homeless people, and animals - yes - are suffering as well...
But - we will drive ourselves crazy if we try to fix it all...
Sometimes, we just have to merge with the way life goes - with how things ARE.
We cannot change the world - nor should we be expected to.
Sometimes - it is - what it is - because - that's how it is.
FUCK.
THAT.
That's a defeatist attitude.
Not that I'm a big motivator - but seriously - that is BULLSHIT.
Of course ONE person cannot change the world.
DUH.
BUT - if EVERYONE did ONE SMALL PART towards making ONE TINY THING BETTER - rather than just accepting shit for the way things are - it WOULD make a difference. It would. No one can CHANGE THE WORLD.
No one can solve world hunger or child abuse...but why contribute to the all-around general SHITTY aspects of life it by making animals suffer??
This is ONE thing that COULD be stopped - if fur is made illegal.
Here is what I am doing.
I am going to start buying synthetics from now on.
I am going to buy leather alternatives - from now on.
I am going to start attending Animal Activist Groups tha tmeat every other Monday in the OPIRG room behind the 10,000 Villages restaurant in the plaza where hurricanes is.
This is not the "holier than thou" attitude I hear being mentioned...I'm an amateur myself who knows NOTHING really - except that our animal's situation on this planet....
NOT GOOD.
AT all.
In fact - it's horrible.
And in fact,
There is TOOOO much I don't know about how animals are just so FUCKING enslaved...and the more I pick around the edges - the more it just seems so fucking WRONG.
I used to bawl and cry when I saw shit like this - now, the more I learn about things that go on in OUR OWN COUNTRY - now I can only SHAKE my head.
And it's no one's fault for not knowing.
In truth - who WANTS to hear about it, right?
But fuck - we OWE IT to at LEAST give it a shot - in some way.
Animals use what they HAVE TO to survive, because they have no other means.
I want to be PROOF - even if only to a few people - that even people who don't have much money, who don't have much knowlege - who don't even have much capability in the kitchen and food preparation - DOES NOT NOT NOT need animals or animal by-products to survive.
Asking everyone to go VEGAN (fuck - I'm not even vegan yet) is unrealistic and flat out not possible...
BUT - I think if everyone did do something pro-active towards SOME cause they feel is worth attention...the world would be SUCH a better place...and shit WOULD change.
Sorry for the rant.
I just feel totally CHARGED and motivated and I can't wait for next monday when I attend my FIRST EVER animal ACTION meeting.

I just think if we ALL put in a TINY bit extra - SOMETHING good can ONLY come out of it.

We should ALL find some way to help them - even if we do still eat meat...

okay, 'night, (for real this time!)

dan

My Progress Report

2006-06-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

It's getting easier by the day, I swear...

Last night at the Fireworks downtown at Summerfest (freedom fest before we fucked it up by NOT paying the Guess Who to play) - I resisted the urge to get an ice cream or chocolate bar - and I discovered that one of my favorite snacks - SMART FOOD POPCORN - is NOT vegan friendly.
Kinda sucks.
But whatever.
I do have regular microwave popcorn at home - which to my delight I discovered has "butter flavour" but contains NO actual traces of butter or dairy...vegan approved!!!

As for today - here's what I've eaten so far:

Breakfast:
1 cup hemp granola w/ soy milk
1 mini cucumber

mid-morning snack:
1 organic peanut butter granola bar

lunch:
cup of vegan black bean soup
3 mini tiny cubes of non-dairy rice cheese
2 chopped mini cucumbers
2 rice cakes

mid-afternoon snack:
1 small green apple

Dinner:
I splurged!
Life Partner, Anna and I went to the Mini - where I indulged in a fucking GLORIOUS vegetable stirfry topped with barbecued TOFU, with red chili sauce.

Vegan - and fuckin DELICIOUS.
We ended the night with an impromtu walk down by the water - for like, an hour and 45 minutes! So yeah...I'm giving myself 4 stars today!!

Drinkin' lots of water now...

So far - healthy, tastey and surprisingly....EASY!!

Recipes tomorrow...

Night,
Dan

Hangover Cure

2006-06-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

Two words:

Cucumbers.
Strawberries.

Just try it.

WOW.

The Saga Continues...

2006-06-27T05:43:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks...

A little tip - if anyone is thinking about EVER becoming vegetarian, but is having doubts about whether or not they can do it - I recommend you do it - for a week - then switch to being vegan.
Just for one week.
When you switch back to being a vegetarian - it feels like the EASIEST thing in the world!
Now - do NOT mistake this as an admittance to failure.
In no way have I dropped my attempt at being a vegan.
In fact - I am empowered EVEN MORESO as of late.

I just went grocery shopping and bought a FRESH LOAD of veggies for juicing, nibbling and creating vegan delights.
I've been eating NOTHING but whole grain breads, soy-rice-tofu-fake-cheese and soy milk.
Now...there HAVE been times, when i snuck a timbit at work.
I also had a homemade strawberry tart made by anna which had eggs and milk in the crust...but other than VERY small slip ups...I've avoided egg/dairy pretty much altogether...

More recipes will be posted soon...

I just wanted to direct everyone's attention to a GREAT blog - it is by a mother who lives in the U.S. - and she is posting her experiences as a vegan...it's a fascinating read to anyone interested - and spawns some great ideas too...

http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/

it's called Vegan Lunchbox. Really cool stuff...

At any rate, I'm out for the day,

laters!
dan

Pu-Erh Tea-time!

2006-06-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

Evening folkies,
I'm just about to settle down to yet another experimental session of tea-drankin'! Karmen really had no IDEA what a great gift she was giving me when she gave me the selection of chinese teas.
Tonight, I will be breaking my Pu-Erh Tea cherry!!
Again - this is loose leaf tea - so if anyone knows where I can pick up a tea-leaf strainer...I'd be happier than a chinese monk with a big fat au-naturale boner from green tea intake.
The dry leaves don't look much different than the Ooo Long tea.
Pu-erh tea, has an ... "earthy" taste, I guess you could call it - and really pretty reddish/brown - almost pale-wine colour..
Supposedly - it aids in digestion and like many teas - speeds up fat metabolism and is KNOWN as the PERFECT tea to include in a weight loss plan. After a bit of research, I discovered that Pu-erh is also named after its place of origin in China. Drinking Pu-erh tea can help reduce cholesterol, and it helps digestion (particularly of fatty foods), so this would probably be REALLY good after a heavy meal.

Today - all I had to eat was a bowl of soy milk and granola for breakfast, a garden salad with a garden wrap in a whole weat tortilla for lunch - and another bowl of granola with a few whole grain tortilla chips on the side for dinner.
Yeah...kinda boring.
But - I think by making a conscious effort to mix up my liquid diet a bit by using these cool teas and some juicing - I'll be healthier as hell.
FYI - there are six (6) cold beers in my fridge...the low carb sleeman clear - that I LOVE LOVE LOVE...and I really SHOULD(n't) be having those right now....
but - I guess for tonight, I'll stick to tea - with tea on it.

Gonna go watch a movie...

night,
Dan

Drinks-a-Go-Go for those on the...Go-Go...(who like the Go-Go's)

2006-06-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

Hey vegan-enthusiasts, wannabees and experts,

My parents bought me a juicer last Xmas - and while I was thrilled at the time, I am ashamed to say I have not fully utilized this contraption to my best advantage.
It's sat in a closet under my staircase for nearly 9 months, much like Karmen's ill-fated blender I recently gave lament to on her Magic Bullet Blog.

Now, if you're like me (a grizzled, sometimes-bitter late-twenty something/early thirty-something who wants desperately to fit into a niche and you think you MIGHT have finally discovered it with a half-ass attempt at veganism) - you're probably looking for convenient, quick, delicious and nutritious ways to:

A) Eat more compassionately.
B) Eat more health-il-y.

I know. There's no such word.

Regardless, I have come up with a few juice recipes guaranteed to give you a kick in the good ole compassionate ARSE - and ensure that you get your proper intake of FRESH veggies!!!

Personally, I'm a woman (man) on the go - career-girl(boy) oriented - dedicated to my job and committed to putting in long and grueling hours for "THE MAN" (woman).

I discovered a way to use my juicer to HELP me become vegan, lose weight AND get my proper daily intake of vitamins and vegetables.

First recipe:
(I call it:)
"THE BEETNIK BREEZER"
(the ONLY drink dedicated to wannabe-vegan spoken word performance artists and the people who love 'em!)
This slut-of-a-drink is easy-like-sunday morning to make:
1 cup chopped, peeled beets
2 cups strawberries (hulled of course, but if you're a fucking purist hippy who doesn't want to hurt the straweberries' feelings - like me - you can leave the hulls on)
1 small fuji apple (or granny smith - or fuck ANY kind of fucking apple) - not peeled - leave the skin on (just take the core out)
1 table spoon of freshly squeezed lime juice (of course, you don't NEED this - but being the seasoned borderline alcoholic that I am - I ALWAYS have fresh lime on hand)

Instructions:
Throw that shit in the juicer and then just juice the FUCK out of it - drop it in a glass and gulp that good stuff back!
WOO HOO!!!
Tastey - and you got all your minnies and vities :)

NEXT!!!!!

I call this next studpuppy of a beverage:
THE COOL-ASS CUKE-COCK-SHUN
(The ONLY drink dedicated to people who love nothing more than a big fat cucumber on a sweaty summer day......)

You need:
2 or 3 English cucumbers, peeled and chopped
8 fresh mint leaves (trust me folks - they aren't as hard to find as I thought - check your local Market)
1 bottle of water (!!!)
3 limes
2 table spoons of maple sugar
2 cups of crushed ice

Alright - nice and easy - and this hoity toity piece of liquid-vegan-yum-yum will have you impressing your snotty neighbors AND have the lawyer who lives down the street SALIVATING with envy. Put 'em to shame, FUCKERS!!
Combine the chopped cucumbers, mint, water and the JUICE of the three limes in a high speed blender and process until smooth.
Strain through a somewhat fine mesh sieve or filter of some kind into a pitcher.
Add in the maple sugar, and ice and stir it up to mix.
Then - for an EXTRA-CUKE-TASTIC effect, pour into chilled glasses and garnish with FOUR thinly sliced cucumber slices. Also - should the need grab you - you CAN use some freshly ground sea-salt as well (which Life Partner recently bought).
Whoa-la!!!
The PERFECTLY vegan and HEALTHY cocktail for ANY Saturday afternoon....

FYI - if you wanna REALLY get the party going - throw a little Honey-dew melon liqueur in there and see what happens (wink wink)

Night,
Dan.

FUCK

2006-06-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

I blew it.
10 Jello-O shots last night.
UGH.
Why?
WHY!??

why?

Quick and Easy Vegan Sammy

2006-06-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

I made this up.
I call it the "Danny Sammy".

It's quick, simple, delicious - and TOTALLY Vegan.

Two pieces of whole grain bread (toasted if you want)
On one piece - spread some roasted-red-pepper hummous.
On the other, a splash of hot sauce and one slice of Vegan cheese.
It's actually soy - it's the kind that looks just like Kraft singles...if you are a fan of kraft singles - you'd never even KNOW this stuff is vegan for real.
Then - microwave a chick-pea burger (the frozen microwavable kind) for 2 mins - and (in the words of the Great Bill Cosby):
Ka-BLAZEM:
Put it all together and enjoy a mouth-watering "Bubi's worthy" sandwich straight out of pretentious-vegan-cafe land.
It was DEEEE-LICIOUS and it took me no more than 4 minutes to make!
Lots of protien, some lettuce or even some chopped up veggies like cucumber or red/yellow bell peppers would give it some crunch and probably make it even better, but I was going for timing and taste only here - and in my opinion, i did a pretty dang good job.
sorry, no picture, I ate it too fast.
Boo hoo.

But next time, I'll have the "cammy" to snap a pic of the Vegan "Danny Sammy".

happy saturday,

Me want beer now.

dan

Off the Wagon

2006-06-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

I've fallen.
Yeah. I knew it was only a matter of time before I'd fuck it up.
Mind you - it could have been FAR FAR worse...
See, I came home from work Thursday night, STARVING, and instantly went into the fridge (acting on nothing more than SHEER male aggression and my own animal instinct), gravitated to a plate of leftover vegetarian pizza and tore two pieces to shreds with my bare hands and teeth in mere seconds.
Vegan diet: BLOWN.
Both cheese AND eggs.
I then began eyeing up a box of ice cream sandwiches in the freezer...a primal growl growing in my throat.
The good news: I withheld my urge.
However - Friday (yesterday) I blew it again...while I maintained a 100% vegan diet for breakfast and dinner...I came home and had some flat tortilla with some vegan hummus.
Wait a minute? Are flat tortillas (like, for burritos) made with eggs? I'm assuming so...but I guess I really don't know...I know they are mostly corn.
Ah fuck.
I'll count it as another fuck up.
Two pieces of veggie pizza...not the biggest slip up in the world.
Tonight I am going to a house party for a friend at work and I was debating bringing jello shots...but jello shots have animal bone marrow in them, which is ridiculous.
Mind you - if I do make jello shots (which are always a fun and playful hit at ANY party) there's no way I "WON'T" be having one...
At the same time...this could be a test...
No, fuck it.
No jello shots for me, unless I can find some kind of non-animal jello...
Ugh.
I think that's just disgusting.
Jello - in truth - is fucking nasty anyway.
I hate jello, have since I was a kid.
But - the fact that this jiggly, gellatinous, flabby fruit flavoured crap comes from inside animal bones....
BARF.
Sold. no jello shots tonight.

Back on the wagon,
Daniel.

OOOooooooh-ing and Ahhhhhh-ing Over OoooooLooooooong Tea!

2006-06-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Tea-heads.
Lately, I've discovered the joy of experimenting with different types of fucking teas.
It's a ...jolt to the tastebuds, to put it lightly.
A dear friend and tea-activist Karmen "Whisper-Starfish" (sic) gave me a Chinese-themed birthday gift basket for my 28th birthday last year.
It included various sodas, foods, noodles and teas from the Chinese market.
This week, since coffee with cream is now out of the question for my newly Vegan-ass, I decided to whip out the assorted tea-tins and give 'em a try...
Today - I enjoyed a steaming hot cup of Oolong tea as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up at work, while I frantically wrote radio commercials for ritzy Ottawa Street clothing boutiques.
I decided to do a little research, since I know there's a lot of punch that's packed into a cup of ANY kind of loose-leaf chinese tea.
It is said that oolong tea (pronounced WU-Long) first began to be produced at Mt. Wu Yi Shan in Fujian Province at the end of the Ming Dynasty about 400 years ago.
In order to enjoy the flavor and rich aroma unique to oolong tea, an art of drinking it delicately was developed.
This so-called "art" involves preparing and drinking oolong tea by using a tiny teapot and a tiny teacup.
*giggle*
Chinese people are just SO CUTE!
Kidding.
Anywya, Chinese people have adopted this style for generations and they still use it to this very day...
That was bascially all it said about the "art" of making Oolong Tea, except a mention that it is "difficult" to make using loose leaves, which would explain my experience today.
I used the average pinch of tea leaves (but they were actually more like dried mulch and sticks) in my cup and poured boiling water over them.
I let it steep until it turned a pleasant-looking shade of light brown...
(FYI - I could REALLY use a tea-leaf strainer!)
Anyway...it kinda tasted...well...the way it would taste if you tried to make tea using dried mulch and sticks from your very own backyard.
It had a pungent taste, with a small dog-food accent and a subtle yet unapologetic hint of squirrel piss.
But, I squinted and sucked her back anyway.
Ya see, Ooolong Tea is rich in antioxidants called polyphenols.
And ANYOne who is ANYONE would know that Polyphenol in oolong tea is effective in controlling obesity.
I'm sure you knew that though, so it was most likely unnecessary that I even published that little tid-bid.
Basically, these special antioxidants activate the enzyme that is responsible for dissolving triglyceride.
Triglyceride - in a nutshell, is what makes us store fat.
Continuous drinking of Oolong tea enhances our body's function of fat metabolism and helps us burn that shit off faster than we can say "DEAL-A-MEAL!"
Hopefully.
Anyway, that alone kinda sorta sold me on Oolong tea. I might try it again next week.
Tomorrow, I am gonig to tackle a different kind of "fucking tea".

I also learned that there is now "canned" Oolong tea available, which I am guessing is like the pre-mixed, manufactured "Lipton's" type version of Oolong.
It's supposed to be DELICIOUS though...and while I do agree that Oolong offers some FANTASTIC benefits - I can't QUITE agree that what I had today was delicious.

Unless of course, you're accustomed to drinking liquified tree poop.

Bye for now,

Dan

"Take Ya Fuckin' Vitamins!"

2006-06-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

Apart from some fruit flavoured Flinstone chewables when i was a kid (that I used to pop like candy - I was such a pillhead) I have NEVER taken vitamins.
I figured with this new diet, I should probably stock up on some daily vitamins "just in case".
I discovered Vege Multivitamins and Minerals One Per Day capsuls.
They contain NO artificial preservatives, colour, milk, Soya, Corn, Wheat or Yeast.
My first question was - "well then what the FUCK IS in it???"
Vege multivitamin and minerals One Per day is formulated with a natural green food matrix base of Alfalfa, Broccoli,Chlorella, Green Cabbage, Dandelion, Kelp, Parsely, Spirulina and Watercress.
Now, I'm no nutritionist, but I do know that the darker greens - the higher the calcium and protein, which they say are the two BIGGEST pieces of the puzzle missing from a vegan's diet.
This, in reality, isn't true.
Just by eating dark greens - you get all the calcium and protein intake you need - and THEN some.
But hey - like I said, I'm not a nutritionist, so I figured a vitamin a day will keep the hot sexy doctor away.
These vitamins are formulated for adults who have a semi-unbalanced or irregular diet (HELLOO!!!) and moderate-to-high stress days, and my work is PRETTY frantic lately.
It contains absolutely NO iron, which is probably a good thing.
It also makes your number 1 and number 2 turn funky colours.
I've been taking them since Saturday (when I started my whole vegan thing) - and aside from the colours of my bathroom creations, no real changes.
But - they say vitamins do a body good - I read the research on these pills - and they really can't hurt you. Lots of anti-oxidants, and the normal goodies like Vitamin C etc...
If you're interested you can grab them at Zehrs (in the organic section, - where else?).
Here's some more info...
And - if anyone notices anything HORRIBLE in them that I should NOT be taking...PLEASE tell me....

Ingredients: Each caplet contains - Beta Carotene-10,000I.U.; Vitamin D3-400I.U.; Vitamin C (Calcium Ascorbate)-200mg; Vitamin E (D'Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate)-100 I.U.; Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrite)-50mg; Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)-50mg; Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride)-50mg; Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)-50mcg; Folic Acid-1mg; Niacinamide-50mg;Biotin-50mcg; D'Pantothenic Acid (Calcium D'Pantothenate)-50mg; Biotin-50mcg; MINERALS - Calcium (HVP Chelated)-125mg; Magnesium (HVP Chelated)-50mg; Potassium (HVP Chelated)-10mg; Iodine (Kelp)-0.1mg; Copper (HVP Chelated)-1mg; Manganese (HVP Chelated)-5mg; Zinc (Hvp Chelated)-10mg; Selenium (HVP Chelated)-25mcg; Chromium (HVP Chelated)-25mcg; LIPOTROPHIC FACTORS - Choline Bitartrate-50mg; Inositol-50mg; dl Methionine-50mg; ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS - Para Aminobenzoic acid- 40mg; Phytosterols-20mg; Rutin (Eucalyptus)-20mg; Apple Pectin-20mg; Quercetin-15mg; Echinaccea-5mg; Papaya Fruit-25mg; DIGESTIVE AIDS - Betaine-15mg; Betaine HCL-15mg; Bromelain-5mg. Formulated in a natural green food matrix base of Alfalfa, Broccoli,Chlorella, Green Cabbage, Dandelion, Kelp, Parsely, Spirulina and Watercress.

Remember - in truth - I really don't know what the FUCK I'm doing here...

night,

Dan

Hunger Hurts, But Starving Works

2006-06-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'm a stubborn son of a bitch.
Goes hand in hand with being a taurus.
Which I think, is why I am giving this Vegan experiment my best shot.

So far today - I had a glass of soy milk, a bowl of granola and a banana for breakfast.
A bottle of water and a bowl of INSTANT vegan chili for lunch + a green apple.

In the words of yoda:

Tastey, it was. But hungry, I still am.

While I am not about to rip into a big ole STEAK anytime soon - or EVER - a nice dinner role and some butter woulda went oh-so-nice with this small bowl of vegan chili.

Oh! I also had a granola bar as a mid-morning snack.

Went home - sliced up a cucumber - big son of a bitch about 15 inches - doused it with some vegetable oil and vinegar, some freshly ground pepper and ground seasalt, and harfed it back, then ate two rice cakes with a piece of soy fake mozzarella (nuked, and yes - it DOES melt) and then washed it all down with some wah-wah and a slice of veg-cajun chicken lunchmeat.
Gross.
God only KNOWS how you make lunchmeat, minus the meat.
"Compassionate, young Daniel," I think to myself. It is my Mantra. "Compassionate."

Ending off the night with a long walk and a bottle of Tropical Mist fruit wine.
Vegan, and BOY does it pack a punch.

So far, so Vegan...

night for tonight,

Dan

Heroes and Zeroes: The Fur Trade

2006-06-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

*all articles are written solely by moi!

HERO OF THE DAY: Ralph Lauren!!!
No Hairy Bush for Ralphie!

You know that designer Ralph Lauren? He made this REALLY nasty cologne called Chaps - his store has a cameo in Madonna's Sex book (jizz gets wiped on a Ralph Lauren shirt) and he is considered one of the most respected fashionistas in all of fashion-land?
Well - he flicked his gears from "fashion" to "compassion" recently and chainsawed ALL fur OUT of his apparel and home collections - based PURELY on the put-put of his heart for our loving animals. Awwwww.
His VERY influential corporation has been humming and hawing over whether or not they should eliminate fur from its lines for some time, but this decision was put into motion after Ralphie witnessed the hideous abuses endured by animals on Chinese fur farms.
A brave move. Congrats to Ralphie!

ZERO OF THE DAY: Jennifer Lopez!!
Jenni-FUR from the Block Needs to get her Block Knocked Off

Did you know J-Lo has a clothing line called Sweetface?
I had no idea.
Did you know - she has an extensive line of furs?
I didn't either.
Bitch.
Yeah sure, we all love to laugh at what a "diva" she is...but truth be told - she stands for something that SHOULD be left in the dark ages - especially in this century.
Fur equals TORTURE, plain and simple.
Anyone who claims they "don't know" this (as J-Lo has many a time - and turned down an invite by Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders who offered to "educate" Ms. Lopez) is just being fucking smug.
Many a MEGA hot designer - Stella McCartney, Betsey Johnson, Marc Bouwer, Todd Oldham, Oleg Cassini have turned their backs on fur and offer up fur alternatives which are JUST as hot a commodity.
Why J-Lo continues to use FARMED animals, who live in filth until they are brutally killed (sometimes only stunned - and then skinned alive) is nothing short of sickening.
Don't support this cold ass bi-otch as long as she continues to pimp out road kill.
Seriously - do people STILL wear fur???
Is that not the most TACKY thing you could do?
Yeah - it was cool for Eartha Kitt back in the day - but come on...J-Lo???
Grow up hon..
Someone oughtta wax her back and make a muff out of her uni-brow.
See how she likes it.
Anyway - If this interests you at all - follow this link and learn how you can help stop the fur trade.

Night,

Dan

My First Vegan Meal Day Plan

2006-06-12T04:37:00.000-07:00

Today I made my first-ever conscious effort to eat 100% vegan.
Not as hard as I thought, really.

Here is my meal plan for the day:

Breakfast:
1 cup of organic grape juice
1 cup of granola
1 banana (sliced and put IN granola)
1/2 cup of Soy milk over cereal and fruit

Comments: I LOVED this breakfast. This was one of the most satisfying morning meals I've had in a long time. I don't think a vegan breakfast will be very hard to get used to.

Lunch:
1 can of soup - carrot and butter-bean (absolutely NO eggs or dairy - I checked the can)
1 green apple
1 bottle of water

Comments: Very yummy. At the same time - pretty plain and pretty typical. Soup and an apple. Nothing special -but - it's pretty much what I have everday for lunch anyway...no real challenge here though. Would have gone well with a piece of Manna Bread, but unfortunately, left it at home. More on Manna Bread in another blog.
Great lunch for work ...I think sandwiches will be a challenge...so far so good, I am full.

Din-Din:
1 cup of soy milk
1 green apple
1/4 cup of non-salted, shelled sunflower seeds
An average-size slice of tofu-soy fake "mozarella" cheese (for extra calcium)
pretty MAJOR bowl of salad w/ lettuce, green peas, radish
crusty croutons (made with - to my delight SOY!)
and - a vegan-friendly soy-based zesty oriental-type dressing!

Comments: A good supper. The salad was very much a dinner-sized salad, so I was completely full. With the fruits, tofu/soy and veggies - I think I definetely had my fair share of proper calcium and protein (especially w/ the dark greens in the salad). For the most part - I am completely stuffed and satisfied. Will it take some getting used to? I think so. Is it POSSIBLE to eat this way EVERY day - sure. Can I do it...I don't know yet.

I must say though - all things aside - writing down what I ate today was a FANTASTIC excercise. I really watched what I ate and thought about anything I was contemplating eating VERY hard. I'm not much of a nutritionist at ALL - anyone who konws me can attest - but, I don't think I ate half bad today.
I might even drop a few pounds outta this... you just never know.

Went for a walk with Life Partner in the evening. We walked by an icrecream store and I felt my buttcheeks TWITCH with desire for a nice creamy scoop of chocolate dairy heaven.

I withheld myself.

"The lord is my sheppard," I whispered in my head. "I shall not want."

But fuck that! I wanted it. I wanted it so bad I could almost taste its creamy cow-goodness.

But I withheld.
Bravo to moi.

Tomorrow, I'll kick this blog up a notch.

Day One: A complete success.

Night,

Dan

VEGAN POETRY

2006-06-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my "side-project-blog".
A little something I call Vegan Poetry.
It's a record, if you will.
I've been a vegetarian for 4 months now (after on-again-off-again stints with vegetarianism for over 10 years,) and so far, so good.
I don't miss meat a single bit.
Knock on wood.
Cross your fingers.
Spit.
In fact - I think I am going to try to attain the unthinkable: start a VEGAN diet!
Not the easiest thing in the world - and while I KNOW I am (hopefully) off meat forever - I don't know if I am able to make the same promise about sticking to a completely vegan diet.
That's the point of this blog.
This blog will document my struggles day-by-day.
My road blocks, what I miss, what I find hard to replace, and some fantastic vegan substitutes.
So...you can expect recipes, and meal plans, brand reviews, supplement reviews, and activism on this blog.
And probably a FEW failures on my part, particularily when it comes to cheese on pizza.

Truth is, I really know NOTHING about being a vegan.

Each and every day will be a learning process for me and could quite possibly be RIDDLED with fuck-ups.

It's gonna be a bumpy ride through the green forest.

But hopefully, a few of you might even be inspired to come along for the stroll...

'Night,

Dan