Paying Attention

So now that I've made my switch to being vegan, I'm slowly working the rest of all of my vices out of the woodwork. During this process, I've noticed something else has arisen, unexpectedly. I've become hyper-aware of all the bullshit in advertising and the media.

I can't explain it, or even put a finger on where it's coming from. I can, however, tell you that it's a burning fire of anger that usually crops up hearing pure and utter crap. This usually culminates in an intense desire to punch the fuck out of my television, toss it out the window, hit it with my car, set it on fire, and then take a steaming whizz on the ashes. Realistically, it's not my television's fault - nor do I feel like replacing it, quite yet, so I've managed to contain my Office Space moment.

Here's are a few examples of stuff that I've seen recently. The Biggest Loser on NBC is a great inspirational show I concede, hence why I was watching it. The commercials that regularly go out during the show it seems are not enough advertisement. So, NBC has sold little minispots during the show for which the producers cleverly disguise into the show (for which these exists not enough sarcasm for me to express how blatant they are). Once of these big minispots that comes up often is for Extra Sugar Free Gum. I could tolerate this, despite the fact that it only has 5 calories a slice because it's a chemical shitstorm and is sweetened with aspartame... yum!

I could not forgive the 2 minute infomercial they did for cow's milk. Boasting the nutritional benefits and re-emphasizing the high source of protein and calcium contained within. Furthermore, they added dialogue that implied that if you don't drink milk you won't get calcium anywhere else. What they forgot to mention was the blood and pus that goes into every glass, along with the hormones, antibiotics, and chemical crap that gets poured into this "nectar of the gods." The conveniently leave all of these details out to promote this known carcinogen.

This shames me, tremendously. Not in the fact that a majority of Americans are ignorant to the negative aspects of drinking dairy; but that I live in a country whose government actually subsidizes and advertises for this industry (Happy cows come from California was a government ad campaign). It shames me that when I get the question, "But where do you get your calcium," that people look at me like I've grown a third head when I explain I get it from the same place the cow's do... greens. It's like they thought that cow's were blessed with a special organ in their bodies that makes calcium.

Another gem of a commercial is for a well-known spaghetti sauce that depicts a young boy feeding his vegetables to his dog, day after day. Then the narrator comes over, "You don't know where you kid's vegetables go" and then he sells Ragu as the savior! Kids won't give their tomato sauce to their dogs; they will actually eat it, because it's so good! And then mom can benefit by knowing that their child has had their vegetable serving! Isn't that RAD!

You know what happened when I didn't finish my plate as a kid? I was forced to do it or I might get punished. Being punished did not amount to "time-out." It generally involved a belt, and my soon to be red ass. I never even considered feeding food I didn't like to a dog, or hiding it. If I was caught - it would be a veritable shitstorm. I ate what was given to me - including meat (and this my parents did have to force down). Hell - as a punishment, my parents once made me eat scrambled eggs without ketchup. That was fucking hell.

Furthermore, this brand of spaghetti sauce isn't the health food that it's made out to be. Certainly, there are much worse - but christ. It has added sugar and salt as two of the main ingredients along with the ubiquitious "Natural Flavors" which could be anything from ground up insects to something further processed. Furthermore, it has oil and more oil added. Adding olive oil wasn't enough - they had to add some soybean oil later on. Let's add in the fact that we've got dehydrated vegetables in this mix. So, don't give me this crap that it's going to be good for kids.

You know what red pasta sauce is supposed to be? A blend of vegetables in a tomato sauce and not some cheap slew of crap with added sugar and salt. The natural sugars of the tomato and other vegetables should be enough... but not for our American pallets. We have to go and fuck up what nature gave us. Which leads to processed crap in a jar and the advertisements telling us how healthy it is.

It's not and it makes me ill that I bought this bullspit for so long and it's be perpetrated upon the American public. Just say it for what it is, "Because we're a nation of convenience, come buy our processed jar of shit that you can leave in a cabinet for a year without fear of spoilage and dump it on some equally processed pasta and you can pretend that this is a healthy alternative - and you can make it in 15 minutes!"

You have been terminated ....

Random irritation: I’m writing this blog at Starbucks because I’m getting new tires put on my car. Confused? Starbucks is next to the Pep Boys. I had planned on logging on the net and writing a bit, but instead of doing that, I’m writing this in Word to upload later because it seems that Starbucks and AT&T have partnered up to charge for wireless access at Starbucks.

Do you not make enough money off the coffee to provide this service? Seriously? Why is it that the independent coffee houses that I go to can, but Starbucks cannot? Didn’t you just raise your drink prices? Really?

I shall not be coming here to write again. Just sayin’…

So… today a chapter closed in the story of my life. I officially saw, “Terminated” next to my name at Daylight Transport. It was a good farewell, however. My coworkers, led by a friend, decorated my desk with balloons and then had an afternoon potluck. What I found most touching: they considered my vegan lifestyle.

I ate a few jokes about eating only carrots, but they actually had a ton of veggie options. Bread, some gorgeous vegetable platters with green beans and cherry tomatoes to boot, and a nice spread of fresh fruit were included. It gets better. I’m not sure who or what started this movement or who really contributed or participated in its funding so I’m trying to be mindful to not say names in the effort of appearing ungrateful – so to all and especially a certain Southerner who seemed to be at this charge I offer my thanks - but they even included some hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and falafel. It was quite nice to see that they cared that much.

I managed to even get some die hard meat eaters to try some of the veg options!
Regardless, it was a pleasant parting. I left on good terms and can be rehired in the future. I have nothing against Daylight – I’ve been treated with respect so I can’t speak to anything negative. I do wish they’d put a little greater emphasis on personal development with their employees, which I mentioned in my exit interview. So to those whom I worked with who may have expected some dramatic rant – I am sorry to disappoint.

I know, it’s so unlike me…

I thought it was time...

I've lost all excuses for not writing, so I figured it was about that time to start it again, or at least, more frequently.

For those who know me in the real world, some may be aware that a big change is coming ahead, as in the next week or so. If this catches you by surprise, then you'll have to stay tuned or watch Facebook. Some good things are headed my way, and they'll bring some peace to other aspects of my life, which is always a good thing.

So, instead of talking about any of the past topics that I've said I was going to cover, I've decided to address the elephant in the room (or at least the suspected elephant in the room). I've been vegetarianish for the past 5 years (the occasional fish) but as of a little over a month ago, I've realized that I couldn't maintain this excusatarian - I cannot talk credit for this term - lifestyle and have gone totally vegan.

I can tell you what set this in motion. On a date, a little over a month ago, I was meeting this guy at a Borders Books, and while waiting, I decided to look at the Fitness section and stumbled across a book, whose title just caught my eye: Skinny Bastard. I picked up the book and started reading, and was so enthralled by what I read that I ended up buying the book while on the date with this guy. I read the whole thing within about 2 days, and immediately scrambled for more material. The book opened my eyes, not only to how bad animal products are for human consumption, but the treatment of domesticated animals by man.

I should have prefaced this blog with, I became excusatarian because I did not like the taste of beef or pork and decided that I did not need to eat them, if I did not like them. I was aware these products weren't the best for you, but didn't make the connection to animal rights yet.

Back to the present day, within 4 days of reading the first few sentences in that book, I went full fledged vegan. I've since then poured myself into reading and watching as much as I can about a variety of these topics: animal rights, animal husbandry, history of our agrarian society, veganism, health concerns due to a meat centered diet, the rise of our fast food society, and a ton more. Any book or documentary I can find, I try to gobble up - I'll list a few movies at the end of the blog that are just fascinating, but not pushy. I've started to marathon through a vegan podcast that has about 3 years worth of podcasts called Food for Thought that is so well done and informative, along with emotional at times.

It's been a bit of an adjustment, but really smooth overall. I love eating well, and healthy and don't find that I miss any of the foods I used to eat at all (butter included!) I've found substitutions that work for any situation and am having so much fun trying out new vegetables every week! Bok Choy here I come!

The guy that I went on the date with is already history, but this lifestyle change still remains; however, I do feel myself becoming one of "those people." And by "those people," I mean the ones that turn their noses up at meat. I don't throw paint on fur, and I'm not going to leave the table if my dinner guest orders a hamburger; but I can't promise not to give a dirty look at the plate. I won't tell you where it comes from while your masticate your ground leg or shoulder; unless you ask, then it's fair game!

I did this for me, not for you. I want to live my life in the most nonviolent way possible. Eating meat is violent and not in line with my values. This progress is good for me: respect that.

On a lighter note, my step-brother asked me how my romantic life was going and his is fairing as bad as mine. He said something about more fish in the sea. This has coined the new tagline for my love life: "A Catch and Release program."

Movies:
Food, Inc - nominated for an Academy Award this year and you can watch it instantly on Netflix
Super Size Me
Fast Food Nation

Books:
Diet for a Small Planet
Skinny Bastard

Podcasts:
Food for Thought - www.compassionatecooks.com