SoulVeggie

This clever Embeddable Flash Animation showing icons representing numbers of animals being killed in "real time" for food in the United States is available at the very interesting website:  Animal Visuals.  Check it out!

Average & Total Numbers of Animals Who Died to Feed Americans in 2008

Stunning piece of work from valid statistical sources, broken down in detail by type of animal as well as year.  Note that 8.5 billion land animals died, and some 71 billion sea animals.  There's a bunch of interesting and appalling stats herein, but the grand finale:

ALL ANIMALS
Total number died for food: 80 billion
Average number consumed per American meat-eater: 270
Average number consumed per American lifetime: 21,000

... tells the sad tale.  You can read this all in greater detail here.  Kudos for Noam (and UPC) for the fine work.

Promoting Vegan Junk Food Forever & Instant Karma

Without realizing the temporal consequences, many vegan bloggers have taken a liking to receiving free vegan food products from companies, and then promoting them, regardless of the nutritional content, and generally ignoring same.  They praise and praise the products, offer giveaways, and all to drive more traffic to their blog.  They usually cite product claims straight from the company's website without investigating their validity.

I've written about this many times.  Most recently here, here, and here.

In correspondence with a long-term vegan online friend today (and owner of an extremely popular vegan blog), my friend pointed out that these bloggers are, in effect, promoting unhealthy (fatty, salty, sugary) junk food to the vegan community, and since they've blogged about the product, they have, in effect, provided FREE ADVERTISING FOR THIS JUNK FOOD FOREVER.

How proud they must be... a new term comes to mind to describe them:  the Perpetual Vegan Shill. 

Encouraging people to buy and consume excessively fatty fake cheeses, ridiculous fatty and sugar-laden candy bars, and other nutritionally useless products.  And with the Internet, it's forever on their blogs.  They should be totally ashamed, especially those bloggers who extoll "healthy" vegan food and "no to low fat vegan recipes" on their blogs but get all excited about giving away highly processed vegan junk food.

But wait!  They'll get more free vegan products to eat and write about, and the cycle perpetuates itself.

Very very sad.  Selling your vegan soul for free products by promoting vegan junk food, forever... and in return for encouraging people to eat badly, you get more free food and more hits!  Is it really worth it?

IMHO, to quote John Lennon, "Instant karma's gonna get you."

[09_0911:  Addendum:  Wow!  The Happy Shillavore has just posted another giveway of Newman's Own Chocolate Bars (only if you subscribe to her Newsletter).  How weird.... a vegan chef promoting no to low-fat vegan recipes giving away free high fatty/sugary vegan candy bars (nutritional analysis and original commentary here) to stimulate site hits and Newsletter subscriptions  How sad.]

The Controversial Muppet Hunt

The 1980s TV comedy ensemble, "Friday's" was quite edgy and at times better than SNL.  Here's where they satirize "seal hunts" and aside from being funny,  it's quit clever and makes a good statement about how wrong and evil the real hunts are.  The "stab" later at those who wear fur is priceless.  Enjoy!

PETA Video: Jiminy Glick Interviews Ronald McDonald

Jiminy Glick Interviews 'Ronald McDonald'

Bonus Footage of Glick and McDonald.

Superb Article about Howard Lyman, aka, "The Mad Cowboy"

During years of working with Howard I've reviewed many articles about him.  The following is likely the best and most spot-on I've seen.  It's also current, although Howard's 71st birthday will be in mid-September.  It's also worth noting that not only is he a self-proclaimed "hard core" animal rights vegan, he is dedicated thoroughly to a no added fat/oil regimen with as little salt and sugar as possible.

Here's some short edits from the article here (and below);

"...Decades before cult foodie books "Fast Food Nation" and "The Omnivore's Dilemma" topped best-seller lists, or this summer's shock documentary "Food, Inc." hit theaters, Lyman was speaking what he calls "the straight facts." The message was this: Corporate greed is killing American agriculture, and we're digging more graves with our forks than any other tool..."

"...It takes the amount of material to cover the sharp end of a pen to cause mad cow disease in a human, and you've got anywhere between 200 and 1,000 different animals in one 4-ounce burger?" Lyman said. "Not a good idea to me..."

"...Lyman regularly travels the country speaking his simple message: If we don't watch what we feed ourselves, and how we utilize our planet, we're going to go just like the dinosaurs.

"The more I learned about it, the greatest feeling I had was knowing that no animal had to die for me to live," Lyman said. "But when I stopped and looked at it, my health, or the health of the animals, is insignificant compared to the health of the planet..."

Check it out!

[Mad Cowboy website, free Mad Cowboy e-Newsletter]

New Film Trailer: "What's "Organic" About Organic?"

"[This film]... rings the alarm for the need to develop an ecological consciousness.  The film illustrates that the organic food debate extends well beyond personal choice and into the realm of social responsibility.

Each of the film’s characters is intimately connected to the organic world; they’re farmers, activists, and scientists.  While many folks can easily endorse “organic,” the characters in the film take the discussion beyond just shopping for another eco-label. As we glimpse into each of their lives, we see how organic agriculture has the potential to solve many of our environmental and health problems.  The film will explore how organic farming can be used as a soil and air protection system, a healthy solution to toxic pollution, and an innovative means to combat global warming.

WHAT’S ORGANIC ABOUT “ORGANIC?” delves into the debates that arise when a grassroots agricultural movement evolves into a booming international market.  As the film moves from farm fields to government meetings to industry trade shows, we see the hidden costs of conventional agriculture.  We also see how our health, the health of our planet, and the agricultural needs of our society are all intimately connected.  The film compels us to look forward, towards a new vision for our culture and encourages us to ask, “What should our future food system look like?”

[Love the phrase: "conscientious consumption" from the trailer.  The "about" excerpt above is from the really kewl and resource-full website here.  Check it out and pass the URL around. Oh, and go low-fat vegan... been too busy harvesting, preserving, planting, watering to do much else than this quickie post... still slow in typing with finger recovering...]

New Surgeon General: Do as I Say (Not as I Do)

Obama just announced his pick for Surgeon General, and I've this nagging concern about her appointment.  Sure, she's got an impressive resume of achievements, motivation, compassion, and intelligence.  But, and I'm probably going to take some heat for this, is this enough?

"The president praised her [Dr. Regina Benjamin] as a "relentless promoter of prevention and wellness," and a New York Times profile of her work in Bayou La Batre called her an "angel in a white coat." She even won a prestigious "genius" grant from the MacArthur Foundation last year. There's no question she's an accomplished doctor familiar with the struggles of the poor and disadvantaged."  (from here).

Her role is to be the "Nation's Doctor."   Clearly she's qualified, has the chops to do this, and well.   So what's bugs me?

Dr. Benjamin, with all due respect, you are appear to be severely overweight.  Have seen the photos.  You've two, almost three, chins.  In your role as Surgeon General, you'll probably wail against obesity, the faux food that people consume that promote obesity and resulting related "diseases:"  heart, diabetes, Altzheimer's, cancer... and I've no doubt that you'll push hard to get the need for US citizens to eat heathy, exercise, and get healthy (and also, thereby reducing the incredible cost these "metabolic disorders" bring upon our economy, let alone, the personal & emotional impact upon individuals and families).  You'll also push for universal heath care, and I won't go into the irony of this in that those non-vegans are such an unnecessary burden on the health care "system."

But, Dr. Benjamin, again, with all due respect, what level of credibility does a significantly overweight (and as such, person of higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, Altzheimer's, and cancer) have with just "words?"  How can it be that you are so brilliant, so insightful, so caring, so giving, that you cannot find the discipline, personal will power, and self-examination to maintain a reasonable BMI?  You are a gifted doctor from a State (Alabama) that has an abysmal level of obesity and corresponding or related physical disorders.  Couldn't you muster the intestinal fortitude to keep your weight at a reasonably healthy level?  Can't you be "relentless" in "preventing" your own odds of dis-health in the future by dropping that weight?

Sure, one can "know the wisdom," "pontificate the wisdom," and not "follow the wisdom."  We are, after all, not perfect.  But then, isn't someone obese advising others to eat healthy, exercise, loose the excess weight, and live longer, not unlike an alcoholic lecturing on the evils of alcohol?  For what it's worth, when I see a 'fat' chef, I question the value/wisdom/nature/credibility of his/her "culinary skills."  If you are making healthy meals, you should, imho, be (and at least, appear) healthy.

Anyway, Dr. Benjamin, I sincerely do wish you well in your tenure and hope that you do great good in your role as largely a spokesperson for real health.  I also hope that you consider setting an example:  losing your excess and unhealthy body mass.  That would truly have a powerful positive inspiring impact, underscore the seriousness of your concerns,  and amplify the value, importance, and gravity, of your vital messages.  After all, aren't these your true goals?

...and better yet, why not go low-fat vegan?... and it'll be easy, effective, permanent, and have greater personal and social consequences than just personal or collective health.  The research is in, and the conclusions are obvious. 

One doesn't have to be a "genius" to understand, accept, embrace, and promote them.

Latest Issue of Mad Cowboy Newsletter Now Available

Title:  06_23_09:  Rip's Recipes, Ask a Vegan, & Largest Red Meat Study.

Direct link to online issue.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/message/87

Howdy!  Welcome to the 66th issue of the Mad Cowboy Newsletter.

In this issue we're delighted to provide a preview of our upcoming interview with the amazing vegan firefighter/author, Rip Esselstyn, in the form of two of his favorite recipes.  Rip's the son of Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and has built upon his father's remarkable research via some very practical and easy-to-do ways in his diet/exercise/lifestyle book, "The Engine 2 Diet."

Moving on further, we'll note a study indicating that fish oil doesn't help your heart via Omega-3, some new finds about the benefits of broccoli, results of the largest study of red meat eaters in history, and more indications that high-fat food inflames your circulatory system.  You'll learn about the "Ask a Vegan" booth in New York, some vegan survival tips, resources for learning about animal rights/issues, and the consequences off going veg for just one day.

Continuing in this edition, we've got some gourmet viewing experiences in our Vegan Digital Theater, some details stats and studies showing that our industry-produced produce is definitely less nutritious than it used to be, some great links about the White House Garden (including remarks by Michelle last week during the first major harvest), and a list of 8 ways to eat locally...  some new resource links have been added to "Quick Bytes" and don't miss some of the articles during the "Mad Cow Info Round-Up."

... as always, a tip of the hat to our new subscribers:  y'all can browse past issues at the Mad Cowboy Newsletter Archives.

Best wishes for this start of a new summer and may your gardens be bountiful, healthy, and inspiring!

Mark, MC editor/webmaster

***********************************************
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

00: Quote(s) from Howard
01: A Mad Cowboy Invite to AR2009
02: The Vegan Mind-Bender Contest Winner/Challenge!
03: Recipes from "The Engine 2 Diet" by Rip Esselstyn
04: Mad Cow Info Round-Up
05: Fish Oil No Help, Brocc Talk, Largest Meat Study, Fat Inflames
06: Ask a Vegan, Vegan Survival Tips, Learning AR, 1 Day Veg
07: Vegan Digital Theater
08: Food Less Healthy, White House Veggies,  8 Ways to go Local
09: Quick Bytes
10: Closing Thoughts

Love Dad? Don't Serve Him This Dad's Shortcake

I enjoy Vegan Dad's unbelievable creativity, and often healthy recipes, so it's a real disappointment to read this one.  Not only is it a disservice to cardiovascular systems everywhere, it was put into that newsletter by a well (and usually deservedly so) respected and tireless activist organization, FARM, as part of their "Meatless Mondays" campaign.

Here's the math on the recipe linked above:  5 tbls. of Earth Balance is  60 grams of PURE 100% NON FOOD FAT.  Trader Joe's Soy Creamer, at the amount suggested, is 18 grams of fat.  That's 78 grams of FAT total coupled with sugar, flour, and fruit.

In perspective, assuming 4 servings for the recipe, that's over 19 grams of FAT per serving.  The guys who reversed and prevented heart disease, Ornish and Esselstyn, and Barnard (who reversed Type II diabetes), recommend no more than 14 to 20 grams of fat PER DAY.  The Feds:  60 grams of fat per day.  At 6 servings, the recipe is still plain awful from a heart healthy perspective. Even the somewhat conservative American Heart Association would be concerned about the amount of saturated fat in this recipe (120% of daily recommended assuming 4 servings), and that's really unfortunate.

Considering the rate of heart disease (strokes/attacks) preponderant in fathers over 45 years old, this recipe is an insult.  This is an extremely high fat dessert, who's nutritional value is diluted by refined flour, sugar, and a helluva lot of FAT (highly processed, nutritionally useless, non-food goop).

Put the blueberries in a bowl, and if you must, add some soy milk and a pinch of sweetner.  Then you can match your actions with the words:  "I love you, Dad" and really mean it.

A heart healthy diet would not include this shortcake.  The last time I noted an excessively fatty recipe posted in the newsletter I was told me that it still encouraged people to go vegan and save more animals from dying as food.  So it was "okay."

But, at what human cost?  Did this approach forget that we're animals too, and dying in large numbers by heart disease linked to excessive consumption of fat?  I wonder if in the zeal to "save the animals," via (still unhealthy) vegan foods, and meals, some people miss that caring about animals means caring about people, too.  And yes, I've promoted Vegan Dad's cookbook in a newsletter.  It's a fine piece of work (the book).  But, this newsletter editor might have provided a healthier recipe from Vegan Dad's book.

I did, and it wasn't difficult.