SoulVeggie

MC Newsletter: Msg. from Howard, Heart Healthy Pizza, Pink Slime

The Intro and TOC:

"Howdy!  Welcome to the 72nd issue of the Mad Cowboy Newsletter.

Today we've got a special end-of-the-year letter from Howard, and an announcement about the new "Heart Healthy Pizza" cookbook (with a Foreward by Howard).

In this edition of the newsletter, you'll learn about the prolific and knowledgeable Dr. Greger's new website, "NutritionFacts" with superb short videos on scores of topics.  There's also information in this issue about which food companies are spending the most on lobbying Congress, a new report on the state of America's Heart Health, and how a very large study indicates that vegetables and fruits significantly lower your risk of strokes.

Reading further, find out about the world's "toughest woman" (hint: she's vegan), see a video of former President Clinton discussing his vegan diet, find out what vegan Ellen Degeneres is up to, and  the stats in a recent survey by the Vegetarian Resource Group on the number of vegans in the United States.  Monsanto has some serious problems, cows contribute much more to Global Climate Change than previously thought, the movie "Farmageddon" is screened on Capitol Hill, crows have a "danger" tool, and the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act is being legally challenged.

As usual, there's an abundance of new items in the Mad Cow Info Round-Up ("Pink Slime?") and lots to see and hear in the Vegan Digital Media Theater.

... as always, a tip of the hat to our new subscribers:  y'all can browse/search through past issues at the Mad Cowboy Newsletter Archives at:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/
Wishing all readers a bountiful, exciting, and rewarding New Year!

Best regards, Mark    MC editor/webmaster
[Note: have posted draft Table of Contents and Recipe Index for "Heart Healthy Pizza" at:

http://www.hearthealthypizza.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• 00: A Special Holiday Message from Howard
• 01: The Vegan Mind-Bender Contest Winner/Challenge!
• 02: Announcing the "Heart Healthy Pizza" Cookbook
• 03: Mad Cow Info Round-Up
• 04: NutritionFacts, Food Lobbying, US Heart Health, Lower Strokes
• 05: Toughest Woman, Vegan Clinton, Ellen's Site, No. of US Vegans
• 06: Vegan Digital Media Theater
• 07: Monsanto Bugged, New Cow Gas Stats, Food/2011, Farmageddon
• 08: Corp./Animal Rights, Swine Case, Crow Tools, AETA Challenged
• 09: Quick Bytes
• 10: Closing Thoughts

Direct Link to the New Issue:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mad_Cowboy/message/95

Possible Heart Healthy Pizza Tester?

Still trying to find his e-mail address.  Figure he's a natural for testing some of my Heart Healthy Pizza Cookbook recipes:

FYI, Mark Twitter @solveggie @hhealthypizza

Video: Dr. Novick Contrasts Sugar, Oil, & Junk Food

Here's a neat short video of Dr. Novick contrasting Sugar, Oil, & Junk Food.  Interesting and thoughtful approach that I find most useful.  Sorry to have not blogged much recently, but I'm on the final laps of getting my own no-added oil plant-based cookbook out.  Working on 1st major edit, and when the 2nd major edit is done, I should be able to announce it (although it won't be available until late September or early October).  Dying to announce the title.  Best to all, Mark

Clip: USDA Recalls 96,000 lbs. of Tainted Beef from One Family

[From The Onion News Network]

Conan Clip: "Hunting Tofurkey"

It's short, around a minute, but funny.  Personally, I've never found Tofurkey appealing on any level.  Sure, if it helps some people adapt, go for it.  But I'd never serve it to people I care for (let alone, spend that kind of money on this product that could be used so much more effectively elsewhere):

VIDEO: "PCRM'S New Anti-McDonald's Commercial - "Consequences""

It's certainly controversial, and rightly so, but I think it's a fair, 30 second shot, at a company that is killing a lot of people through their unhealthy food, contributions to polluting the environment (be it trash or support of Factory Farming), and is even fighting to keep toys with "Happy Meals," knowing full well that if you hook'm young, you'll get them for life (albeit, a shortened one).

Here's a link to the PCRM page where it's also posted with some information.  And apparently, many people in South Florida won't be able to see it.  Nice work, PCRM. Over a million views on YouTube already.

Video Review: "Chow Down," Heart Disease, & Blockage Bob

"Chow Down" is the story of three people, who when faced with heart disease, decide to follow Dr. Esselstyn's advice and follow a no-added fat vegan diet.  Uplifting, with insightful commentaries from Dr. Esselstyn and Dr. T. Colin Campbell (among other experts), this DVD also includes some clever explanatory animations. 

"...CHOW DOWN exposes the three factors that fatally impact our country’s health: the medical community’s allegiance to the status quo, the government’s allegiance to the food industry, and Americans’ allegiance to cheap, convenient food." [from the "Chow Down" website with a trailer]

Emotionally and intellectually convincing, with a lot of disturbing statistics, the authors and producers of "Chow Down" should be praised for taking on a hard topic and pulling few punches.  The medical establishment has been inept in ignoring the solution to what they have not been able to do:  reverse heart disease via a no-added fat vegan diet, as Drs. Ornish and Esselstyn have proven through, collectively, 40+ years of peer-reviewed research.

The problem is a serious one:

"Estimates for the year 2006 are that 81,100,000 people in the United States have one or more forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD)"  [Source:  American Heart Association]

Here's a fun embedded animation from the DVD (also available at the website here) on "Blockage Bill" and what really causes most strokes, dispelling a common myth.

It's also worth noting that Dr. Esselstyn believes that it is added [not a real food anyway] oil or fat, that fuels development of these smaller plaques and the potentially devastating consequences:

"...Every forkful [or spoonful] of fat [or oil], he [Esselstyn] says, causes an immediate biochemical assault on the endothelium, the lining of the arteries. White blood cells collect there, gobbling up bad cholesterol and creating fatty deposits over time. For many people, especially those who smoke or have other risk factors, accumulation of plaque is a time bomb for a coronary event..." [Excerpt Source]

Everyone needs to be aware of the truth, not only why we are dying in epidemic numbers by various degenerative diseases, but how we can prevent, stop, and reverse that process. This fine DVD is a very big step forward in getting the word out.  Kudos to "Peanut Butter Productions" for all their hard work.  Lives will be saved by your efforts, and you have every right to be proud.

Video Clip: Colbert vs. PETA vs. Joe Biden

This was a quick and witty bit by Stephen Colbert regarding PETA's concern about Joe Biden giving US soldiers hot dogs.  Satirical in nature, it actually supports PETA if you, well, "read between the lines."

Video Clip: Stephen Colbert Interviews President of the American Meat Institute

Just unbeliveably hilarious and spot on.  He really nails the Pres. on several topics and it's a true joy to watch.

FYI, Mark

Video "Mockumentary:" The Majestic Plastic Bag

A four minute stunning parody of a BBC nature film: the plastic bag as a successful organism, accompanied by serious "English-accented" voice, describing it's life cycle.  The video is for a really important activist cause in California, and it's points are made in a very sly and clever fashion.  Enjoy!