Comments KathyF has made

Again, with feeling

Once again I'm logging in to say, Gore's endorsement of Dean was NOT botched! I was there. I had to answer the phone calls that were ringing off the wall after that endorsement, deal with the people who walked in off the streets to see who this Howard Dean was that Al Gore endorsed. We got a huge bounce in the polls after that endorsement.

It also served to put the other candidates on notice, and in addition, the Club for Growth, who all ran anti-Dean ads in Iowa. (Remember that "Howard Dean supporters are Volvo-driving liberals?)

It was the fallout of the negative advertising that killed Dean, not the endorsement.

That said, I don't think a Gore endorsement would be nearly as valuable as Grist readers imagine. The Kennedy endorsement was pretty much as big as they come, unless someone has a direct line to JFK. It may, however, make just enough difference to matter in California, which is probably going to be very, very close.

So I hope he does endorse. On If Gore's endorsement could make the difference, will he give it? posted 1 year, 10 months ago 5 Responses

One important thing

You forgot to take into account one important thing, and that's how green--literally--these cities are. One thing I love about London is its "greenness"; i.e., its parks, grass, trees, etc. No other European city I've been in has as many green spaces as London. It wasn't until after I left Florence after a visit that I realized why I was uncomfortable there: no trees.

I live in the Green Belt, the lungs of the metropolis, and  would be miserable anywhere else. On How do U.K. cities stack up in terms of sustainability? posted 2 years ago 1 Response

Swiftboating

Please don't confuse this with swiftboating. John Kerry was attacked with charges that weren't true. As far as I can tell, these accusations are completely true. On Same as it ever was posted 2 years, 9 months ago 37 Responses

David

I've reread Jason's post and fail to find anything offensive in it. Can you point out exactly what is so offensive about his remarks?

Or are you really that thin skinned?On How do you choose yours? posted 2 years, 9 months ago 54 Responses

Look! Over there!

It's another example of one of those vegans who cares more for animal suffering than for human suffering. /sarcasmOn How do you choose yours? posted 2 years, 9 months ago 54 Responses

I third Caniscandida!

I too read the FZ piece and it sounded reasonable to me. Is there any argument about the inevitable climate change he mentions? Should we really be considering our positions with regard to coastal cities, etc? (I'm asking seriously, as a non-scientist.)On It's seductive -- and wrong posted 2 years, 9 months ago 54 Responses

hot house flowers

This morning Farming Today quoted a study that said it was better carbon-wise to buy roses flown in from Africa than grown in a hot-house in The Netherlands.

(This is for the UK, obviously, not the US.))On 'Flower Confidential' has the dirt on the floral industry posted 2 years, 9 months ago 2 Responses

Politician

I hate to break the news to Zarkov, but anyone elected to the office of president will be, by definition, a politician.

So we'd better start accepting some politician-like behaviour from men and women whose hearts are in the right place. Otherwise our fanciful dreams will remain dreams, and reality will be a nightmare.

Comparing Obama to Bush is about as helpful as comparing Kennedy to Nixon: Aye, they were both men.On Watch Obama's video posted 2 years, 9 months ago 13 Responses

My nightmare visions

of the future involve everyone living in cities. If this is the only way to save the earth for humanity, then thanks, but no thanks. I'd prefer to check out.On Is it greener after all? posted 2 years, 9 months ago 76 Responses

Chicken

I read more than I ever wanted to know about chicken in the book Bird Flu by Michael Greger (available online for free, www.birdflubook.com) and of the many gross tidbits is the fact that they soak the carcasses in a water bath (full of fecal material from thousands of birds) until they fill up with water, thus allowing more profit. This water is the "juice" of the chicken.

I like your "rules". That's a great start, and there are no end of delicious veg recipes out there to keep you occupied. I credit Mollie Katzen with teaching me how to cook vegetarian.

Oh, and the blog FatFreeVegan has some of the most delicious looking recipes and photos I've ever seen, with none of the deprivation the name implies.

Also, try the library for vegetarian cookbooks, to save money.On That's it for me and industrial meat posted 2 years, 9 months ago 46 Responses

a year

Sorry, those figures were for a year.On Why the vegetarian critique of meat-eating should make meat-eaters squirm posted 2 years, 9 months ago 103 Responses

Not only that

but it will now be mandatory to teach global warming in schools here. I guess the film is supposed to make that easier.On An Inconvenient Truth to show in U.K. schools posted 2 years, 9 months ago 2 Responses

I went to

a renewable energy fair once, and there were lots of industry sponsors there. Are you saying the solar engineers who attended were then unduly influenced?

Other professional conferences are full of corporate sponsors too, helping to foot the bill.

Or are dietitians the only professionals who are susceptible to influence from industry?On There's nothing healthy about the American Dietary Association's addiction to corporate cash. posted 2 years, 10 months ago 60 Responses

800 megawatts

"During the switch-off, the power grid operator RTE observed a fall of 800 megawatts, representing just over 1% of France's total consumption."

The Eiffel Tower went dark too.

link hereOn French NGO calls for 5 min. of darkness to protest against climate change. posted 2 years, 10 months ago 2 Responses

Willa

I too like your priorities. I'm co-opting them!

I guess I don't mind "non-food" either. I'm frankly more grossed out by raw tomatoes.On Why the vegetarian critique of meat-eating should make meat-eaters squirm posted 2 years, 10 months ago 103 Responses

I can't believe I missed this great thread!

Dave, everyone here has given you great advice, but let me chime in, since vegan cooking is my thing.

I'm a very lazy person, so trust me when I say you will eventually find cooking a vegan meal is a lot easier than cooking with meat. The vast majority of the meals I cook are on the table in less than 30 minutes. And I don't own a crock pot.

Realize that a plate of plant food has a lot fewer calories than meat. Eat more, and yes, add lots of oil--you can afford it, calorie-wise.

Stop thinking of your plate as being divided into three parts, like one of those Chinet plates. Instead, think of it as a circle, with grains on the bottom, heaped with vegetables and other things on top.

I hear what you say about cheese and dairy--but when you haven't eaten butter in several months, you will find it tastes rancid. I can now detect its presence in a cookie, and it's pretty awful.

BTW, I'm not a 100% vegan--I call myself a "don't ask, don't tell" vegan, meaning if you give me a cookie I don't ask if it's made with eggs, mainly because I don't want to offend. I figure that by following a 98% vegan diet, I'm getting 99% of the benefit, with only about 10% of the effort. It's that last 2% that takes 90% of the effort. (Especially here in England, where restaurants rarely have anything vegan on the menu.)

I post recipes every Wednesday on my blog. Tomorrow will be the red beans and rice we've been eating the last two days. Tonight I served it with bread pudding. (Yes, made without milk or eggs.) I'm stuffed!

To everyone else who's commented, especially about the way vegans are always assumed to be obnoxious: Yes, it does get tiresome to always carry the burden of that obnoxious, pale and sickly vegan everyone else seems to know! Personally, I've had it with meat eaters whose first reaction to learning I'm vegan is to sneer, to brag about how much meat they eat, to shove their steak in my face, to make the same unfunny jokes repeatedly--yet I recognize that these people are, thankfully, in the minority. Most people could care less what I eat.

For LauraK, a book recommendation: Peter Singer's The Way We Eat: Why our food choices matter. There's a lot in there about slaughterhouses, poultry farms, and other issues. He goes way beyond Pollan in examining where our food comes from.

And Patrick, I may be the exception to your experience with vegans who don't care about human suffering. I can't watch my daughter's basketball games without crying every time one of the girls gets hurt. It's so bad I have to wear dark sunglasses now to hide my tears.

Happy eating, everyone!On Why the vegetarian critique of meat-eating should make meat-eaters squirm posted 2 years, 10 months ago 103 Responses

Sci Fi

Oh, it was supposed to be science fiction? No wonder it made no sense!On Oscar talk posted 2 years, 10 months ago 8 Responses

My favorite

Gar, I particularly like your #7. I currently get all my protein from plant sources, and couldn't be happier, or healthier.

Have you considered the impact of the methane reductions if this were to happen? (The downside, of course, is that we'd live longer, thus taking up more resources.)

Number 9 is also something I've been advocating, ever since driving the M25 near the Chunnel and seeing the endless line of lorries bringing goods from other  EU countries. Unfortunately thousands of miles of rail have been dug up here in the UK in favor of motorways.

Let me know when that global movement starts, I want in.On A review of Joe Romm's new book posted 2 years, 10 months ago 34 Responses

caniscandida:

Yes, Dennis K. is married, and she is quite striking in appearance. Tall, with long red hair, and extremely articulate too. I think she is vegan, but I'm not sure. I saw a film clip of them in Lebanan after the recent bombings there. On A dispatch from Gore's climate training sessions posted 2 years, 10 months ago 10 Responses

I agree

Every instinct I have tells me he's not running either. He had a perfect opportunity to run in 2004 and he chose not to. Plus, as you say, he'd have to moderate his views and broaden his focus to other issues. Unless a tragedy happens--i.e., we end up with a Dem frontrunner bound to do even more damage--he won't run.On A dispatch from Gore's climate training sessions posted 2 years, 10 months ago 10 Responses

Schweitzer

Now I see the appeal of Brian Schweitzer:

"Mr Google will tell them a whole lot more than Mr Gore".

Thanks for posting; we don't get the Weather Channel here. It's interesting in itself that the Weather Channel, watched by millions of average Americans, is talking so much about the issue. Which is, I think, the consensus of their top 10 stories: that average Americans who shop at WalMart are now clued into the climate issue. Good job; maybe I won't have to hang my head in shame in the future!

(Your head's not big, but have you considered borrowing Al Gore's neck to support it?)On Watch at your own risk posted 2 years, 10 months ago 3 Responses

Sandia Peak

is located several thousand feet above Albuquerque. That's why they get snow there, but when I lived in Abq there were years when they couldn't even open due to lack of snow. In fact, we only had one significant snowfall of 4 inches while I was there. So yeah, this is a pretty major weather event for them. Not to mention there are still people stranded around the area, unable to get off the interstates.

Meanwhile 2006 is the warmest year on record for Great Britain. I'm sure both phenomena have something to do with the fact that I'm here now and not in NM. I am some sort of warm weather angel.On Vancouver's submerged seawall posted 2 years, 11 months ago 31 Responses

Albuquerque,

...New Mexico has 10-24 inches, just in the last day or two. They also had more rain this summer than the last 50 years or more.

Incredible.On Vancouver's submerged seawall posted 2 years, 11 months ago 31 Responses

Ensuring

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the word "ensuring".

Get with the trend!On A blogger suggests a $1.00/gallon fuel tax -- after the first 30 gallons posted 2 years, 11 months ago 19 Responses

From across the Atlantic

I have a slightly different view. I would have put the Stern report first. It's become lexicon here, no introduction needed, whereas the Gore movie hardly played in any cinemas. I would bet more people in Europe have heard of the Stern report than have heard of the movie.

And when I went to the States one of my first stops was Target, where I had to ask three people for the AIT DVD. The first two hadn't heard of it.

Plus, I finally watched it last night. It's really a movie about Al Gore, and how he cares a lot about global warming, rather than a movie about global warming. He is clearly a frame to present the global warming issue, but he remains the focus of the film.On From Stern to Al posted 2 years, 11 months ago 4 Responses

I'm pretty sure

Al Gore had less impact than we think he did. When I was recently home in NE Louisiana, I had to ask three people at Target for the movie An Inconvenient Truth before I found anyone who'd even heard of it. On He shoulda been MotY posted 2 years, 11 months ago 7 Responses

Vegans

My first reaction to the idea of dumb vegans was the number of vegan blogs I've read that eschew capital letters.

And then there was the vegan who refused to sit on a friend's leather couch.

I suspect those were the ones that participated in the survey.On Turns out vegetarians are smart posted 2 years, 11 months ago 25 Responses

Even more blasphemous

I positively HATE raw tomatoes, so I would find the Diana Kennedy recipe vile.

Which just goes to show, don't ever assume everyone has the same taste buds as you.On A Krafty concoction of hydrogenated goo gets its day in court. posted 2 years, 11 months ago 20 Responses

This is why

I strongly feel the issue of global warming should be taken out of the hands of politicians.

Did you read Monbiot's book Heat? I thought it should be subtitled "Why Al Gore Will Never Be Elected President". His solutions are just too unpalatable for most people. A platform of cutting 90% of jet flights, for instance, won't get you elected. Except maybe in Africa, where most people would rather eat than fly.On They say they care, but they never call in the morning posted 2 years, 11 months ago 4 Responses

I might actually like that stuff

Since I don't care for avocados or guacamole, it would be nice to have something avocado-less for a condiment. I've been meaning to try the "mockomole" made from green peas.

So, I would have to say a thunderous "yes!" to faux guacamole. On A Krafty concoction of hydrogenated goo gets its day in court. posted 2 years, 11 months ago 20 Responses

I'm not sure

that his thinking is based "almost purely" on his ethanol position. He was a popular governor in Wisconsin when we lived there, and was one of the more credible members of the Bush administration when he served as secretary.

But as long as Iowa is the first outing in the primary process, we'll hear a lot from candidates about their support for ethanol. Which is why maybe it's a good thing if Vilsack gets in and takes Iowa out of play for the Dems. On Can Thompson become president? posted 3 years ago 5 Responses

Thanks for these suggestions

I love Quorn, but some vegetarians won't eat it, or other meat analogs on aesthetic grounds. For these you'll have to stuff a squash or something.

I am skipping T-Day altogether this year, as the rest of the country refuses to celebrate it with me. I'm off for Cornwall, where I'll probably be having a pasty. Stuffed with Quorn.On Two non-turkey recipes for the Thanksgiving feast posted 3 years ago 19 Responses

In Albuquerque

it's true in New Mexico: the East Mountain area is typically Red, west of the mountains is more bluish.

There are a majority of registered Dems in the district, but many of them are perfectly comfortable voting Republican. I worked on a primary campaign there, and discovered this to my dismay.

I'm still not sure why Patricia's losing. My husband was there the last few days of the campaign and he said every commercial cycle ran a negative ad against her. Heather Wilson bought more ads this election than any other candidate in the nation, fyi.On Race bitter to the very end posted 3 years ago 5 Responses

I don't think

anyone is saying this is a black and white issue. Polls tend to give that impression, however, which is why they aren't much use.

We all tend to see the big grey picture, regardless of our ethnocentristic backgrounds, but some of us are more or less knowledgeable about certain agricultural practices. Doesn't mean we're bad people.On Is banning horse slaughter like banning whaling? posted 3 years ago 37 Responses

If he does

maybe he can swap seats with Lieberman. On Am I the only one ... posted 3 years ago 3 Responses

Actually

it's not true that vegetable proteins are as energy-intensive as eggs and poultry. I don't have the statistics in front of me, but I know there's a pretty significant difference when protein calories are compared with their energy/water usage.

And as for pork being the easiest to absorb, that's, uh, hogwash. Protein is made up of amino acids, and it doesn't matter where you get your amino acids from.

Incidentally, do you know what percentage of protein is in breastmilk, which presumably is the perfect food for the most protein-needy of humans?

It's nothing near what Atkins recommends. It's around 5-6 percent protein.On Go veggie -- a poll posted 3 years ago 41 Responses

I hate all misspelled words

especially when I misspell them.

I like the word Serendipity. I hate the word Slacks. On Apropos of absolutely nothing posted 3 years, 1 month ago 24 Responses

Why do these guys

always have mustaches?On Massey Energy CEO is a really bad dude posted 3 years, 1 month ago 7 Responses

Actually

Kos has had his site removed from the Google search engine. So however they found it it wasn't by googling.On The one does not get the other posted 3 years, 1 month ago 2 Responses

As long as we're talking about sports,

I was wondering the other day, after hearing about the Oxford study that says we can no longer afford, carbon wise, to fly whenever we want, if London would be willing to tell people to Just Stay Home for the 2012 Olympics.On Here comes the stretch ... posted 3 years, 1 month ago 1 Response

I'm a very active Democrat, but

I don't think any politician from any party, in any country, will do what's necessary to halt global warming. Can you honestly see even Al Gore campaigning on a platform to eliminate 90% of commercial jet travel?

The only solution I can comprehend is agreeing to a global panel with the power to implement carbon restrictions. We have to take the issue out of the hands of elected officials.

Sort of like the base closure principle.On When's Obama gonna do something? posted 3 years, 1 month ago 11 Responses

This reminds me of a recent PETA interview

I wonder if you can sympathize with PETA, who get a lot of attention with their "bombs" but very little for their thoughtful insights? A recent interview I heard, where the PETA rep was savaged by the interviewer for an ad saying feeding meat to children is child abuse, seems to bear out the idea that such bombs are emphasized far more than they should be. The message is ignored entirely. On Incentives in modern-day punditry posted 3 years, 1 month ago 10 Responses

Just seeking clarity

"And there is no way we could have gotten there today at that rate of growth."

Can you explain that sentence?On Rethinking 'overpopulation' posted 3 years, 1 month ago 77 Responses

If nothing else

watch the film at the beginning, and the roundtable discussion at the end. Both were less abstract than Al Gore, who really didn't say anything new.

Though I disagree with the panelist from FT, who said the British are much more worried and active in regards to climate change than Americans. Try to put a windmill farm in the English countryside and see how worried the British really are! On 50 minutes of wonky goodness posted 3 years, 2 months ago 1 Response

"Animal rights"

I wish people would stop using that term. What we are actually campaigning for is not for animals to have their civil rights protected, as that would be ridiculous, but for animals to be treated humanely. (Of course when that is the argument, hardly anyone can argue against it, and we win, so there is lots of impetus to change the terms!)

I also wonder why suddenly so much attention is being paid to this issue over here. I can understand why an environmental blog would explore the environmental reasons for not raising animals for food, but why do so many posters here seem to want to stir up arguments that would be better argued elsewhere?

Did anyone here hear the one about the polar caps melting faster than ever? On Can you 'murder' a chicken? posted 3 years, 2 months ago 25 Responses

Am I missing something?

Has there been an outbreak of the use of the word "murder" to describe killing animals? If so I'm unaware of it. Why don't you instead worry about the increased use of the word "it's" to mean "its" which IS widespread.

Also, I think you are doing your children harm by teaching them not to care about the animals in their lives. (How, exactly does one go about this?) Compassion for all creatures is surely a laudable goal, is it not? When my daughter wanted to have a small animal, I talked to her about the emotional commitment she was making, and when I felt sure she understood, I took her to the store, and we made responsible decisions regarding type of pet (a rat) and cage size, etc. While there I ran into a neighbor, and when I asked him what kind of cage he recommended, he said: Get the smallest one. They'll die anyway and you'll end up flushing it down the toilet. I cringed, and wished I'd covered up my daughter's ears from this callous speech.

We both cried buckets when Boyd finally died, but I'm glad I had the opportunity to love the little guy. (It was during Poetry Month and she wrote lots of moving poetry about him.)

I hope you don't share this man's attitude; if so your children are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to experience love for a pet and the joy that comes from that.On Can you 'murder' a chicken? posted 3 years, 2 months ago 25 Responses

not exactly complete

What about women who walk? Perhaps only women who weigh below a certain amount should be encouraged to walk.

Or perhaps we should say only humans who fuel themselves using low petrol-based diets should walk instead of drive.

Someone could come up with a calculator that takes into account all conditions, including food fuel as well as weather conditions, i.e. a stiff wind requiring more calories, walking in the cold vs walking in mild weather, etc. This would allow environmentally correct decisions to be made in every instance.

Is there a grant available for this?On Walking tall tale posted 3 years, 3 months ago 22 Responses

Not doing the maths, but

There I was feeling good despite not biking (see above) and now you tell me walking is no alternative?! Fortunately as a near-vegan I don't eat a typical SAD--Standard American Diet.

So I'll keep on walking, thanks.On Walking tall tale posted 3 years, 3 months ago 22 Responses

Yeah, who are these sub-vegetarians?

Patrick, I was thinking the same thing! Over here (the U.K.) they make fun of American bacon. "You touch it with a fork and it falls apart!" someone told me.On 'Tis the Season (to BLT or not to BLT) posted 3 years, 4 months ago 16 Responses

Input/output revisited

Far, far more petrol is used to fuel the farm equipment that processes the grain that feeds the cows/pigs/chickens that omnivores eat in a week than I use in my car for a year. So please respectfully allow me the use of my car (and other thoughtful vegetarians who occasionally drive) my choice.

I, on the other hand, will continue to criticize the choice you make on environmental grounds since so far I seem to be ahead in saving resources by my choice of diet.

All nose-rubbing aside, it really is an incredibly easy choice to make, giving up meat as opposed to all the other more minor things we can do to save the environment. With all the excellent meat substitutes available it makes no sense to continue to eat flesh, unless one is attached to the eating of flesh for reasons other than taste and texture. Which, from my conversations with omnivores, I suspect is the real truth.
On Vegetarians are ruining our bad headline posted 3 years, 4 months ago 33 Responses