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Maya. Post-BDM. Mal sees the finished painting, and River decides what to do with it. NEW AND CONCLUDING PART
River led him through the linen curtains. "Come and see," she repeated.
"Dear God in Heaven," Mal murmured, taking a step backwards and letting go of her hand. "That's …"
"I wanted to capture it all," the young woman said, not hearing him. But I think I've gone too far." She folded her legs under herself and sank gracefully to the floor.
"Too far?"
"Stolen from them. From you."
He sat down, a little less elegantly, next to her. "How'd you figure that?"
"Taken something I shouldn't."
"Well, my pockets don't seem no lighter than they did this morning. So I think you need to explain a little."
"Captain-dummy talk?" She smiled slightly.
"If at all possible."
She leaned against him. "On Earth-that-was, many cultures believed that taking a picture of someone stole a little piece of their soul. Take too many and they cease to exist."
"And that's what you think you've done here?" he asked, his voice soft, somewhat tender.
"Made it too real. Is it more real than the reality? Is the now fractured because of what I've done?" She shook her head, her dark hair coming undone even more from its haphazard clips. She stood up quickly. "I should destroy it before anyone else sees and becomes entwined in the glamour and can't get loose. Before it sucks the life force from everyone, imprisoning it in canvas and paint." She picked up something from the crate she was using as her table, lifting it high above her, and particles of light were slit along the razor edge.
"Whoa, there," Mal said, scrambling to his feet. "That's sharp." He reached round her, his arm encircling her growing belly, and put his other hand on her raised one. "And I don't think you wanna do this."
She didn't fight him, but there was an obstinacy in her that made her solid. "I do."
"River, can I show you something?"
She was startled. "Show … me?"
"Yeah. Just something I carry with me. Only you need to put that knife down 'fore you hurt yourself. Or me."
She looked over her shoulder at him. "I wouldn't ever hurt you. Not intentionally."
He had to smile. "That's good to know, but I'd kinda like a bit more of a guarantee on that." He shrugged. "And if you really want to cut this thing up after, I'll help you."
For a long moment she didn't move, just staring into his blue eyes, seeing the honesty he kept hidden from anyone outside his family. Her muscles relaxed a little. "All right." She lowered her arm, placing the blade carefully on the crate.
"That Binky?" he asked, letting her go.
"Jayne know you've got her? Him?" He paused. "Whatever?"
"Then we won't tell him."
"Okay." She turned from the disturbing painting. "What did you want to show me?"
Mal reached into the breast pocket of his dark red shirt, soft from many washes, and pulled out a small capture. It was one of the old type, that held a series of stills, but it still worked. Moving her so that her back was against his chest, he put his arms around her and activated the mechanism. It took a moment to warm up, then a picture appeared.
"Oh." River reached up, touching the screen gently with the tip of one finger, tracing the image of Mal and Freya, him in his suit, her in her red dress.
"Yeah." Mal smiled. "My wedding. The day I said yes to being with the most amazing woman in the 'verse." He chuckled, and she could feel the rhythm running through her. "Most damn infuriatin' sometimes, too, but that makes it fun."
"You keep this with you?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him.
"Often as I can," Mal admitted. "For a while now. Only reason it weren't lost in the water that day on Three Hills was 'cause I'd changed my shirt and not moved it over." He pressed the button.
"First picture of him. Jayne took it, so that's why it's a bit skewed, but it's the very first. Got a lot more now, a'course, but he was only a few hours old here."
She looked at the picture of Freya holding the tiny baby, Mal standing behind her, his hand on their son's head. Unconsciously she stroked her belly. "Small."
"Yeah. So small. And a person I never thought in my life I'd ever get to see."
She reached up and pressed the button. "Next."
Mal grinned. "Impatient, ain't you?"
The picture now became Jesse, asleep in her crib, her little thumb in her mouth. "My girl," Mal murmured.
"You were crying when you took this."
He swallowed. "Maybe I was. Her first picture, too." Putting his hand on her shoulder he turned her round. "These … my family … you think they've taken something from them? Made Ethan and Jesse less than they are?"
"My family, River. And there's others on here, of you and Jayne, Simon, Kaylee … all of you. I wouldn't keep them if I thought I was taking something away from any of you." He glanced up at the picture. "This won't."
"It might. It's such an ancient belief."
"River, we ain't ancient." He paused as if in thought. "Well, maybe Jayne is –" She hit him and he winced. Then he smiled. "Albatross, I meant it. You decide to cut it to pieces, I'll help you. But I think the others need to see it first. It's … they need to see it."
"River?" Jayne's voice outside. "You okay?"
"Yes," she said, smiling at Mal. "I think I am now." She walked quickly to the curtain, sticking her head through. "Jayne, would you get everyone down here? It's time."
"You finished?"
Jayne grinned at her and loped over to the com unit by the doors. "Uh … would all a' you … there's something … aw, hell, just get your asses into the cargo bay, mah shong." His voice echoed throughout the ship.
"Ever the diplomat," Mal muttered witheringly, then said louder, "Come on. Better get my sheets down."
River nodded and between them they took down the bed linen, leaving only one covering the picture. As they finished the rest of the crew clattered down stairs and out of the common area, congregating behind them.
"Sir?" Zoe asked, Ben held firmly by the hand.
"River has something to show us," Mal said, stepping back so the young woman could take centre stage.
She smoothed her dress down over her expanding waistline, then looked around at everyone. "I wanted to apologise first. I shouldn't have held Vera on you, but I needed … I needed to work alone. But I didn't know if anyone was going to see it at all, until Mal … well, we spoke." She stopped, unsure of herself.
"You didn't know?" Freya echoed, Jesse sitting on her hip, her eyes huge. "Why, honey?"
"I didn't know if it was safe."
"Auntie River," Bethany piped up. "I want to see it."
"Me too," Kaylee said, Hope in her arms. "We all do."
Jayne stepped forward and pulled River into his embrace. "Come on, moonbrain. Ain't nothing to be afraid of here."
She let his heat soothe her a moment, then nodded. Pulling on the sheet, she revealed the painting.
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Finally Hank spoke. "That's … amazing." He walked forward to examine it more closely. "I feel like I could step into it."
"Don't!" River warned.
"Better not, sweetie," Zoe agreed. "Might not get you back. Might want to stay there forever."
"River, this is incredible." Simon tore his gaze from the painting for a moment, and smiled at his sister. "You are so talented."
"Thank you." She leaned back on Jayne, feeling his strength.
"I look like that?" he asked, his voice rumbling into her.
"To me."
"I might have missed this," Freya murmured, her eyes trying to mist over, and felt Mal's arm reach around her waist, holding her close.
"I wouldn't have painted it if you'd not been here, niang mu zi," River said softly.
Kaylee jiggled Hope. "See?" she whispered. "There you are."
Bethany didn't say a word, just led Ethan up to the picture. Her eyes were wide and bright, her mouth a perfect 'O'.
Then silence descended again as they all stared at the painting. The painting of them all. In it, front and centre, a lifesize Mal was sitting, one ankle crossed over the other knee, leaning back in a heavy chair. Next to him stood Freya, Jesse in her arms, Ethan at her feet. She had one hand on Mal's shoulder. The other side stood Zoe, Hank next to her, Ben laughing and reaching out from his father's arms. Next along were Simon and Kaylee, Bethany holding onto his hand, grinning widely. Kaylee had Hope on her hip, just as she did in real life.
At the other edge of the painting were Jayne and River, his arms around her, his hands on her swollen stomach, protecting her and their unborn child. He was fully armed, and Vera leaned against a crate of grenades.
Behind them stood Inara, Sam at her side. He of all of them wasn't looking out – he had eyes only for the woman next to him, his fingers gently moving a lock of her dark hair from her shoulder. Noni was beside them, laughing and covering her mouth with her hand.
A little further back, not quite as distinct but very recognisable, stood the forms of Wash and Book, with something of a hint of angel wings behind them, all feathers and gossamer. Book had his Bible in his hand, while Wash was holding a dinosaur. And in the background, sitting on a hill, was Serenity, sparkling in the sunshine, her engine glowing, ready to take them all out into the black.
"It's good work, River," Jayne said quietly. "I think you captured us."
"I didn't mean to. But I can destroy it, set you all free again." She bit her lip.
"No!" Kaylee said quickly. "You can't!"
"Mei-mei –"
"River, honey –"
"You mustn't!"
Simon, Hank and Kaylee spoke over each other, their words blending and echoing off the metal walls.
"It's not ours," Freya said, cutting across them. "Whatever River wants to do with it, it's up to her."
The others looked a little shamefaced.
"Sorry," Kaylee muttered. "It's just … ain't never been immortal before." She nodded at the picture. "'Cause that's what this is, ain't it? Immortality."
Simon nodded slowly. "It is."
"And it still isn't ours," Freya repeated.
"Frey's right," Mal added. "Not our choice. But I for one am damn glad I've seen it."
"Me too," Zoe said, stepping forward. "Whatever happens to it, thank you." She studied the picture. "You know, you got him," she said quietly, looking up at the picture of Wash, the blond hair, the twinkling eyes, and that gorram grin he used to get around anyone at all. "And that was his favourite shirt," she added, smiling. "I hated the damn things."
"No you didn't," River whispered.
Zoe looked at her. "No, maybe I didn't. Because they were Wash." She nodded, chuckling at the dinosaur in his hand. "He would have approved." With that she turned, and went back to Hank. "Come on. Let's go and talk someplace."
"Or something."
His face lit up. "Oh, definitely something," he said, following her up the stairs.
"Us too," Simon said, taking Kaylee's hand. "It's getting late, and some children should be in bed."
"Do we have to?" Bethany asked, not taking her eyes off the picture. "Can't I stay and play?"
"No. Not tonight."
Bethie sighed. "All right." She reached up and grasped her father's fingers. "'Night."
They walked out of the cargo bay, the little girl glancing back all the time at her other self.
"Do you really want to destroy it?" Freya asked, a shiver running down her spine from the way her canvas counterpart was looking at her.
"I … I don't know." She looked into Freya's face. "What do you think I should do?"
Freya put her free arm around the young woman. "Zi nu, like Mal says, it's yours to do with as you wish, but it's art, too. And no matter what happens in the future, here is the proof that we were a family. Lifesize and real."
River hugged her, and smiled brilliantly. "Then I know what to do."
"Good." Mal moved over. "Simon was right. Time a little one was in bed." He tickled Jesse under her chin where her head lay on Freya's shoulder, her eyes closing.
"Daddy?" Ethan tugged at his pants leg.
"What is it, big feller?" Mal asked, picking him up and hitching him onto his hip.
"Can we paint tomorrow?" the little boy asked, looking into Mal's face.
"I think permaybehaps we can," his father agreed. "What do you want to paint?"
Freya smiled. "That would be nice."
"And Jesse."
"Even nicer."
"Come on then," Mal said, leading them up the stairs. "I think an early night ain't gonna do any of us much harm." He looked over his shoulder. "You gonna be okay, River?"
"I have Jayne," she said, leaning against the mercenary's bulk.
"Then I'll just say goodnight."
"'Night." She waved tiredly at the small family as they disappeared through the doorway, then turned to Jayne.
"So? What're you gonna do with it?" he asked.
"Freya's right. I can't destroy it. But it needs to be safe." She looked around, then back into his blue eyes. "Help me."
Between them they took the picture down, laying it carefully on the floor, before starting at one side and rolling it up.
"One of the sheets," River ordered. "One of the pink ones."
Jayne grinned. "That where Kaylee put –"
"Yes. One of those."
He dragged it out of the pile and between them they rolled the canvas up into it. Jayne did something complicated with the ends, and the sheet suddenly encompassed the entire roll, with no edges showing.
"Now what?" he asked.
For answer she went to the rear of the cargo bay, into the corner by the armoury door. Leaning on the wall, she pressed a point high up. There was a click and the wall moved inwards. "In here," she said.
Jayne was surprised. "Mal know about this one?"
"No," she admitted. "Not this nor the one in the common area."
The big man laughed. "Thought he knew all there was to know about this boat."
"Not quite." She walked over to the roll. "Please?"
"Course." Bending down, he picked up the sheet-covered canvas, his muscles flexing as he carried its unruly weight over to the hidey-hole. It was just big enough to slide the roll inside, standing on its end. "Now what?"
River reached up, pressed the same spot, and the wall slid back into place. "Now Serenity looks after it for us. Like she looks after the real us."
"She surely does."
"And maybe some day in the future someone will find it, see what we were like. Remember us. That's true immortality."
"Even for the likes of me?"
"Even you." She studied her hands critically. "I think I need cleaning up. Paint," she added, holding them out so he could see.
"Yeah, you're a mite untidy." He reached up and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "You got some up here too."
"Help me?" she asked, her eyes lifting to his face, dark with amusement and love.
"Always," he growled, grinning as they ran up the stairs towards their shuttle, following her inside.
Friday, December 21, 2007 3:49 AM
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Guest Blogger and Girlie Girl Army Boy Sgt, Ari Solomon (creator of our – and many big time celebs – absolute favorite candle line A Scent of Scandal ) sounds off on what he should of said to the chick who told him vegans suck;
My husband and I were invited on a day trip recently for an old friend's birthday. About 30 of us loaded up in a bus and went to wine country. It was a surprise actually. You should've seen my friend's face when a busload of his nearest and dearest pulled up outside his apartment building at 9 AM. So fantastic!
Anyway, his girlfriend organized the trip, and asked all of us beforehand what we wanted for lunch. She was planning to have a local restaurant prepare meals for us that we would pick up once we got to the second winery. I told her that my husband and I are vegan and she was excited to let me know that the restaurant she chose had a bunch of vegan options. We found an amazing grilled veggie sandwich with vegan pesto that was truly delish!
Now, truth be told, most of my close friends are vegan or vegetarian but the birthday boy was not, nor any of his friends. I actually love being in situations like that because you automatically become "the vegan in the room." You're usually flooded with questions, and have an opportunity to speak to people about veganism, animal issues, etc. Don't get me wrong, it's great talking about this stuff with my vegan friends, but there's that element of preaching to the choir. Talking to a bunch of meat-eaters, you have an opportunity to inform. Most people have no clue where their food comes from. In my experience, people are respectful and at least act like they're paying attention. And even if no one commits to leaving meat off their plate after a discussion, at least I know I did my best to plant a seed. At this winery lunch, however, I wasn't prepared for the bullshit that went down.
During the meal, a girl sought out my husband and I after overhearing we were vegans. She came right over to us and said in a condescending tone, "So, you're vegan? Yeah, I used to be vegan. Too bad it sucks." It was pretty clear her intention was to mock us and she snidely laughed, which of course got a round of chuckles from the people around us who were all eating their chicken and turkey sandwiches. It's always easier to scoff at a vegetarian when you have a dead animal in your mouth. At the time, I think I made some funny remark about her cooking skills probably just being dreadful, and the conversation quickly moved on. Usually something like this doesn't bother me for too long, but I've been thinking about that moment for some time and now I know why.
I should've responded differently. We all have those moments, times when we've looked back and wished we could've said something witty or brilliant but we were put on the spot and our brain wasn't working quickly enough. But if I could go back in time, this is what I would say:
Being vegan sucks? Sucks for whom? It certainly doesn't suck for the environment. I mean, you'd have to be from Wasilla not to know by now that animal agriculture is the number one cause of global warming. Even the dimmest CFL bulb in the drawer knows that the best thing you can do to combat climate change (or as I like to call it, The Apocalypse) is to go vegan. In fact, a study done at the University of Chicago found that a vegan in a Hummer leaves less of a carbon footprint than a meat-eater on a bicycle. How's that for being vegan sucking? You know who else being vegan doesn't suck for? The animals. That's right, the billions of animals who are being caged, tortured, and slaughtered in the most horrific ways as we all just go about our days. If what happens to farm animals were happening to cats and dogs, we'd have riots on the streets. And what really is the difference between your dog or cat from a cow, chicken, or pig? Most Americans are completely ignorant or in total denial of how the meat they're eating gets to their plate. Speaking of eating, you know who else might not think being vegan sucks? The one billion starving humans on the planet who could be fed, if we weren't feeding more than half of all the world's edible crops to "food animals" instead of people. It takes 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat. Seems like quite an inefficient, if not downright criminal, use of food while people are starving, doesn't it?
So who exactly does being vegan suck for? You? Oh, of course, it sucks for you. I forgot how important you are. Well, I'm terribly sorry you couldn't be "inconvenienced" for the sake of the planet, the animals and your fellow human beings. I know how painful it would be to go out and buy a cookbook and learn some new, delicious recipes. Oh, wait — you live in LA? Yeah, it must've been a real bitch to find a vegan restaurant, or two, or three or forty. You know, being vegan actually doesn't suck, it's you who sucks for not being vegan.
I feel much better now!
Ari Solomon is the President and co-creator of the celebrated vegan candle line A Scent of Scandal . After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Ari first worked as an actor in New York and Los Angeles, and later hosted the wildly popular ARI'S HOLLYWOOD UPDATE on Miami's Y-100FM. Now a prolific activist and writer for animal and human rights, Ari's letters have appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, and The Advocate.
Tags: A Scent of Scandal, A Scent of Scandle, Ari Solomon, Being Vegan Sucks, It Sucks to Be Vegan, Vegan Lifestyle, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian LifestylePin It
What a story. Sometimes our first reaction is to say a snide remark back, so don't feel so bad that you did, it happens. What this girl said in the first place was so uncaring! Good to see you had a great time in wine country. I live up in Solvang and I know that with the wine tours up here they get food for vegans/vegetarians at the healthfood store New Frontiers. Even non-vegans eat here for lunch, it's always busy at that time.
I love it! I tend to be a shrinking violet in those situations and would love to say something like that.
Hi Ari,
Thanks for sharing your story. People will ask me about why I have chosen to change my diet and not eat animals and then they get defensive when I answer. I am very sensitive about not preaching because well…I have been accused of it before and it just turns people off or tunes them out. I have some "friends" on FB who have UNfriended [ boo fuckin' hoo ] and said they are sick of me posting recipes and "sad" stories about animals in need and that if they wanted to hear all this, they would join PETA or something. Even one gal who posted MEATATARIAN and PROUD. I was just floored by the ignorance and lack of compassion. I reminded her of where her roast beef sandwich that she proudly shows in her photos comes from. She has 3 dogs that she talks about all the time and I told her to picture them sitting on a bun. Thanks toinspirational Diva's such as Chloe Jo, Josh K. and YOU, I have been asked by 2 friends this month to help them go veg. Thanks to you all!
I used to raise cattle then eat them. They even had names.
I am not a vegan. But I think it is overly rude that she came up to you and judged you right off. I think that everyone has a right to what they believe in regardless of what it may be. I am sorry you had to deal with the ignorance that constantly evolves from bad seeds.. Peace and love..
Great article, Ari. Thanks to you and Mikko for all you do for animals!
I love it! Great article, Ari. How rude she was and how wrong!! Being vegan is wonderful!!
Great article! I often wish I could go back in time and switch conversations where I've said the wrong thing…SO many times :D Now, we are better prepared for whatever comes our way, eh :D
What a great response. You may also add the the bloodlust you lack from being a vegan is about all that kept you from clocking her in her flesh-tearing mouth.
Great blog, Ari! I know I'd respond with something catty if that happened to me (for better or worse). One day, our omnivorous, leather-clad fellow humans will learn that their choices have only contributed and are only contributing to a lack of balance in their lives. Glad you feel better. You should. ;-)
I liked your response about her cooking skills. Honestly some people aren't worth the time and effort to argue with. I can have a more insightful conversation with my houseplants.
Ari, I have tears in my eyes and am so proud to be your friend. That is best, most well-written, pithiest, article on veganism I have ever read. You are a gift to the planet, I hope you write a book. It's so hard to watch the humans around causing such damage and destruction and not being aware of it. Or looking the other way. Or joking about it, making fun of us when we're doing such a serious thing.
For real! That woman was probably never a vegan in any real sense of the word. A vegan is someone who doesn't want to contribute to the suffering of animals, not someone who gave up milk and eggs on an experiment in weight loss. Next time you see, her you should say, "omg, you're hetero? I used to be hetero. Too bad it sucks."
This world has screwed up food so violently. If meat and dairy were produced and harvested locally, as well as the in-season vegetables, I imagine the harsh effects of our food chain would virtually disappear. If being vegan makes you feel better about yourself and your place of privilege in the food chain, then more power to you. I personally think it is a luxury diet, and also a socially-sanctioned eating disorder that is bad for most people. I was vegetarian after reading "The Jungle" bu Upton Sinclair, among other excellent books about food and the meat industry. Eventually, I became too hungry and just needed to eat the wonderful food that my friends were lovingly preparing for us to feast upon. We are so privileged in this country, the least we could do is understand that food is a highly personal issue for most everyone, and judging people we don't agree with serves no one. Many vegans come off as thinking they are better than others who make different choices. Its a real turnoff, and stinks of privilege and self-righteousness. What do vegans think about poor communities who can barely keep the family fed? Are they gonna preach and fight with folks who raise and kill their own chicken, goats, etc? Instead of trying to convince people that what you eat is superior to what other people eat, thank goddess you don't live in a place where you have no options and you're lucky if you get rice. Matter of fact, maybe the more militant types of foodies ought to go live in a 3rd world country for a while. Everyone has food issues, and one way is not good for everyone. So stop thinking you know it all, its obnoxious. Especially if the vegan is "skinny and beautiful."
Amen Ari!
Brilliant! 'Nuff said!
Sonia… poor misguided Sonia,
Please do not come down on vegans for the guilt you harbor inside as you eat the rotting flesh of tortured animals. Do your research and then just shut it. :)
With all due respect, your argument that veganism is a luxury diet doesn't hold water. Rural parts of Asia and India, where money is scarce, are primarily vegetarian/vegan.
No one is talking about survival. Obviously, if the choice was eat animals or die (like if you were starving in an impoverished village), a person has the right to live. However, that is hardly the case for the 300 million people living the US and the countless others in the first world who have access to nutritious and wholesome plant foods. In fact, in the US, the choice is more eat animals AND die when you consider that heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer are our number one killers (all are spurned by consumption of animal foods). Meanwhile, we're contributing to starvation and death in those third world countries you speak of, by using food crops to feed animals instead of humans. During the famine in Ethiopia in the 1980s, Ethiopia was exporting its soy crop to Europe so that Europeans could feed their livestock and dine on steak while millions of Ethiopians starved. How's that for luxury?
And while we're talking about death, don't you think that "raising animals for food", only to cut their lives short by slaughtering them, when there are other healthful alternatives available is cruel? Should animals really have no say? Should we pretend like they don't feel pain, that they can't suffer, that they don't share are willingness to be free and to live? Bringing life into the world, just so you can slaughter and eat it when there is no reason to? Come on, we can do better than that.
In short, I don't know what your "food issues" are and I'm not going to ask as that's your business. But let me suggest that if you felt hungry eating a veg diet perhaps you simply weren't eating enough. Vegan fare is definitely less calorie dense than a diet of meat, dairy, and eggs. Perhaps you just needed to consume more.
An entertaining and overall enlightening read. As a Vegetarian who is only two years on the right bandwagon, I am still slightly unconvincing when asked why I avoid meat. These are great facts to use and even have me researching the reality of me going Vegan in the near future. Thanks!
Dear Sonia,
Sorry, but you must live in some through-the-looking-glass world where black is white, and white is black. Meat and dairy only seem cheap in the Western world because of massive government subsidies, which come from billions of tax dollars.
Further, meat and dairy production are among the world's most cruel, wasteful and polluting industries, and you have the gall to call a simple diet of vegetables "luxury."
Then you parrot the same tired excuses… but what about the people who live in remote areas… what about goat-herders living amidst piles of rocks where nothing grows… YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. You can HELP THEM by stopping blindly consuming wasteful food you think is cheap.
And what was your other excuse again? Feeling hungry? Learn to cook! Learn about nutrition! Google things. Jesus. Does everything really have to be handed to you on a silver platter by smiling friends before you're willing to lift a finger?
You claim vegans are self-righteous, but do you hear us constantly complaining about how "hard" it is to be vegan, how "hungry" we are… martyring ourselves, wanting the world to praise and pity us for our… "luxurious" choices? Please at least pick consistent excuses.
You know who really wants to be pitied? Meat-eaters like you, who instantly cast themselves as starved, unhappy vegans just *thinking* about giving up animal foods. Kick the addiction. Because you really need to. Because meat and dairy are killing the planet in addition to the animals.
I'd love to hear you and others explain yourselves to your children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews when they ask you how come there's no planet left. What will you say? I didn't know? You did. The question is: what will you do? The luxury you don't have is to do nothing.
Sorry for being self-righteous and rude and whiny in caring about the other inhabitants of this planet. It's not all about you, Sonia.
"This world has screwed up food so violently. If meat and dairy were produced and harvested locally, as well as the in-season vegetables, I imagine the harsh effects of our food chain would virtually disappear."
Hello? I get no cred for what makes perfect sense to you. I just get vitriol from angry defensive people. And I know it makes sense, i don't need reassurance from virtual strangers.
I am not ignorant to the cost of meat in this world in this day and age. i have done the research, all that. I get it. stop tearing into me because the facts are there – we are on a runaway train on this precious planet. we didn't start it, we aren't gonna stop it. pain and cruelty happen everywhere. i'm not making excuses for bad behavior, or laziness. but neither am i going to delude myself into thinking that the weight of the world ought to be on my shoulders if i eat meat and dairy. I do my part by eating local, organic. And that includes meat and dairy. I don't feel responsible for drought, famine, war, scarcity, poverty … it is nothing short of tragic and criminal the way agribusiness has globalized and depleted everything for the sake of money. It will take global catastrophe to get us back to basics: growing and eating local and organic. I get it, I'm on the same page. what really sucks is angry judgmental people who feel their expression of anger is justified because they think they have THE answer, and watch out if you have an opposing viewpoint.
And really, I am articulating my point of view. Isn't that what this forum is for? Why would anyone tell me to "shut it," besides that I have hit a raw nerve.
Animal foods, locally grown or not, are still incredibly wasteful and cruel. Why would you take 16 pounds of viable food and feed it to an animal, only to get 1 pound of edible flesh in return? Is that really fair to the 1 billion starving people on this planet? Is killing without need ever justifiable?
I don't know what to say about you not feeling "the weight of the world" on your shoulders, except that such an attitude is unlikely to impress future generations who look back at us in shame. Perhaps it's time that you did start feeling it.
Yes, cruelty and pain exist, but they only stop when people stop partaking. You should consider yourself lucky that you can actually choose foods that don't involve bloodshed. Giving up on doing the right thing solves nothing.
"I do my part by eating local, organic. And that includes meat and dairy. I don't feel responsible for drought, famine, war, scarcity, poverty "
There's always more to do. And one easy step for you to make, if you wanted to do your part and more, would be to cut out the animal products in your diet. Because we CAN make a difference. YOU can make a difference.
My favorite quote:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead
It's up to you how much you'll do.
Ari, what a great blog!!! :) xoxo
great blog! while you may not have put her in her place the way you wish you had, i'm sure your response was gracious and respectable. you still set a good example for how others should respond to obnoxious people. :)
Actually, you responded appropriately to a rude remark. It is rarely appropriate to preach to people or to tell people off. Two wrongs don't make a right. Your initial impulse was fine. A birthday party is not the place to put someone else in their place, no matter how appropriate or rude their comment was. The friends are also something that matters in this. Don't berate yourself too much.
Ari! Great post!
That happens so often. I think you handled it well, and that woman had no other reason to ridicule you aside from making herself feel better about supporting the industries that turn living animals into dead meat.
Let's be honest. It's so easy to not be vegan. It takes almost no effort at all. It requires almost no willpower at all. It requires almost no education at all. On the other hand, being vegan requires an educated, informed, and empowered individual who can stand up against the status-quo.
I can't tell you how many times I hear people say "I used to be veg but I got sooo sick and HAD to start eating meat again. puh-leeezz. The only bad side affect of veganism is having to deal with people like that. People who are just too inconvenienced by making consistently compassionate choices.
Our best weapon is to look great and feel great and eat amazing food and share our experiences. No one can argue with that.
The "you vegans are so angry" response is what always makes me laugh the most. The vegans I know are the funniest mo fo's on earth… and are only angry about the suffering of our fellow sentient beings. Perhaps, Sonia.. you should be a tad MORE angry. Oh.. but wait.. ignorance is bliss.. right?
this is such a GREAT PIECE! i love it. thoughtful, provocative, and honest. well done, ari and cj! xoxo
Hmmm, seems to me it sucks to be in the company of a rude person,…a rude, boorish, smarmy person.
I LOVE being a Vegan. It opens doors of awareness that otherwise would have remained closed…and the recipes!! Choosing a plant-based way of living is much more friendly, and not just for our palettes. I enjoy cooking and baking anyway, and Vegan cuisine is much more interesting, diverse, – and creative.
Right, it's definitely NOT rude to care about the voiceless ones on our planet, and the planet itself…I call it Compassionate.
Ari, you make me so happy! Love this one….xx
I would like to encourage everyone to exercise the very same compassion that we ask others to have for our own food choices. I for one commend you for not being an ass in return to her rude behavior, but it sounds like you would have been a jerk in response if you'd had the presence of mind. Don't get me wrong, it's always important to bitch and let it out, but the vehemence of this particular response is reactionary. Most of the people I know who look down on lifestyle/dietary choices such as veganism aren't turned-off by the relationship to food but by the attitude that comes with it. On the other hand, I've seen life long hunters and cattle farmers get excited about cutting down on meat when they're respectfully addressed rather than villain-ized.
I'm dismayed by the number of rude responses to Sonia's posts. She's sharing her opinion, which is the entire point of a format such as this. On a personal note, I think she's right on with something important: it's unreasonable for the weight of the world to fall on an individual's shoulders. If we *need* to place blame, try looking at giant corporations that are responsible for more environmental damage in a day than any one of us could reach in a year. Yes, let's do what we can as individuals, but skip the blame game in favor of a conversation.
Funny, I begin to feel as if Vegan is some sort of new religion. While I don't subscribe to this particular religion, I agree with others that the woman was incredibly rude. Imagine you're the only Muslim in a room full of Christians, and one of them comes up to you and says, "I used to be Muslim but I converted because it sucks!"
By the same token, however, a sensible, polite individual would not turn around and slam the person for converting.
I prefer to avoid the topic of vegan/vegetarianism for the same reasons I avoid the topics of politics, money, and religion in large groups of no-so-close friends. It rarely ends well.
Kudos to you for making positive choices about food AND sharing your views in a respectful, tolerant way.
Dietary choices are about as visceral as arguments on politics, race, and religion. All the things your mom said never to discuss at the table ironically. So, this blog is the perfect place to discuss matters of the table. And everyone thinks they're right. Like the religious right!
I think it is safe to say, this a place to air OPINIONS. There are very few facts that can't be thrown in both directions.
It's true, that not one diet works for everyone. It is not true that a Vegan diet is the diet of the privileged. In fact, I developed my entire Vegan menu based on food I discovered while backpacking around the world. Rice feeds the world – not McDonalds. Step outside of the eating habits of this country to get the real scoop.
Glad to see – Sonia and others – people passionate enough about their food to stand up for what they believe in.
Great blog, except for bagging on Wasilla. They're not all Palins, believe me.
Alaskan Veggie
You are so awsome! She was clearly an idiot.
[…] Being Vegan Sucks: "I'm terribly sorry you couldn't be 'inconvenienced' for the sake of the planet, the animals and your fellow human beings. I know how painful it would be to go out and buy a cookbook and learn some new, delicious recipes. […] You know, being vegan actually doesn't suck, it's you who sucks for not being vegan." read the whole thing >> […]
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Go vegan!
Thanks folks for the spirited debate! Thank you Sara and "the real vegan"
Food is not "one size fits all" neither is religion, and they are very similar. Our bodies are temples, correct? Our individual relationship to food is first and foremost, personal. Even if a person has no consciousness of it, how we nourish our bodies or not impacts everything. Not everyone would even acknowledge this fact, they don't wanna think too much, or its too far-reaching and complicated. We needn't judge people for their choices.
And lastly, life feeds on life. If you don't believe it, watch animal behavior in the wild. the Planet Earth video series is beautiful, impartial, and real. Or just look at what fertilizers go onto the plants from which we get our vegetables. Bone meal, anyone?
Thanks Ari for ' speaking your truth' and saying what's in you heart — and mine. I, and the animals, love your candor, your heart, and your compassionate soul.
I hate when people attack me for doing something, like sticking to my vegan diet, that shouldnt bother them.
In my opinion it is because to these people I am like a light bulb flashing in the back of their mind saying "you would be like me if you had a conscience!" that they cant ignore.
so they insult and harass me when I havent said a word to them about THEIR diet.
My normal response to these people is "I dont preach to you about why I live my life the way I do and I expect the same respect in return. I think the only reason anyone chooses what animals are "food" to them is based on religion, geographic location and their particular culture while i prefer to make my own decisions."
No one usually knows what to say to that…
Food is not "one size fits all" neither is religion, and they are very similar. Our bodies are temples, correct? Our individual relationship to food is first and foremost, personal. Even if a person has no consciousness of it, how we nourish our bodies or not impacts everything. Not everyone would even acknowledge this fact, they don't wanna think too much, or its too far-reaching and complicated. We needn't judge people for their food choices, just like we shouldn't judge or hate on people for their religious beliefs, or who they sleep with.
And lastly, life feeds on life. Watch animal behavior in the wild. The Planet Earth video series is beautiful, impartial, and real. Or just look at what fertilizers go onto the plants from which we get our vegetables. Bone meal, anyone?" …Our violent human nature and the fecundity of everything around us takes us aback, and we have a real love/hate fascination with sex and food in this culture. Being that there is so much in this world that we cannot control, some folks rigidly obey an ideal and exercise restraint over what is willingly absorbed into the body.
Ok, I was really hoping that I would be able to have an intelligent philosophical discussion about food at this site. I am perfectly willing to implicate myself in the first-world privileges so many of us take for granted. But is this only a place for "preaching to the choir?"
Ms. Chloe Jo was so rankled about my statements she fired back in a rude and condescending tone, then "un-friended" me. That's fine, clearly she's not up for the intellectual discussion. I don't need everyone to agree with me, and I am always interested in someone else's thoughts on a subject, especially food and our place in the world/society.
Apologies if I offended anyone, it wasn't my intent.
Sonia, not all choices are victimless choices, as you already well know. Pretending otherwise is hardly philosophizing, it's just cowardice. You know you can do better, I guess you just choose not to. That's sad. But as they say, the hardest people to wake are those only pretending to be asleep.
Sonia, I really doubt Chloe was rankled by you. Quite the opposite. I've noticed that you've posted not once, but five times to this piece so methinks it's you who's rankled. As you should be. I would think anyone with a heart would be shaken after learning how farm animals are treated. Notice how none of the vegans on here have to defend or make excuses for their food choices.
And regarding your religion comment, I couldn't disagree more. Religion is based on faith, veganism is based on the hard scientific fact that animals can suffer and feel pain. Big difference there.
Sonia, I'd also like to address your Planet Earth rationale. Yes, the world contains natural carnivores such as lions, tigers, and wolves. When you watch documentaries on these beings, please spend extra attention to how they hunt and eat their prey. Firstly, they do so out of survival. A true carnivore needs meat to survive, unlike humans. Secondly, they rip open their prey, while they're still alive, with their claws and teeth and feast on the raw flesh. Is that how humans eat cows? Do we look at a living pig and say yum? No, that's not our reaction. And I'd love to see a human try to rip open a cow with their bare hands and then eat it. Not only would they be unsuccessful, but chances are if they ate the raw meat, they'd most likely be sick. Human beings don't contain the strong stomach acids that true carnivores do. These acids prevent those animals from getting sick from the bacteria and parasites that are present in raw flesh. Yes, humans can consume and digest meat, but that doesn't mean that they should. Cows (herbivores) were being fed cows as feed for many years and digesting it. This is how Mad Cow's Disease started. Again, just because it's possible to digest something, doesn't mean we should. Meat has been linked to many health issues: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and stroke. Not good things. You don't hear of broccoli causing any of these things do you?
And finally to address your point on bone meal being used for fertilizer. There is such a thing as veganic gardening. I'm not an expert on the subject but I've spoken to many farmers at the Hollywood farmer's market that don't use animal-based fertilizer. I know quite a few people that make their own by composting.
Nice blog. Having just returned from a vacation where the rest of the family only *kinda* tolerates my food preferences, I'm a bit jealous that you have enough like-minded friends to be able to eat vegan while traveling. (I find it hard to do, unless I go out and buy all my own food and beg to use somebody's kitchen.) I end up being vegetarian when traveling, but almost 100% vegan when at home. We all make compromises; I think conscientiousness is an important part of this movement…
Just got back from Cali so this is my first chance to comment on this post! Ari- this is truly amazing! Being under the impression that veganism "sucks" is a result of a comlete lack of research, effort, will power and creativity. OF COURSE it is not always easy- life is not easy! (I learned this first hand trying to find a vegan meal in 4 different airports this past week!) But in the end I know that I would not want to live any other way for the animals, the environment and myself.
thank you!!!
I'm going to copy this response and keep it somewhere dear (I won't claim it as my own, I promise). There are times when I am put on the spot, and all my research, opinions, etc. go right out the door and I feel like a knuckle-dragging neandrethal.
Native American hunters used to eat the heart (and other organs) out of the buffalo they just killed, while it was still hot. Many cultures still eat organ meats, as they have been part of traditional diets for thousands of years.
Just because you can doesn't mean you should, i've been saying that for years.
There are always consequences for the choices we make. Do we always know what they are? No. Do we think we know everything, absolutely. I could tell the vegans they should be Buddhist, many probably already are if animal/environmental cruelty is their personal motivation, but why would I do that? There are also no guarantees in life. YOU Ari could still get a cancer that is completely unrelated to any (like breast cancer!) personal choice that you've made. Some people get lung cancer who have never smoked. And some smokers will live into their 90's. Why? No one really knows. There's evidence that goes both ways on the subject of diet and health.
As far as the problems of the world and the earth, its an oversimplification to say that we are saving the planet by eating a salad rather than organic locally grown steak. There are so many avenues to making environmental and personal improvements. Like going solar, using rain catchment systems, or not driving a car (see how these choices might be totally unrealistic for some and perfect solutions for others?) When i was referring to a vegan diet as a privileged one, I wasn't referring to poor people in other countries, rather to poor communities in this country. Would you go into a poor black ghetto and start preaching to folks about veganism? Would you dare judge them for the food choices they make? I'd love to be a fly on the wall when you tell a big black dude or dudess who dislikes white people thinking they are authorities on everything, that they really shouldn't eat BBQ pork, or chitlins, or whatever else grosses you out personally.
When I made my comment about "i-have-all-the-right-answers" attitudes coming from the most privileged among us (white skinny educated)
its a real turn-off. It doesn't matter if you're white, or white-looking, or any shade of brown. If you are on-line, educated, accomplished, paid for what you do, if you travel, then you are among the most privileged on the planet. And for these folks (i'll include myself, because I am white and skinny and educated) there's a really fine line between educating folks who want more information, and passing judgment on other people who don't share your cultural experience or privilege. I hope that you and your friends and readers have a grasp on the privileges we enjoy as educated elite.
And I do appreciate being able to share/exchange thoughts. Can you please stop bashing me for my ideas? This is a thought forum, and I am expressing thoughts intelligently, not trolling.
Sonia, You are all over the place in that last post. Some of it really borders on racist. "Poor black ghetto"? "Some big black dude who dislikes white people"? Jesus. I know plenty of vegans who come from all sorts of backgrounds. In fact, there is a huge vegetarian movement amongst African Americans. This is not a white/black issue. Compassion doesn't stop and start with how much money you make or what color your skin is. How presumptuous you are.
Yes, it's sad and shitty that fast food operations target poorer neighborhoods but it wouldn't be as easy for them to sell their awful garbage if it wasn't completely subsidized by our tax dollars. Millions in subsidies goes to the meat and dairy industry every year. I'm not judging anyone for their choices, merely pointing out the obvious fact that animals suffer and feel pain. There is no arguing that point. You want to contribute to animal suffering? Then go ahead and eat your steak.
Regarding health, it's true that you may not smoke and still get lung cancer, etc. but that doesn't change the scientific fact that meat and dairy have been linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. It's no coincidence that the countries with the highest level of animal food consumption also have the highest level of these diseases. I sincerely hope you check out The China Study and get the facts. Dr. Campbell did the most comprehensive study on nutrition ever done, over 40 years of research. It's well worth the read.
Other than that, I really don't think there's much more to say on the issue. I know you really love your grass-fed, locally grown, organic cow flesh but please understand that it's still taking a hell of a lot resources (water, electricity, food) for that animal to become your food. I hope one day you choose to open your heart to the plight of animals and leave them off your plate. Culture, tradition, or desire should not be an excuse for killing sentient beings when other and better means of nourishment are available to us. Since you classified yourself as a skinny white person of privilege, you really have no excuse.
Sonia: "Chitlins" and other animal-bi products (aka "foods") that are considered traditional soul foods are actually the foods that slave owners considered not even worthy of their dogs.. so that's what they allotted to their slaves. It's literally the crap off the floor… and it's killing America's African American community with heart disease, high cholesterol, and cancer. There is a HUGE growing group of Black folks who are embracing veganism (see "Soul Veg", numerous world wide Black Veg Society's, Raw Restaurants all over Harlem, and the 7 African American vegan women who submit regularly to this here site with their recipes and advice) full throttle.. both wealthy folks of color in the limelight and in the "ghetto". As Alice Walker says: " "The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men."
It's funny that you'd try to call others out on looking at the world from some elitist perch, when your comments about the African-American community are about as condescending and uninformed as can be. Have you ever even been to the "ghettos" you describe? Your "big black dude or dudess who dislikes white people" remark is more illuminating about your personal lens toward people of color and the poor than anything else.
Also, I'm not sure what the hunting practices of Native American tribes or the nutritional plight of poor communities have anything to do with choices YOU make about regarding nutrition — you yourself said you're a white person of privilege. Eating a healthy, whole foods-based vegan diet should be no object. Your whole line of reasoning makes no sense. You may pretend it does, but I think you know you're only pretending. Is the taste of meat really that important to you?
Great post, Ari! Excellent. Really enjoyed reading that, especially since it fell close to my one year vegan "anniversary" :-) And it hasn't sucked even slightly. Imagine that!
People become terribly rude and feel threatened by vegetarians or vegans. I never understood why. With a man as handsome and fit as yourself, she was most likely jealous that she didn't stay vegan for it's healthy benefits. Silly people.
Rock on! I'm going to memorize your response and quote you the next time someone gives me a hard time about being vegan. Obviously the meat eater was feeling guilty – and probably like a total loser – because she couldn't sustain a vegan lifestyle. She knew she was weak and took her frustration out on you. Your first response was gracious and kind and you should feel good about that. After all, being a vegan is tantamount to being kind. But I do thank you for taking the time to come up with the second response as well. And I'm sure it made you feel better! Way to go!
That is an AWESOME response. I will definitely use that nexst time I am challenged by a carnivore!
Word! Can we get the recipe for the delish dish?
This was SO inspiring in SO many ways. Thank you for posting! I hope we get to read more of your columns here… :)
Great inspiring post Ari!! :D Would love to see more from you!
Thank you for that. I'm a vegetarian who only eats cheese but no other dairy. The cheese is a rarity, but I empathize with this exact scenario. I'm from Oklahoma where people cling tightly to their guns, religion and meat. Seems ironic doesn't it…a bunch of Christians who are supposed to believe in fairness and compassion for others, but somehow missed translating that into ALL creatures (hmmm…I wonder why I moved to LA).
Being from Oklahoma, I've often been confronted with these questions and share your thoughts about "planting a seed" and educating people on things I find important for our future…blah blah blah.
This is a fantastic rebuttal. I hope you don't mind me using the University of Chicago study as part of my rebuttal the next time I'm confronted with ill educated people.
I appreciate your honesty and commitment to being vegan. You're changing the world at every meal.
Dear Ari,
Don't get mad, get even! I think you should try to get her email address and copy and paste what you wrote! It's an awesome response!
Rina Deych, RN
Oh My!!!!!! The response was good Ari. What I can't understand is Sonia. Why would you think you could even speak on behalf of another race or country when you describe yourself as white and educated? Personally your posts sound not only uneducated but, racist. I'm not going to say any thing about any other country but Mexico where I have roots and my own situation. I can honestly say that health wise I am no longer borderline diabetic, I no longer have intestinal issues, I have more energy now than I ever have, I don't get sick as much anymore, and I spend way less on groceries than I ever have since going vegan. Mexico is not really 3rd world but, where I am from eating meat is not an everyday and sometimes not even every week occurence. The diet there is mainly vegetarian with occassional meat and dairy. To buy meat and dairy in Mexico is as expensive as America. So why would you say that this "diet" (it's really a way of life) is only for privilaged people? I'm sorry but it's cheaper to eat grains, legumes, and vegetables than it is to eat animal products. Can't everybody just respect everyone elses personal choices and not try to talk about things they don't really know about?
[…] ***The GirlieGirl Army*** » Blog Archive » Being Vegan Sucks girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20090818/being-vegan-sucks – view page – cached Guest Blogger and Girlie Girl Army Boy Sgt, Ari Solomon (creator of our – and many big time celebs – absolute favorite candle line A Scent of Scandal ) sounds off on what he should of said to the chick who told him vegans suck; — From the page […]
Waaaa. Waaaa. Just leave me alone! You're all jerks.
Rock on!
Love. It. I encounter silly, rude remarks on a regular basis. I usually kill 'em with kindness. I'll say something like, "You don't think you can be a vegan? You should try it sometime; it's amazing how wonderful it is." I hate to say it, but it kind of shames them a little for acting like a jerk. And perhaps it will challenge them, as well. "What, are you chicken? Not if you try vegetarianism! You are what you eat, you know!"
Who knows if anyone will read this as it looks like the discussion has stopped but… I've read that the meat and dairy industries are subsidized as has been mentioned, but I've also read that some crops like soy and corn are subsidized as well. So, I'm wondering if that's such a good argument for veganism.
I often find, people bring up the subject (perhaps out of awkwardness), but don't really want to have an intelligent conversation. It's not a joyous subject matter. People say stupid things sometimes. It's also difficult for those that have fallen off the cart, they try to reaffirm their own beliefs/practices.
Luckily some of us are privileged to make an informed choice about what we eat. I've been a practising vegan for 15 years now. And my personal challenge is to eat more fresh local food.
Meat is a luxury product. And perhaps people would see it as such, if they ate less, and valued food more so. If everyone cut down on their intake, perhaps there would be enough food to go around.
It's not always easy being vegan, I miss some foods and I hate being the awkward one when eating out with friends. Sometimes you are made to feel selfish, but really it's more likely you are being selfless.
But you DO suck, right? You know that. I'm sure you must.
…and it has nothing to do with your being vegan.
I became vegan nine months ago and feel a lot healthier. In fact I feel happy! If anyone tries to make fun of me as a vegan (and they do), I not just don't care, I am proud to be vegan. I know it's very good for me to be vegan. People mock vegans usually due to their inner problems or jealousy (you chose what you eat, and they can't stop eat any junk), and they mock not just vegans, it's in their character.
Meat is a disgusting thing now for me. It's nothing but cannibalism. Animal flesh or human flesh is no difference.
Screw you, Vegans are disgusting, but most importantly: Vegetables are disgusting.
I wish i could say something like that to people who judge me for being a vegetarian! (hopefully will become a vegan!) Been one my whole life and i've never stood up for myself when they judge me! God i really should start.
I hate it how people wont accept where their food comes from and how if they can eat a cow why not a dog or cat?
Wow, agreed.
This condescending shit gets pretty annoying.
I had a person ask me something so ballsy and disgusting recently:
"So, Ashley, why are you even vegan? It's not like you're making a difference to anything."
I just ignored this person, because they near-constantly harassed me for my beliefs for weeks (including rude comments from his mother when I brought a delicious cake to an event that everyone was shocked to hear was vegan).
Basically, vegans steal the show for their compassion and integrity, as well as their confidence and willingness to not "fit in" all the time. People envy that, and they are defensive oftentimes due to their guilt for being reminded of the hell they support with their dirty dollars.
The personal choice of what you consume does not make you a some sort of eco-champion. I am perfectly happy knowing that a cow was brutally slaughtered to make it's way between two sesame seed buns. Oh, and layla, I don't eat cats or dogs because I choose to, just as you choose to eat grass shavings instead of cheese.
The next time someone attempts to make you ashamed of being vegan, just tell them to go eat a dick. I'll be doing the same for those who attempt to make me feel inferior for eating meat.
I eat sausage for breakfeast, Meatloaf for lunch and a ham sandwitch for dinner. I eat meat all day long, maybe some salad inbetween. Why would i want to change that? I tried eating vegan food but i think it just tastes like crap, i dont like it, in fact i hate it, how would i ever become vegan if the food doesnt taste good? And dont think i dont know what im talking about i tried 50 different vegan foods and none of them tasted any good. I dont see why i should painfully stuff that sometimes expensive crap down my throat when i can eat a cheap, delicious meat sandwitch!
I just had the painful experience of a few vegan dishes. The pumpkin cheesecake pie was horrible. If a pumpkin could shit that's probably what it would taste like. And seitan? No wonder it's pronounced "satan".
Yo KJ…
Perhaps you had some BAD dishes cooked by crappy Chef's.. they exist in vegan and non-vegan food. In fact, the worst food I've ever tasted has been non-vegan. So I'd highly recommend trying vegan food again at an acclaimed restaurant or by someone who can really COOK before making such massive statements.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chloé Jo , Chloé Jo , Ms. Michelle, Sammy Brace, Sammy Brace and others. Sammy Brace said: RT @GirlieGirlArmy: Why being vegan sucks: https://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20090818/being-vegan-sucks/#comment-5672 via @VeganAri […]
Yay!! We need more Ari and less Sonia!
Ari, you rock! Great post!!
Do you know how a combine works and how vegetables are harvested? A field isn't an empty lot devoid of anything except the food being picked. All sorts of animals reside in them and if they are unfortunate to be in the path of the machinery are mangled to death. Visit a soybean plant and watch all the pieces mostly frogs but also pheasant, rabbit, dog and cat washed out of the product used to make tofu. Vegans should really now how their food is collected before they condemn others.
Defending the consumption of factory farmed animals by saying that wild animals in a field of fruits or vegetables may be caught in farming equipment is absurd. Also, with regards to the number of animals killed, it makes no sense. Here are the number of animals killed to produce one million calories of food in eight food categories (via http://www.animalvisuals.org/data/1mc/):
chicken: 251
eggs: 92
beef: 29
pork: 18
milk: 4
vegetables: 2
fruits: 1
grains: 1
If you really cared about how many animals are killed to produce the food you eat, you would most certainly be vegan. Your argument holds no water, sorry.
There is no defense for cruelty…ever!
"It takes 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat."
If you do it right, it takes 0 pounds of grain to make a pound of meat.
People can't eat grass – and you can't grow grain where you can grow grass. It's also a lot more effective to eat squirrels than acorns – and they taste a lot better!
"Most Americans are completely ignorant or in total denial of how the meat they're eating gets to their plate."
I'm not. From the woods to my plate!
Off to go hunt for more delicious nutritious good for the environment meat!
Yes, you Vegans DO have to eat sucky food, that vegetable dish would look amazing if it wasn't for the ugly purple thing and the pasta was covered in Bolognese sauce.
Yes, people enjoy having a dead animal in their mouths because IT IS TASTY, so shut up and fuck off, damn Koala.
Watch this video, it is not hateful of Vegans and vegetarians, watch the whole thing through, it may surprise you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns5TauOM46A
I think its admirable that you are a vegan because you beleive its helping animals and that it is envrionmentally friendly but i think your argument is a bit narrow.
You have used the term environmentally friendly when infact Environmentally appeasing it much more applicable. The planet does not need saving, It is the Human race which does. The planet will survive, when it gets too hot for us and we die out the plants will just take back the planet. Our cities will crumble and all the CO2 we have produced will be reabsorbed. What you need to be concerned about is Sustainability. This is commonly mistaken for environmentalism and yes it does include environmentalism but its much more focused on the continuation of the Human species. which is what we really need to be concerned about. To be sustainable you must take into account 3 things, (Sorry if anyone already knows this, i dont mean to patronise) These are:
1. The envrionment
2. The economy
3. Society
To be truely sustainable and to reach a perfect balance where in humans can continue to develop without any dangers from the environment or financial collapse all three of these must be balanced out.
If the whole world turned vegan it would be the must unsustainable thing you could do! For starters what happens to all the "Billions" of animals which are currently kept as livestock? These animals would i presumme be kept alive, and if you against population control which i presume many people are then these Billions of animals would be left to multiply at will. So now with have ALOT of livestock roaming the countryside. This presents several issues, not least of which is space. Land is the one thing that we are not makign any more of, If we have to dedicate additional feilds to this ever growing population of former livestock where do you intend to grow the vegetables which are now in astronmical demand because there are now 7Billion Vegans on the planet? as well as the food which must feed the ever increasing livestock population. It may take 16Pounds of grain to make 1Pound of meat but that cow still needs to eat if its killed or not. By giving this 16pounds of grain to a human instead you're depriving this animal of food.
So lets catch up quickly, we now have 7Billion Vegans all demanding Crops which must be grown on land which is either being roamed by free moving livestock, who can eat the crops and reduce human food supply or can be assigned their own land which in effect is the same as organic or free range farming. The second option removes land which could be used to grow crops for all these hungry Vegans.
Aswell as the loss of land due to feeding these free livestock.
Lets take a look from another angle? Employment. There are Millions of people both skilled and unskilled who work within the meat trade, Farmers / Butchers / meat salesmen and delivery drivers to name but a few. Where do these people go when no-one else wants meat? The farmer could start growing Crops to feed the world of vegans now, thats a whole new trade for many farmers and theres a substantial learnign curve, not to mention new costs such as fertiliser and pesticides (Ow and we ofcourse have to account in the Embodied energy and Carbon footprint of these cehmicals! But atleast there is an excessive amount of fertiliser, what with ever increasing cow population) Perhaps the cows could directly fetilise the crops, but then that would damage alot of them. I Digress.
So now Mr farmer has to buy new equipment, learn new skills and still tend to his old livestock, dedicating time and money for no Profit or return. Its most likely lookign pretty tempting for him to kill them and be done with the problem! But in a vegan world thats not likely, so he continues to divert some of his crop profit both in crop and cash to the care and housing of these animals. Life in a vegan worlds not lookign too good for him. Hes down on cash and has an icreased work load. thats the Economic and social pillars of Sustainability massivly skewed!
So what about the others? The butcher, You dont need to be trained to know how the get the best cuts of a carrot, so what happens to his job?
What about the delivery Driver, well actually he's looking good, an increase in vegans means an increase in vegetables and it doesnt matter if its meat or veg in hsi van a loads a load, and presuming that people want fresh veg rather than GM or preserved veg (who wouldnt!) He's got more deliveries per week as the Veg goes off faster than meat.
That links us quite nicely into the increase in transport. Vegatables taste better fresh! everyone knows that! GM and preservatives are definatly not good either, so you buy veg in smaller amounts, maybe weekly. That means more trips to the shops. More deliveries to the stores and sadly more wasted food when it goes off before being bought.
So thats a pretty big increase in Carbon footprint, unless you cycle to the store. but how do you get 5 peoples worht of veg home on a bike if you live 10 miles down a motorway from the nearest Supermarket.
So now we live in a world full of either free roaming cattle, or an increasing call for cattle storage areas! 7 Billion hungry vegans all demanding fresh un altered veg regularly, so higher demand at higher frequency, more waste and so higher prices to offset the expense of stock loss. Mass unemployment, decrease land availability and so cities start getting denser and denser, taller and taller. thats all very dificult to build and produces alot of CO2!
Ow and we must not forget the supplments that many vegans and vegetarians have to take, the factories which produce those arent exactly eco!
I'll sumarise now for fear that i may have lost some of you due to the length of this reply,
The meat industry is an established and sustainable way of feeding the masses, yes it takes alot of crop to feed the animals but thats recycled when you eat the meat! Its employment for millions and is finacially viable! Its socially accepted by the mass because Humans are designed to eat meat, our bodies crave meat, we have digestive systems with specialist enzymes just for meat! Teeth designed to tear through MEAT. Instead o becoming a vegan and just tryign to cut out meat why not rally together for more ethical treatment of livestock! Buy eggs from free range farms only! Get organic milk from cows that live on larger farms and are organically fed! Buy meat from butchers who kill their animals in a rapid and humane manor, a dignified and simple nail to the brain. Instant and fair, much more so than cave men beating their animals to death which is how nature intended it!
Look around, animals eat other animals, its how the life cycle works! You arent savign the planet by being vegan! instead why not try to make the things you use more sustainable. How many vegans here have a smart phone? Where were the metals in your phone sourced? How many vegans here have eco homes? And i mean real eco homes, using passive design and minimising thermal bridging rather than just putting solar panels on the roof and a wind turbine at the end of the garden?!
If you dont want to eat meat, thats fine but you arent anymore eco than the next person because of it. Take a step back and look at the big picture! Sustainability is the key, not your carbon footprint. Carbon Dioxide is naturally occuring, all of you are right now as you read this! you cant be Zero Carbon and its futile to try! Be sustainable and find a way of balancing the planet so that civilization can continue to grow whilst preserving the environment!
I dont think i'll have stopped any of you from being Vegan but perhaps i have made you think twice about how you approach it and maybe next time you wont fall to the default "we're environmentally friendly" come back!
Thank you for reading. have a good day
Darren! You've only made me think twice about your sanity! Are you for real? The entire premise by which you attempt to debunk environmental veganism is balanced quite wobbly upon the most unlikely, comical, and radical fantasy where everyone globally would suddenly go vegan overnight leaving billions of farm animals to roam free.
This would NEVER happen – but it conveniently suits your argument.
It is nice, however, that you admit to how unsustainable feeding an increasing livestock population is, which is on a dangerous rise due to increased global demand for animal products in places like China. Supply and demand.
Even if this ridiculous fantasy did happen, do you really think all of these new vegans would simply let all these animals go roam free without spay, neuter or euthanasia systems in place? We have such unsustainably large numbers of livestock consuming resources at a losing ratio of water/food to meat/dairy, not because they're having sex (most of these animals are so genetically mutated to be huge that they can't reproduce naturally, they need to be inseminated) but because we continue to breed them.
A more likely scenario, and one that is actually the current trend we are seeing is that as demand decreases, so decreases the number of livestock that are bred. Last year, there was a decline in the number of animals as low as the 1950s. (source) http://southeastfarmpress.com/livestock/kentucky-us-cattle-numbers-decrease
I just don't buy your bull-crap. Har har. But, quite literally – there are plant-based fertilizers and organic methodologies for growing crops that do not require livestock or chemical pesticides. (Source) http://www.goveganic.net/rubrique16.html
You clearly haven't done any research, and for someone that is attempting to make a scientific argument about ecology, society and economics, I seriously challenge your evidence, your research and ask for some citations at the very least.
Ok, well firstly, yes it was meant as a joke, obviously the world isnt going to turn vegan over night, however the amount that vegans try to convert people it probably wouldnt take too long if you found the perfect argument / statement.
Secondly, euthanasia?! What a horrific waste of life! These animals have every right to live and if you are going to insit on not eating them out of fairness to them then you cant kill them or prevent them from reproducing simply because its awkward for you! if you were to put in place this scheme of population control where does it end? You've said yourself that theres a trend in demand and supply, (which any idiot could point out) and so if theres no demand then why does there need ot be a supply? Effectivly you are suggesting the end of cows? Why keep them aroudn if you arent going to eat them. And if intend to euthanise them then why waste the meat?! you may aswell eat them!
As for your sources, id di not include sources because this is a comment on a website called "Girliegirlarmy" no offence to the site but its hardly an academic journal! For someone so quick to call for sources you have failed to provide any of substance yourself! the first is simply an article stating the quantities of cows within a small section fo the USA after an economic depression! Ofcourse the amount of livestock will decrease when people cant afford to keep or eat them! This is irrelivent! If the world turns vegan, no matter how slowly, you will have zero demand for meat and eventually zero demand for cows which takes us back to the end of cows!
Your second source is from a website called "Go Veganic" This should really be all i need to say but just to be sure, this is far from an impartial source, its also far from a reliable source. its effectivly a blog with no academic basis and the url alone displays what appears to be a user name. Meaning that like this post it could be written by ANYONE without things being checked!
For that reason both of your sources are moot!
I however do know how to reference correctly, so lets see if these will suffice?
Within the UK, the 10th largest producer of CO2 (1) the largest contributer of CO2 is Buildings, both construction and occupation. this accounts for nearly 50% of the CO2 produced (2) (3) (4). When you also consider that there are emmisions from cars, factories and other types of construction, you are left with a percentage which is far from the largest for agriculture, let alone a sub division for just Meat farming.
I feel sorry for the animals where ever you are from and clearly you hve made the right decision in going vegan is the cattle where you live are too mutated to mate by themselves! i live in Devon in the Uk and frequently see livestock going at it in the nearby feilds withouth any help from a farmer! The use of artificial insemination is to increase the gene pool and to allow cows and bulls to mate without having to be moved. Its a dangerous, and unsettling experience for the bull, to either sedate it and hoist it into a transport or lure it in just for a days mating when the bulls sperm can be transported in smaller more efficient containers where they need to go! Artificial insemination is a more animal friendly and human friendly method of controlling and diversifying the population! it does infact reduce the cows from becoming insestuos and mutated. (5)
I am a graduate in envrionmental architectural technology and have studied sustanability, in particular source to structure effects and embodied energies for the past 3 – 4 years! Its somewhat of a curse that my mind comes up with these extreme scenarios but he logic behind them is sound! there is consideration fo the wider affect on all aspects of society within my arguemtn, its just been exagerated to capture peoples attention! i notice you havnt said a thing about the changes in employment? Or how about the difference in landscape which means the starving third world people cant actually grow their own crops? is the rest fo the world supposed to grow excess for them and then ship it over? thats hardly envrionmentally friendly! You didnt mention anythign about transport increase? Storage demand increase or even about the fact that theres more to sustainability and envrionmentalism than eating low carbon foods! If you were to introduce Hydrogen powered trasnports with wind or Photovoltaic powered farms then the CO2 emmissions are actually very very minimal! yes you have methane from the cows backsides but thats naturally occuring! the world was doing fine before with cows farting! Its humans that are causing this! not the cows, eating meat is a ntural thing, all animals do it! thats not what needs to change! our excessive use of electricty needs to be changed! our excessive use of fossil fuels needs to change! you arent gunna save the planet by eating only carrots! eating meat is a sustaimable method of food production which in places has lost its way! Organic farming, using grass fed cattle and onsite slaughter in a humane manner is much better for society than just turning vegan!
1 – International energy statistics, Guardian newspaper UK (2011)http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jan/31/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-country-data-co2
2 – Zero Carbon Hub (Part of the British governments Code for sustainable homes programme)
3 -Innovate UK. Building peroformance analysis. Page 2.
4 – Written by Harrabin R, BBC News "Buildings and climate policy "
5 – Artificial insemination definition
I grew up on a farm so I know where my food comes from. I eat meat. I've seen steers get butchered, cows get milked, chickens get beheaded and I eat meat and drink milk. It wasn't cruel, and I am aware of factory farming. I try to keep that out of my food supply. I care deeply about the environment, and I walk most places. I use stainless steel straws. I don't use freezer bags, but I use stainless steel airtight containers. I pack waste free lunches. I have very little waste, and most of what I have/use is reusable. I bring my own bags to the grocery store. I only replace the head on my manual toothbrush. I even bring my own bags to buy in bulk, and I have my own bags for produce which I've had for 6 years. In the summer I get most of my groceries from the farmer's market. I buy milk from glass bottles that I return to the store to be reused. With that milk, I make my own yogurt and cheese. If I have far to go (23 blocks plus) I take the bus or train. Some of my oldest clothes are over 10 years old and still look good. I take care of all of my stuff and mend/fix them if they get broken or tattered. If they get too small or too big I get them tailored. I don't buy chocolate bars, pop, chips or juice anymore because I don't like the plastic packaging. I grow my own tomatoes year round. The meat I do get is from the local butcher who lets me bring my own containers instead of wrapping it in polystyrene/polyethalyne. I live in a small apartment. I save every piece of tissue paper and I save it in a box for future gifts. I save/reuse gift bags. I have never bought safety pins because I keep them from clothes tags. I use cloth napkins, and handkerchiefs. I clean with baking soda and vinegar. I get my handsoap, dishsoap, and laundry detergent containers refilled from bulk so I use less packaging. I recycle. I can understand being a vegetarian. I have even cut down on my meat consuption and probably eat vegetarian meals once or twice a week. But vegans eat fake food wrapped in plastic which can't be that healthy or that eco-friendly. I seriously doubt a vegan in a hummer has a lower carbon footprint than I do.
I also forgot to mention that I compost. It also takes me about a month to fill up one garbage bag, and most of that is from when my parents come to town twice a month and sleep over for the weekend. I also use a divacup, and I don't use pads or tampons.
I just wanted to add, that you must be delusional by thinking that going vegan helps feed the world's population. We have enough food to feed the world's population already. It is just poorly distributed. This is thanks to corrupt government and farmers in poor countries growing cash crops for the west instead of food crops. Poor countries have the potential to feed themselves and Africa should be the bread basket of the world! If you really want to feed the world's population I would suggest getting involved in politics. This would help more than a vegan diet. Also vegans are deficient in a lot of vitamins, and nutrients from their natural diet. To supplement this, they take vitamin pills. There isn't anything wrong with vitamin pills but it sure as hell doesn't seem natural or eco-riendly. Especially since the capsules come wrapped in plastic. I wonder if they took that into consideration from their vegan hummer/bicycle meat eating study. I seriously doubt it! Veganism also has a lot of propanganda and lies to convert people. I don't know what it is about these vegans wanting everyone to become vegan, but after researching it carefully the lifestyle simply isn't for me. I'm not trying to criticize vegans, I believe it's their choice to eat the way they want. I just don't like it when they have a holier than though attitude like the one above.
Believe it or not humans are apart of nature, and do you think a carnivore cares if it's cruel to eat the herbivore? Hell no it doesn't. We are animals and we eat other animals and their by-products. Get over it!


text:
Recent research by DDI associates and staff[1] found that most of their female respondents had never had a formal mentor. And yet, most respondents felt that mentorship is highly important in helping to advance their careers.
The study was carried out across 19 countries and many industry sectors and attracted responses from mainly senior and mid-level management ranks.
It seems from the study that senior women are not often asked to be mentors to others, whether male or female. When asked, they nearly always agree, which disproves some impressions that women at the top are jealous of their own achievement and do not wish to help other women up the ladder.
Time is perceived as a barrier in women agreeing to mentor others, but once the relationship has been established, the study showed that mentoring, in fact, does not hinder their performance in their own work.
These findings underline the necessity to support leadership development for all staff, and especially for women and other disadvantaged groups, with formal mentoring programmes. The reluctance of more junior people to approach their seniors for mentoring is such a barrier that unless mentoring programmes are formalised, mentoring will not happen.
The results of a McKinsey study in 2010[2] showed that, firstly, most respondents believed that there is a direct connection between gender diversity in a company and its financial success; and secondly, that "one of the key characteristics of organisations with the largest percentage of women at the C-level is that they encourage or mandate senior executives to mentor women in lower-level jobs". The other two key characteristics were found to be that there is visible monitoring of the advancement of women by the CEO and that skills-building programmes are put in place aimed specifically at women.
To our knowledge, no similar research has yet been done in South Africa. We believe it would be highly beneficial if the Employment Equity Commission were to commission research into development practices demonstrated by those organisations which are most successful at the advancement of women and other previously disadvantaged groups. With the possible introduction of Gender Equality legislation, which seeks to ensure equal representation of women in all decision-making structures of organisations, employers would do well to review their developmental practices and in particular, look at the effectiveness of their mentoring programmes.
[1] Women as Mentors: Does She or Doesn't She? 2014. www.ddi.com
[2] Moving Women to the Top: McKinsey Global Survey results. McKinsey Quarterly.


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I'd like to know: are there any women out there who shave their pubic hair for the sole purpose of their own self-fulfilment? Or is it something that you just do for the guys in your lives? Or do you do it because people say a hairy vulva is gross and disgusting? Or is it just the normal thing to do? What is the reason?
I've done it a couple of times and on both occasions, I regretted it afterwards. The first time I did it, I was about eleven years old. The hairs had only started growing out and I think it freaked me out and I may have done it in an attempt to revert back to prepubescence. I don't know. I was a silly child. It fucking itched like hell though.
The second time I did it was because I realized that people thought a girl with pubes was disgusting and hilarious. I saw cartoons online with cruel depictions of women with pubes. I read exaggerated descriptions of women who didn't shave and the adjectives used were so hurtful. Naturally, I thought my body was weird and I sought to rectify the problem at the earliest opportunity. Again, I didn't do it properly, i.e. if there is a proper way of doing this shit, and again it itched like hell. The pubes also grew back rapidly, much faster than leg hair, and the resulting texture was extremely coarse because of how thick pubic hair strands are. I decided after that, that shaving just wasn't worth the trouble no matter how fucking gross people said it was. It was just too much work for too little rewards. And plus it itched like crazy and the texture of the pubes growing back out the next day crawled my blood.
In order to maintain a hairless vulva, one would have to do it pretty often and I'm guessing one would have to take her time doing it so that she wouldn't hurt herself. Is it worth the time and effort? Are you really doing it for you? And it doesn't even feel good. Aesthetically, I don't like how it looks. I guess some women would probably think it looks cool. To me it looks somewhat childlike but more like a plucked chicken or something. I prefer the hair any day. Not that I care too much. I don't adore my pubes, but I don't hate them either. I'm pretty indifferent to them actually, however their absence freaks me out. But they do serve a purpose. I think they prevent dust and other foreign particles from getting up there and they keep periods from spilling all over the place. Well that's what my PE teacher told us. I don't know how true that is. I've never ever actually been shaven while I had a period. But think about it. Hominoids gradually evolved to become less hairy than our primate ancestors. They lost much of their hair from all over their bodies, save for the head, armpits and genitals, over time. Maybe the reason why natural selection hasn't done away with our pubes is because they do serve a purpose.
Anyway, I'm not at all judging anyone. I'm not in a position to judge others seeing that I do some pretty questionable things myself. But I will say that body hair on women, particularly pubic hair, is NOT unclean, weird or disgusting. It grows on all women and evolution left it there for a reason so please don't let that be the reason why you trouble yourself with removing your pubes and please don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
I'll get into the implications of porn culture and beauty expectations some other time.


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Like a punk porcupine, these Junya Watanabe studded cowgirl boots are not for the clutch-pearls set. The snake-effect leather and extra-sharp silver studs in back will help enforce a certain amount of personal space at all times.
$1,585 at Net-a-Porter
Nothing wrong with traditional wingtips, but Rick Owens' fall men's sneakers with Adidas — based on the odd, radar-evading shape of Stealth Bombers — practically take flight. The Tech Runners, as they're called, are composed of a leather and suede top, a black rubber outsole, and an interior made of shock-absorbing EVA technology, whispering at high-design usability while making a bold statement.
While that's for fall, Rick Owens' spring shoes for Adidas — more pod-like than stealthy — just arrived at Oki-Ni
"Progressive art movements of the early 20th Century" are the inspiration behind Alexander McQueen's three new clutches for spring: Tassel Skull, Sphere Skull, and Hexagon. We're getting flapper and art nouveau; we should paid more attention in art history class to spot the others.
At any rate, bold color and primitive shapes in unusual materials like plexiglass and snakeskin are embellished with gold studs, feather embroidery, gold studs, and beadwork. Wait, where's the cicada-inspired gold knuckleduster clutches?
Marking the 10th anniversary of Alexander McQueen's skull motif (spring '03), the house has partnered with Damien Hirst on a series of 30 extraordinary large scarves. As seen below in the short film by Sølve Sundsbø, each limited-edition design is adapted from the artist's Entomology series to create a kaleidoscopic juxtaposition of butterflies, beetles, spiders and other insects with a skull in the center. The result is a marriage of the two Brits' fascination with nature and its bounty of strange creatures.
$515 - $1175 in chiffon, pongee, twill or cashmere, available beginning November 15 at Alexander McQueen stores worldwide and online.
The part of Céline's fall/winter 2013 collection with the red-and-blue check patterns, a clever riff on the jumbo shopping bags of Canal Street, now bears another clever twist. Behold the Fortune Cookie bag, an apparent reference to the Chinatown restaurants and markets that dot Canal Street and the area. So yummy you could eat them, the shoulder bags are a limited capsule range for winter, available in dough-colored calfskin, as well as army-green mohair and blue or navy madres canvas.
At select Céline stores worldwide
Amid a Slurpee swirl of colorful bags this season, Prada goes back to basics for its new Saffiano briefcases. The Italian house has developed a new treatment that gives leather a professorial saffron patina. The lining, too, is made to look old-school with its soft sheep leather, while the steel hardware is semi-polished — for a worn-in look without the wait.
$2400-2750 in select Prada stores worldwide and online
For fall 2013, Miuccia Prada combined seemingly incombinable things: leisure and noir, couture and punk, good girl and bad girl. So if her red-and-white gingham bag is a little too "picnic with Doris Day" for you, opt instead for the nighttime red-and-blue version — much more "vodka shots with Joan Jett." (Extra good news if you live in Stockholm, Sweden, or Nanning, China — you now have a brand-new Prada flagship in your city.)
$1650 at Prada.com
Judging by these mosh-ready stompers, Hedi Slimane is giving the house of Saint Laurent a full reboot. He's adorned an otherwise standard-issue military boot in black leather with endless studs, straps, and a curious string of charms and bricolage, as if grabbed from a thrift store — although these most certainly were not.
Around $7620 at Saint Laurent stores worldwide
Ever since Lady Gaga slid into his heelless shoe art and appeared on Japanese TV some years ago, it's been a rocket ride for Noritaka Tatehana.
The latest unexpected development from the bashful cobbler is a collaboration with the high-concept "shoe director" Yoichiro Kitadate (Nike, Reebok) on a limited capsule of wedge sneakers for her and baseball sneakers for him. Called Daughters (both the women's and men's versions — go figure), and featuring a traditional Japanese leather-dying technique using organic indigo, the shoes have inherited their genes from their two dads. A miracle of modern science!
Currently only available in Japan at T6M and Isetan Shinjuku, but inquiries are welcome on the Daughters website.


text: After two decades of research and management and policy changes, it is likely that new regulations will be promulgated for protecting Northern Spotted Owls. Such changes are anticipated as the 2008 Spotted Owl Recovery Plan is revised, and from new science on competitive interactions with barred owls.There is heightened environmental concern about Northern Spotted Owls, because spotted owl populations are declining rapidly in Washington, and the regulatory arena has become unstable. Mapped locations of owl nesting sites on private lands no longer can be "de-certified" after multiple surveys of non-detections because the presence of barred owls reduces spotted owl responses to surveys.New survey protocol has been drafted, but it needs to be tested for accuracy in areas where spotted owls are known to be present by virtue of being radio-tagged. Wildlife biologists continue to speculate that habitat loss on private timberlands is partly responsible for the population declines, which could lead to new litigation and/or costly new requirements for private protection of sites occupied (or perhaps re-occupied in the future) by spotted owls.NCASI supports multiple field research projects initiated to clarify survey methods, determine spotted owl responses to uneven-aged forest management, and evaluate spotted and barred owl responses to vegetation composition and structure from Washington through western Oregon and northern California.By spring 2010, NCASI had collected radio telemetry data on more than 265 spotted owls and approximately 50 barred owls, resulting in the largest database ever acquired. Several research papers have been published.NCASI continues to provide field and database support for multiple studies and technical input:


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Louisa County High School's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) made a strong showing at the Virginia State Fair's FCCLA day, earning two first-place trophies.
Tewanna Jennings, LCHS teacher, took 26 students to the Oct. 3 event, which drew members from across Virginia.
Locals Marissa Sperry and Katelyn Perry secured the top spots in both of the statewide contest's Wear and Accessories categories, giving Louisa the title in two of the six competitions on the day.
Sperry's winning entry in the senior category was a purse made almost entirely of soda can tabs.
"At first I had bracelets I had made out of pop-tops, but Mrs. Jennings said I should find something bigger to make," Sperry said.
After researching designs on Pinterest, the popular social sharing website, Sperry said she found a design she liked and adapted it for her purposes. With 1,200 tabs and nothing else besides just a bit of thread and ribbons, Sperry completed her state-winning entry.
Katelynn Perry won the junior division with a canvas bag she decorated with ceremonial cord, ribbon and puffy paint.
Although she didn't win, Louisa's Briana Jackson also had a strong entry with a handbag she made entirely from crocheted Walmart bags.
FCCLA has taken a cue from Perry for its newest fundraiser, creating bracelets from the same type of ceremonial cord she used on her bag. One of their customers has been Superintendent Dr. Deborah Pettit, who had a video conference with Sperry, Perry and Jennings while she was on medical leave.
"Creativity is an important aspect of learning, and these projects represent high-level thinking skills," she wrote of the trio in her weekly blog. The superintendent returned to work this week.
To purchase a bracelet, contact Mrs. Jennings at (540) 845-5436.


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This is the day that the Holy One has made.
This is the day that we vote about homosexuality again, and grace again, and fear and violence again, and learn what will prevail in the eyes of the broken church.
But it's just a day. Tomorrow is another. We are the church. Broken, limping, maimed.
Every warm thought, every loving whisper, every prayer in whatever way you pray, may you lift it for the people called Methodist.
And for me.
Filed under: religion | Tagged: conference, GC2012, grief, hope, justice | 4 Comments »