Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Not-eating-meat-ian

This is taken from a forum where I was arguing as to why I don't eat meat.

The only reason at all that I am a vegetarian is because of the effects that conventional meat farming has on the environment (I live in the carolinas, so check this and this that second article in particular:

Hog Waste Pollution

The traditional means of disposal for hog feces and urine has been open-air lagoon pits (basically big holding ponds for waste) and sprayfields.


Which leads to:

The lagoons sometimes rupture after heavy rains, and the fields on which waste is sprayed leak polluted runoff into streams and rivers.


They are talking about this disaster which led to:
The worst hog-waste spill in state history sent 25 million gallons of waste gushing into the New River this week, killing fish and taking the battle over the hog industry to a new level.


FUCK.

This is because businesses are driven by the bottom dollar, and in order to provide the mass quantity of hogmeat needed each day in America at the low low prices consumers want, it is cheaper to just store pig waste in huge pits. There is a rolling stone article out there that describes how these farmers have MILES of pigs just to keep up with demand.

That is sick. Not only is this a horrible way to keep animals, but this is part of the reason we have so many meat scares. It is really easy to get contaminated meat when they live in their own excrement, and that excrement is kept nearby in HUGE PUDDLES OF SHIT AND PISS AND DEAD PIGS.

And that is just the pork industry.

I am doing my part in lowering demand for these products so that maybe they have to provide better quality meat and pay a little more attention to what they are doing.

And also to the idiots arguing that you NEED MEAT to bulk up- Every plant-based protein powder on earth says Hi.

And as the majority of us (Americans) AREN'T professional weight lifters and body builders, we definitely can get by nutritionally on alternate protein sources.

I find it interesting that most people have come in here and in some way or another argued that we need a huge meat industry without even considering that there are very accessible sources of protein in other places.

Also- meat farming is INSANELY inefficient. The amount of resources it takes to raise these animals to a consumable state is mind-boggling especially considering the amount of "usable meat" we get off of them.

Check this shit out

Tracking food animal production from the feed trough to the dinner table, Pimentel found broiler chickens to be the most efficient use of fossil energy, and beef, the least. Chicken meat production consumes energy in a 4:1 ratio to protein output; beef cattle production requires an energy input to protein output ratio of 54:1. (Lamb meat production is nearly as inefficient at 50:1, according to the ecologist's analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics. Other ratios range from 13:1 for turkey meat and 14:1 for milk protein to 17:1 for pork and 26:1 for eggs.)


Come the fuck on people, this is a terrible way to utilize fossil fuels for what is honestly not necessary.

There are alternate sources of protein if you just HAVE to farm-raise and eat something.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

fobiaz

As a trained biologist, I personally have succumbed to a fairly common pitfall of all wildlife biologists (and not a few veterinarians!)

I am extremely marked by a gratuitous lack of fear of dangerous animals. I can confidently say that when faced with creatures most individuals would be quaking in fear of, I would staunchly, bravely, and stupidly hold my ground.

Well it is not so much bravery, as it is intrigue and a strong belief that I know enough about said animal to deal with them.

It is also an outgrowth from my cushy position as one of the dominant species on this planet. As an influential (to me at least) Zoologist once said to me (when describing the taste of Hagfish): "I am kind of on a quest to eat everything that I talk about in my Zoology class." This quote really stuck with me (partly because it is funny) because it really illustrates how a lot of us feel. More often than not, we see these animals on the dissecting table or in stews. Kind of hard to be afraid of dinner and pickles.

Still, like I said, its a pretty stupid attitude.

However, the list of "animals I am NOT afraid of but probably should be" is pretty long:
Snakes,
Sharks,
Alligators/crocodiles,
dogs,
BIG dogs,
Tigers,
Spiders (Like Black Widows)....The list goes on for a longggggg time.

ALTHOUGH

There ARE two types of creatures that can cause me to stop, look, and listen.

Horses and MotherFuckin' BEARS.

Like most phobias, this fear is completely unfounded and irrational.

Here are the reasons for each:

Horses- Huge and can Clobber you pretty easily.

Bears- They are fucking BEARS!!!

Neither of those make sense, considering I am not afraid of Hippos, Elephants, or Godzilla.

Ok bye now!
-Robert!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

first poast!

Hello Internet! I maek poast! Firstly, I would like to formally direct your attention to the thing that inspired the name of this blog, and something that also gives me a way to direct your attention and get you thinking about me.

Wow that was narcisisstic. Narcissistic. Yea. Anyway

Here it is in all of it's glory.

Take a moment to take this image in in it's entirety. This may be the best made Magic: The Gathering card ever. In a world that is ostensibly full of magic monsters, wizards, necromancers, warriors, and many other fanciful cretures, someone had the bright idea to attach a rocket to the back of a slug.

I like to think that in some way, I am that person.

more to come, stay tuned