BigSqwert

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Feb 14, 2011 -> 10:24 AM) I'm just glad they beat those other jokers. Agreed

A little off subject but not sure where else to put this. *Opens can of worms* Good read in this month's Atlantic magazine: The Moral Crusade Against Foodies I particularly found this passage interesting: Here too, though, an at least half-serious moral logic is at work, backed up by the subculture’s distinct body of myth, which combines half-understood evolutionary theory with the biblical idea of man as born lord of the world. Anthropological research, I should perhaps point out, now indicates that Homo sapiens started out as a paltry prey animal. Clawless, fangless, and slight of build, he could at best look forward to furtive boltings of carrion until the day he became meat himself. It took humans quite a while to learn how to gang up for self-protection and food acquisition, the latter usually a hyena-style affair of separating infant or sick animals from their herds. The domestication of pigs, cows, chickens, etc. has been going on for only about 10,000 years—not nearly long enough to breed the instincts out of them. The hideous paraphernalia of subjugation pictured in The CAFO Reader? It’s not there for nothing.

Finally someone to give David Attenborough a run for his money.

QUOTE (PeavyTime @ Feb 13, 2011 -> 10:49 PM) Who the f*** is arcade fire? Do you live in a cave? And I personally disagree JPN. The Suburbs has been in heavy rotation for a much longer period of time for me than Neon Bible ever was.

Just watched Terminator Salvation. Meh.

Mobile World Conference started today in Barcelona. Samsung and Sony unveiled some interesting gadgets today. Looking forward to what HTC has in store. They're up on Tuesday at midnight EST I believe.

This week's Portlandia had a few LOL moments.

I wish I were in Austin. Great town.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 03:06 PM) They should change the name of the "Everything" plan. Not so fast?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Feb 12, 2011 -> 02:49 PM) It's actually really, really hard to get into the FBI. I actually passed the first exam to get in. But at the time I was only 2 years out of college with just a little audit experience so they never called me back fpr any specific roles that needed to be filled and subsequent testing. I'd imagine if I updated my qualifications and experience, they'd be interested in what I have to offer now.

I think this is the way to go.

I picked Ramirez. Couldn't go with a starting pitcher since they only appear in about 30 games or so out of 162.

One more episode to go to catch up on Mad Men. Season 4 has been stellar.

Watched 'I'm Still Here' last night. It's the documentary about Joaquin Phoenix's transformation from an actor to a rapper. What a terrible waste of time watching it.

So let me put it this way Mark. I'm going to make up an index/scale that measures the impact a person has on the earth. It's more than just a carbon footprint snapshot because it also includes our impact on all sentient life, animals and humans alike (think child labor or impact of air and water quality to people and how it affects their health, etc). This index could probably have thousands of factors to contribute to your final score, 1 being a downright drag on the earth, someone who continually burns tires in the backyard of their 5000 sq ft McMansion utilizing enormous amounts of energy and eats McDonald's 5 times per day and owns stock in companies with human rights issues (yes I know it's a caricature) and 10 being as StrangeSox mentioned, a Jainist (someone with almost no harm or suffering impact to the earth and its inhabitants; i.e., the person living in a clay hunt only eating the apples that fall from the tree next to them.) I would venture to say, based on the multitude of articles and books I've read over the years, that the average American is probably a 3 or 4 on this scale. In my opinion I would probably be somewhere around a 6, perhaps even closer to a 7. So to concede your point, yes I am a hypocrite in some ways because I am not a 9 or 10 on this scale. But I am continually doing things in my life to get me closer to that number. I personally think the biggest step one can take to jump a full point or point and a half on this scale would be go completely vegan. By doing so you make a huge direct impact on the needless suffering of animals and humans. Animals because, as I've stated before, there are billions that are directly affected each year in the U.S. alone. Their entire existence is one of misery, suffering, and pain. I mention people because the slaughterhouse is continually a leader in the number of workplace accidents and deaths. Additionally, the vast amounts of resources used to maintain this system, i.e., land, food, and water as well as the enormous amounts of waste produced via methane gases and polluted runoff waters is a major factor. And I really can't think of any other step one can take in their life to make a bigger global impact on this index/scale. There are a multitude of things that my family have embraced in helping us to get that score I've assigned myself. I've mentioned a few before (use a local CSA, walk and bike more, etc) and here are some others that are so easy that most of us could implement them with ease: - recycle - bring your own bags to the grocery store - purchase organic and fair trade where possible - weatherize your home - install low flow shower heads and toilets - compost - stop buying bottled water (just use britta or pur filters if you're scared of tap, although you shouldn't be) - talk to your local politicians about planting more trees in the community There's probably a million more things you can do but those are just so damn easy. And again, yes I'm a hypocrite for not being the 9 or 10 on the scale but I know for a fact that the things I currently do have a very big impact, hence the 6 to 7 score as opposed to the 3 or 4. And when you mention things such as (1) owning a home displaces animals that were there beforehand or (2) using smart phones/computers use fossil fuels and also have impacts you are absolutely correct. However, I own a small condo that was a rehab of an older building. I didn't clear a forest to make my home. And yes, at some point in time someone must have done that here to put this building where it is. I'd say it's a better step than developing my home on some land that needed to be cleared. And I actually think some of the gadget negatives have a little cushion with their impact. How much I don't know but over the last 10-20 years, during this information age, the world has become more connected. Veganism has exploded in this time frame. So has the ability to contribute and participate in many charity organizations across the world that directly work with issues such as human and animal welfare as well as wildlife and resource preservation. Is it a wash? No, but I don't think these things would be as big as they are today...and growing. Heck, the Sea Shepherd organization has been around for a long time but I had never heard of them until they started airing a television show. Now I regularly donate to them whereas I might not have ever done so if I didn't have a TV or Internet.

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 12, 2011 -> 08:30 AM) I've had Gift Shop queued up on Instant for awhile but just havent wanted to sit down and watch it. The fact that if it is real or fake is what makes it so good I guess. It's just really well done and captivating.

Happy birthday gentlemen!

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Feb 12, 2011 -> 02:58 AM) Ive watched a few movies in the past few weeks. A few documentaries which were all pretty good for the most part. Catfish- I watched this doc the other night and was pleasantly surprised with how it unfolded. Its hard to say much of what its about without giving the movie away but the main premise is its about a photographer who comes into contact with a young girl through her art and he develops a friendship with her family who is the young girl, her mom and her older sister through facebook. Restrepo- a war doc about some soldiers in "the most dangerous part of Afghanistan." Id have to say it is probably my favorite documentary and gives just about the closest look at what it is like for these soldiers day to day in a heavy combat zone while at war. Exit through the gift shop- a doc about street art which was pretty interesting and kept my attention without me having a vested interest in the topic. From what Ive read about it online some people think it was a hoax by one of the street artists but either way it was pretty good. 127 Hours- I really wasnt a fan of it. I was familiar with the story and was skeptical of how they could make a full movie out of it and it was pretty much what I expected. I do think Franco did a great job as Aron Ralston though. The Town- Was pretty good. I knew it was a popular movie but I didnt really know the plot before I watched it. It was pretty good though and I thought the action scenes were believable and done well. Also, for anyone interested, Restrepo and Exit through the gift shop are on Netflix instant I've watched Exit and loved it. Already had Restrepo queued up on Netlfix. Aren't they both up for an Oscar?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 10:41 PM) Hey Sqwert, do most synthetic protein formulas fit into a vegan lifestyle? Is that what a lot of the more athletically- inclined vegans do for protein? Or is it strictly natural protein mostly? Honestly I haven't been doing any body building for at least 10 years now so I don't know that answer. I do know there are vegan protein formulas. Whether most synthetics are vegan friendly I wouldn't know. I heard good things about this product. Tony Gonzalez has a line as well.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 07:02 PM) And congratulations, you found 3 people out of 6 billion that look like that and eat plants. Dammit you caught me! There truly are only 3 vegan people that look like that in the entire world. You actually never met me either. I sent in a paid 6'4" extremely athletic actor to meet you guys up for drinks at Dylan's. **cough**

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 04:40 PM) I'm offended that you'd think I'd make a gay double entendre joke. I had you confused with another poster. My regrets.

I've got a lot of unconventional natural gas if you know what I mean. Hayoo!

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 04:34 PM) You know they're getting some sausage on the side. They are all hetero.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 04:17 PM) You mean sickly and malnourished. These men beg to differ. Tony Gonzalez Mac Danzig Georges Laraque

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 03:38 PM) Lucky dude. Cool story. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_...?urn=nfl-319633 Very cool story indeed.