Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Monday, March 26, 2007
This is your brain on meat
Good morning, Expendables. It’s due to be 60F in the Boston area.
I highly recommend “Mad Cow USA.” This issue is in line with the many hazards of the corporate food supply. For those with pets, I recommend Flint River Ranch pet foods. For those with close human relations (self, family, etc) grow or buy organic, the latter with few or zero middlemen.
I’ve gotten hold of an excellent book: “Gangs of America” by Ted Nace tracks the origin and growth of corporate power. It’s perceptive and well-researched history. I think the rise of fake personhood may be the evolutionary marker that h. sapiens is headed for disaster.
Gotta run.
Posted by Zen Prole on from Urth 03/26 at 09:51 AMGood morning Mickey and all.
Here are some of my thoughts to add to the conversation.
On a fundamental, basic level there is something broken, something not functioning or dysfunctional within human beings today.Every organization seems to display the same symptoms borne of wrong thinking, ignorance and mismanagement.
Heavy metal mining. Nuclear technologies. Weapons industry. Water management. Food production. Forestry. Medical treatment including hospital care, drug development, disease treatment. Education. Prison rehabilitation. Psychiatric care. Government. Religion. To name the obvious ones.
This is where my intense investigation into current world affairs is leading me. It is something to do with the ‘how’ we organize ourselves into groups that effects the results produced. The use of ‘hope’ ‘fear’, and ‘repetition’ as tools to organize and motivate ourselves to action is one factor in the dysfunctional results. Its something about getting off on the ‘wrong foot’ which sets up a whole chain reaction.
I really don’t know what else to say, Mickey. I very much appreciate your thoughts and perspectives.
Thanks for listening.
Posted by frances on from british columbia 03/26 at 09:58 AMHello Expendables...from cool, but warming Astoria.
Thanks for the book recommendations, Zen. And Frances, your comment above and the link you provided last night both highlight just how deep the “deep shit” we’re in really is. It’s as if we humans have just gotten it all wrong.
Wisely, captcha sez: expected
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/26 at 10:03 AMFrances from British Columbia is saying some very interesting things to which I have no insight or answers. That which governs human behavior is more complex than stereotypes, social conditioning, brainwashing, fabricated science, prevailing popular information about any topic. There are ‘natural laws’ in this universe that effect every ‘thing’ including war mongers, political parasites and blood suckers, corporate emotional cripples and ceo’s who are still rebelling because their mother pulled their nipple away. Some of the most interesting people I ever met were in White Rock, British Columbia, they all were originally from Ireland...!
Posted by Joe of Maine on from North Atlantic Ocean is my neighbor 03/26 at 10:40 AMhello all
frances, you might be interested in trying to get a hold of adam curtis’ new documntary “the trap”, which i must say is surprisingly good. it talks about why some of these things are happening.
http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/1690
and as an aside… on another blog today i noticed a competition asking “what will bush’s memoirs be called?” and i thought we coul come up with a few good options..
what about “making the world safe for oligarchy”
Posted by michael on from scotland 03/26 at 11:21 AMHow about Bring ‘em On?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/26 at 11:22 AM“Mission Accomplished”?
Posted by James on from work 03/26 at 11:24 AMa good one on said blog was
“I was misunderestimated”
Posted by michael on from scotland 03/26 at 11:25 AMFool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1987104025700373400
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 03/26 at 11:38 AM(As he desperately tries to refocus the conversation), How about This is your brain on meat?
Seriously, I vote for Mission Accomplished...and I may have to make this is a full post later this week.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/26 at 11:44 AMMickey - read your essay about Pat Tillman.
In it you ask rhetorically whether Tillman had ever read Zinn(and others) in a rather condescending manner it appears.
I seem to recall hearing on CNN that Tillman had been a devoted ‘fan’ of none other than Noam Chomsky....
Posted by steve on from toronto 03/26 at 11:50 AMDo I win a prize if my suggestion is selected? But seriously, people gotta remember that even if we can eat meat and avoid getting brain rot or whatever… it’s still just plain wrong.
Posted by James on from work 03/26 at 11:50 AMSteve, found an article that backs it up, source was Tillman’s mom regarding him being a chomsky “fan”. http://tinyurl.com/bhhhw
Good point James. (which reminds me - how was the date?) I think there is a lot wrong with agribusiness, and it permiates every aspect - the exploitation of the human workers, the exploitation of the sentient beings who are considered “property” and “products”, the misinformation handed to the consumers, the damage to the environment with the government complicit. It agrivates me on many levels. “Diet for a dead planet” is a good book that goes into some of this more in depth, and also makes a strong argument for the current state of agribusiness having been made possible by things that happened basically from the start of this country.
frances, I think that is why I found the workers collectives and the neighborhood associations that came about in Argentina after dec 2001 to be so interesting - sort of highlights the difference between community and organizations or government.
Posted by Deb on from NoVa 03/26 at 12:08 PMMy thoughts on food:
Meat (mass produced chicken, pork, beef) is a particularly horrible way to feed a portion of the Earth’s nearly 9 billion people. It’s sick in its treatment of the animals; it’s a huge cause of the poisoning of our environment, destroys the land base and is completely unsustainable. Most everyone here knows more about these subjects than I do. But in the end, every way we try to feed the nearly 9 billion people on earth is unsustainable, vegan, meat eater or any combination in between.
The crash of civilization will most likely cause the deaths of a majority of the people on earth...simply because if this horrific machine that plunders resources from the entire planet ends (and it will, whether it be through then end of obtainable energy to run it, a massive natural disaster because of its poisonous output, etc.) those concentrated in the cities will not be fed, housed, kept warm, etc.
If this crash occurs within my lifetime and I happen to somehow survive it...I would need to know how to both hunt and gather to survive...as would anyone. My point is, I agree, being a vegan is a less horrible way to live, but clearing enough land to grow vegetable and fruit crops to feed 9 billion is not the answer either.
I guess what one could do is train yourself in survival skills, find ways to live without electricity, learn how to hunt, grow your own food, move away from the cities…or don’t, it does sound pretty crazy. Vegan is the more humane way to go, for sure…but even if we all went that way, we aren’t going to last much longer anyway.
Ahh…how depressing is that view, huh? Anyone want to convince me that it is incorrect though?
my captcha is ‘love’
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 03/26 at 12:26 PMI’ll post the Tillman article here later this week but for now let me state that a few people have pointed out that Pat was a “Chomsky fan.” Does that somehow negate the fact that he was voluntarily waging war for the U.S. military?
Deb: Did you go to the Buestockings talk on Friday?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/26 at 12:29 PMSorry, JOS...simultyping.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/26 at 12:30 PMThe Patrice Jones appearance? I was actually there, pretty interesting stuff, though she didn’t get a cool intro like you did last year.
Posted by James on from work 03/26 at 12:31 PMYup, mickey, I was there on Friday. James if I’d known you were going to be there, I’d have looked for you! Did you meet Isa?
JOS, I think you have a good point, but I don’t agree that there is nothing we can do. CSA’s and farmers markets are one step in the right direction. Growing some of your own food in your backyard, or on your patio or balcony, is an even better step. We can support the farms that are looking at sustainable ways of growing food (clearing land is not required, it’s just how agribusiness does it). Buying locally and as directly from the farmers as possible cuts out some of the issues of food transportation environmental costs. (growing some of your own food is obviously the best thing you can do to relieve all of the issues)
Being vegan isn’t enough, but it is more than nothing too. It addresses some human rights issues as well, which shouldn’t be ignored. But overall, we shouldn’t be sitting around waiting for society to collapse. We can step ourselves outside of the system in small but meaningful ways. Society might (probably will) collapse anyway, but damn it, I’ll have some tomatoes in my garden when it does. (or something like that)
Chavez has done some interesting things with his “missions” to try to address some of these issues, to make food a less centralized thing. He’s doing it so that there won’t be food shortages if there’s another oil strike, but it addresses the same issue. I read a book that just touches it, but it is something I’ll read more on, for sure.
Posted by Deb on from NoVa 03/26 at 12:59 PMDeb and James: I had every intention of gong to see Pattrice talk (after all, my blurb is on her latest book) but Michele (my wife) has been sick and, to be honest, I’ve been pretty exhausted these days.
It would’ve been cool to see you both. We have to try to make that happen another time.
JOS: I agree that veganism is just one tiny step.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/26 at 01:03 PMI didn’t mean to say it was a tiny step, Mick or Deb. I think it’s a big step for each individual that takes it.
I just can’t get my mind past the fact that every one of us can’t go local, or grow their own food, at least not in the cities...there just isn’t enough land. In order for cities to be fed they have to take from the resources of the land outside the cities.
I have been very depressed lately thinking about all of this...hence the doom and gloom. I mean, if a population of 9 billion can’t be fed without causing massive damage to the environment...that means billions will eventually die.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 03/26 at 01:49 PMI hear you JOS and agree more than I wish I did. Deb, where is NoVa? Do you live around here, or were you just in town visiting so could stop at Bluestockings? I was in the back, got in kinda late to it. Didn’t meet Isa, saw her there in the front row, but I did meet her last year when she had the Vegan with a Vengeance book signing at Mooshoes. My copy is now one of my most prized possessions.
Posted by James on from work 03/26 at 02:27 PMJOS, you underestimate the amount of food that can be grown IN the city. http://akpress.org/2006/items/foodnotlawns
NYC is a good example of a place that does a lot with community gardens, though I think they’re developed by the communities more as sanctuaries than as food resources. In denver we could “rent” plots in community gardens to grow food. It isn’t everything, but it is something, and something is always better than nothing. If everyone did it, we’d reduce the amount of food we’d need to purchase and have shipped in by a very large degree. Ask anyone who actually has a food garden, and they’ll tell you.
And the current population on the earth can be fed at least one time over with the current amount of food being grown. That people are starving is politics, not food shortage.
Mickey, I’m sorry your wife was (is?) ill. I hope she feels better soon, if she is still not feeling well. It would have been cool to meet you, but honestly I expected you to not be able to come because I know you’ve been stretched thin lately. You need time to recharge. Captcha says “mother”. How did captcha get so smart?
There’s an anarchist bookfair in nyc in mid april (14 & 15) that I might go to.
Posted by Deb on from NoVa 03/26 at 02:34 PMJames “NoVa” = Northern Virginia. Pentagon land. One of my best friends lives in queens, and a local friend and I go up to visit every few months. We look for excuses, basically. I love the chinatown bus.
Posted by Deb on from NoVa 03/26 at 02:37 PMThanks, Deb...Michele had the flu. She’s much better now. As for my mom, she started round two of her treatment today so I’m waiting impatiently for a phone call from my dad to hear that all is going well.
Keep us New Yorkers posted on your plans, re: book fair. Maybe we can hang out. Right, James?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/26 at 02:37 PMThat’s right, and my vegan potluck party at my place will indeed happen on the 21st, and I joined with these people for it:
http://vegan.meetup.com/407/calendar/5606438/Also note the Foodswings anniversary party this Saturday…
Posted by James on from work 03/26 at 02:40 PMThose are some great ideas, Deb. Glad to see you haven’t given up on us yet.
Your mention of community gardens reminded me of when I was going to PS 84 in Manhattan for grade school. It doesn’t turn out well, but still I wanted to share.
There was a garden that our class worked at that grew the most delicious strawberries and blueberries and probably a lot of other things as well (but what sticks out in my mind are those strawberries...I can still taste them!) We even made our own manure pile to fertilize the plants.
The garden was in an abandoned lot surrounded by buildings, and we had all helped clean up all of the glass and garbage and rocks in order to get the garden going and then worked every spring weeding and all of the other work that needed to be done throughout the summer. It was great.
One day we were informed that the garden was to be destroyed to make way for new building. I guess the city owned the lot, because our teachers and parents thought us kids should put together a presentation to take to City Hall and try and convince the mayor to let us keep the garden...the fruits of which were shared with residents of the surrounding area. We worked real hard on that presentation...my first protest I guess you could say. I was one of the speakers that was going to show Mayor Koch how beneficial that garden was to us and to the neighborhood.
I guess I have to give some credit to Koch for hearing our pleas. I don’t think Rudy would have given us the chance. We got some encouraging letters from some of his staff for a while, but eventually we lost our garden. To this day when ever I see Koch’s bald head I think of strawberries.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 03/26 at 02:52 PMHi everyone…
Mickey, your article on Mad Cow is one of the best I have read. In my opinion, the Cattle-men’s Association is partly behind the conspiracy to hide the truth. Better be careful what I say, remember what happened to Oprah when she said that she would never eat another hamburger. The politics behind this seems very obvious to me. The FDA and The Dept of Agriculture do NOT protect the people. The government is just a branch of corporations and will not even allow a meat packing plant to test its own meat at its own expense. Eating meat is a lot like playing Russian Roulette.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/26 at 02:58 PMReminds me of an old Onion headline: British beef declared safe for Irish consumption. Also:
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/38093
Posted by James on from work 03/26 at 03:19 PMJoe from main, I am glad you find my comments interesting and not just crazy like most everyone I talk with. hehehe… I am of mixed European ancestry, though on my moms side there is hot debate about whether we are from Ireland or Scotland, not really sure why.
Micheal, thanks for the link. The word freedom gets tossed around alot. I think most people here in north america equate freedom with consumer choices. “#### you Buddy “ really does seem to be the attitude.
Deb latin america really is comming up with some very interesting responses in counter-acting neoliberal rule. Morales and Chavez both Rock!
Buying local and re-learning how to eat in season is one way we can help to support our convictions. Getting back to canning and preserving foods for the winter. Saving seeds to increase diversity. Growing sprouts. Conserving water. Thinking outside the four food groups. I know one man who was diagnosed with schitzophrenia in his teens. He has been successfully living without medication for 30 yrs. He attributes his health to a diet of 100% live food. Joining a food cooperative. Community gardens are an excellent idea....helps to solve a lot of problems.
I think instead of sending kids to hersey chocolate factories for field trips they should be sent to those hog hell-holes. That would reverse the tide of meat eating pretty damn quick! Disney wouldnt like that though, your right RMJ, its all about politics.
Posted by frances on from british columbia 03/26 at 03:36 PMI like the spirit of those talking about gardening in NY...yes...and you can start a new country in NY that is, at least not as dependent upon mainstream america, coop’s, real sustainable communities, the new paradigm. I encourage you to also read about the Vermont Secession movement. Many people of Vermont don’t understand what this group of people are about...it’s about transcending 240 years of violence, ignorance, classism, it’s about independence from a central government out of control, corrupt, with problems that are too unsolvable on the scale they exist.
Plant those vegetables, hug your neighbors, communicate from your guts, community, real community without hierarchies, without male dominated corrupt organizations, without discrimination, without hatred...start this anywhere, in you apartments, under grow lamps, community land shares, apartment shares, whatever....create.Posted by Joe of Maine on from 03/26 at 03:58 PMGreat article Mickey. Enjoying the discussion. I’ve been thinking a lot about the health consequences of being us and now. Particularly lately I have been having more and more pain from sitting by the computer and I thought about how my generation (I’m 30) spends so much time in front of computers, in uncomfortable positions, around electronics in addition to eating mostly poison. Not to mention air quality. The consequences of this lifestyle are medically unknown, but I can’t be surprised by the news that more and more people are losing their minds. What good is a mind in this culture anyway?
On the veganism/locally-grown thing: I think you have to do your best and choose your battles. And not undo yourself by trying to be uber-correct. I have two pairs of shoes I normally wear: one pair is vegan, bought at Mooshoes in NYC, made in a factory in China. The other pair is leather, handmade and built to last by a tiny company in Poland with only a tiny shop in Krakow.
I myself am a strict vegetarian, and that’s easy enough for me now (for years I had occassional weaknesses for fish or “worse"). When I think about crossing over to veganism, I have to ponder different ethical shopping choices, in addition to health issues. In a totally ideal (and idyllic) scenario, I would probably limit my animal-based intake to locally and ethically produced yoghurt and cheese, and honey I suppose. In fact if I lived in Poland again it wouldn’t be totally impossible.
Posted by Keir on from the hague 03/26 at 06:08 PMIts really hard for me to think about the possibility of 10s or maybe 100s of millions of people succumbing to brain disease. Its scary and sad. Mostly for my kids. I am not sure what kind of future awaits them. That’s why I focus on positive action I can do today. Otherwise I risk falling into a deep depression. My “sky is falling” issue is uranium mining and processing and the nuclear spin offs. I started to put together a campaign for national awareness of uranium. But I feel no one will take me seriously because I lack formal education in the sciences. Heck alot of people dont even support scientists on this issue. So I am starting to look for a local group to work with. Until then I keep reading and learning.
Posted by frances on from british columbia 03/26 at 06:15 PM“A liberal is the kind of guy who walks out of a room when the argument turns into a fight.” - Saul Alinsky
Posted by frances on from british columbia 03/26 at 06:23 PMGood to “see” you, Keir. And Frances, here’s one from Lenny Bruce: “The liberals can understand everything but people who don’t understand them”
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/26 at 07:26 PMI don’t think eating meat is a “risk-factor” for Alzheimer’s disease, as I think is mistakenly implied in the article. BSE and CJD are certainly a risk-factor of eating meat, but a very low one.
Also, the occurances of Mad Cow in the US are very low, so comparing rates of testing to France wouldn’t seem to me to have any meaning. You can’t draw any conclusions from the comparison.
Moreover, according to the FDA, muscle meat is not a source for infection, only organs.
I don’t think eating meat is “like playing Russian Roulette”, as RMJ put it. I think that’s seriously overstating the risk BSE presents for humans.
On Tillman, I can forgive the uneducated grunts who are ignorant to what foreign interventions are all about, believe the propaganda, and joined up because life didn’t seem to present any better options.
If Tillman was educated and read up on Chomsky, then he was even more complicit in the crime of aggression of which he voluntarily took part.
Posted by Jeremy R. Hammond on from Taipei, Taiwan 03/26 at 09:23 PM
Next entry: Pat Tillman is not my hero
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