Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Exciting for Some
Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big fan of schadenfreude, and also of making fun of vegetarians. Not vegetarians generally, no, but the stereotypical American Vegetarian, who insists on (a) making a scene whenever someone consumes a food product deemed Unethical by said AV, (b) demanding that hosts of dinner parties, etc., make huge accommodations (usually without warning prior to AV's arrival) in the menu, and - perhaps most damning of all - (c) insists on making every vegetable-based foodstuff into some overwrought approximation of a meat product and centering meals invariably around tofu and/or polenta.
During the summer, I cook almost exclusively vegetarian at home (except for adding fish sauce or stock), but aside from the occasional veggie burger (they are convenient!), no 'meat alternative' darkens my palette. I take my vegetarian living clues from nature as well as from Indian and other vegetarian cultures: fruits and veggies are the focus and highlight of meals, not disguised as tofurkey or soy cheeze. Not that I don't like tofu, but it has to be cooked properly - like tofu, not a hot dog - and also only in moderation!
Where does schadenfreude come in? Well, it appears that eating lots of tofu may increase your risk of dementia! Which is really very funny, since the AV is also famous for lecturing endlessly on the health benefits of the tofu-thrice-a-day diet.
Alas, my karmic retribution for this joy came swiftly: right after seeing news of this study, I also discover - fresh off paying too much money for a pretty new Prius - that VW, Mercedez, and Toyota itself are going even further with fuel reductions. Oy. Really cool, but ... Oy.
During the summer, I cook almost exclusively vegetarian at home (except for adding fish sauce or stock), but aside from the occasional veggie burger (they are convenient!), no 'meat alternative' darkens my palette. I take my vegetarian living clues from nature as well as from Indian and other vegetarian cultures: fruits and veggies are the focus and highlight of meals, not disguised as tofurkey or soy cheeze. Not that I don't like tofu, but it has to be cooked properly - like tofu, not a hot dog - and also only in moderation!
Where does schadenfreude come in? Well, it appears that eating lots of tofu may increase your risk of dementia! Which is really very funny, since the AV is also famous for lecturing endlessly on the health benefits of the tofu-thrice-a-day diet.
Alas, my karmic retribution for this joy came swiftly: right after seeing news of this study, I also discover - fresh off paying too much money for a pretty new Prius - that VW, Mercedez, and Toyota itself are going even further with fuel reductions. Oy. Really cool, but ... Oy.
Labels: car, dementia, diet, efficiency, fuel, gasoline, schadenfreude, technology, tofu, vegetarians
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
New Baby
So I am now really a proper Atlantan: I own a car. This is pretty scary, but also really cool.
The thing is, the car needs a name. I am currently leaning towards Jolene based on the Dolly song of the same name, which was in my head the day I picked it up. I also did some anagraming of things like "My Red Prius" and "Barcelona Red" (the color) and such, which came up with a few hilarious options - Red Muir Spy, Rudy Simper, Rare Ace Blond, and Clara Don Beer, for instance - so I'm seeing who has ideas. Leave 'm in comments!
The thing is, the car needs a name. I am currently leaning towards Jolene based on the Dolly song of the same name, which was in my head the day I picked it up. I also did some anagraming of things like "My Red Prius" and "Barcelona Red" (the color) and such, which came up with a few hilarious options - Red Muir Spy, Rudy Simper, Rare Ace Blond, and Clara Don Beer, for instance - so I'm seeing who has ideas. Leave 'm in comments!
Labels: car, my life, names, Prius
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Something in the Air
Since September 2001, American travelers have been subjected to ever-increasingly ridiculous and ineffective 'security measures.' The most recent set of rules, which comprise TSA's War on Moisture, bans passengers from carrying any liquids or gels onto a plane, in response to a botch attempt at a scientifically impossible attack.
Now, it comes out that the rules themselves are posing a real health threat to passengers: people attempting to comply have been putting contact lens solution into smaller containers, only to inadvertently put other things in their eyes. Admittedly, doing this borders on Darwin Award territory, but due to poor general knowledge about such things as sterility, etc., it is a serious health risk and one that can be easily prevented.
Speaking of Darwin Awards, smoking should garner some sort of honorable mention. We all know how bad it is for us, but people continue to insist that they're *special* or don't care and keep smoking, dragging down everyone else's health too. And, of course, this is all more than a little bit due to tobacco companies' aggressive marketing tactics. The newest game - "potentially reduced-exposure product" (PREP) cigarettes - are claimed to be 'less likely to cause cancer,' an easy out for smokers who don't want to quit. Needless to say, there is no evidence to support these safety claims, but I doubt that will stop anyone making them.
Finally, Indian car maker Tata has licensed technology to produce an air-powered car. I don't really understand how the powertrain works, but if it does like it claims, it'll be a GINORMOUS deal: to eliminate fossil fuel burning engines (or even just reduce their use) would have incredible benefits for everyone. Except Halliburton and Exxon, so don't expect the things to be available in the US anytime soon.
Now, it comes out that the rules themselves are posing a real health threat to passengers: people attempting to comply have been putting contact lens solution into smaller containers, only to inadvertently put other things in their eyes. Admittedly, doing this borders on Darwin Award territory, but due to poor general knowledge about such things as sterility, etc., it is a serious health risk and one that can be easily prevented.
Speaking of Darwin Awards, smoking should garner some sort of honorable mention. We all know how bad it is for us, but people continue to insist that they're *special* or don't care and keep smoking, dragging down everyone else's health too. And, of course, this is all more than a little bit due to tobacco companies' aggressive marketing tactics. The newest game - "potentially reduced-exposure product" (PREP) cigarettes - are claimed to be 'less likely to cause cancer,' an easy out for smokers who don't want to quit. Needless to say, there is no evidence to support these safety claims, but I doubt that will stop anyone making them.
Finally, Indian car maker Tata has licensed technology to produce an air-powered car. I don't really understand how the powertrain works, but if it does like it claims, it'll be a GINORMOUS deal: to eliminate fossil fuel burning engines (or even just reduce their use) would have incredible benefits for everyone. Except Halliburton and Exxon, so don't expect the things to be available in the US anytime soon.
Labels: airplanes, cancer, car, cigarettes, Darwin Awards, energy, environment, health, security, Tata, travel, TSA, War on Moisture
