The True Cost of Taste

Slaughterhouse Book JacketWhat a week this is turning into. It started off with what I stated, in my previous post. My watching of the documentary, Earthlings. For which I needed to download the transcript, after the fact. It’s bloody near impossible to actually absorb the narration, while having to watch what it was that I witnessed last Saturday.

But next, hoping not to be “outdone” (if such a statement applies), I started to read the book, Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, and Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry, by Gail A. Eisnitz. And, it would appear, it is going to seriously trump all contenders.

Please keep in mind: these are merely my preliminary impressions. Like I said I started it only a couple of days prior to today, but horror of the book is almost immediately “prevalent.” And my feelings right at this very minute are, while being barely 100 pages in (the type is rather large), to comment already…

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I (Finally) Saw Earthlings

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I’ve had the documentary, Earthlings, for, near as I can figure, probably a year? And there it “waited” on a makeshift shelf, unopened, since it’s arrival? I know, I suck.

That was, until yesterday, when I, finally, opened, sat, and watched with, what I could well feel was, a look of pure disdain upon my face. If for nothing else than the many ways we humans use non-human animals for nothing more than terribly unnecessary and completely selfish ends.

What could I ever possibly add towards a productive and meaningful “conversation” concerning what I was shown by said film? Absolutely nothing. That’s what…

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Assuming They Ever Have

Today began similar to that of any other Sunday, I woke up, had a big pee, then turned on my radio. Just in time to listen to the Ongoing History Of New Music. It’s an hour of “stories” about bands and music I, either, once followed or, in a more recent context, couldn’t care less about. For what it’s worth, it’s usually quite interesting.

But today’s episode was quite the exception to the rule. It was about the band U2 and, of all things, their “business savvy.” Could there be a less interesting topic on a more irrelevant bunch of goof’s, Alan? I’m being serious. And I hear I’ll soon have yet another album of theirs to dread. And it’s being released this Tuesday? Shit. Yet one more thing I don’t need or, more fittingly, will never benefit from knowing exists.

I’m so grateful I spend conscious energy avoiding circumstances where I might come across having to hear such crap…

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Selfish And Small Minds

Not that long ago, I wrote an entry “announcing” the release of 2 mp3’s from Propagandhi‘s imminently forthcoming record, “Supporting Caste.” One of the 2 tracks, Human(e) Meat (The Flensing of Sandor Katz), called into question said chef’s beliefs respecting the treatment, slaughter, and consumption of nonhuman animals. And if done “lovingly” (my word), it’s a perfectly justifiable practice. OK, I’m largely paraphrasing a lot of the songs meaning at this point, but I’ve heard the “logic” more than once. And, therefore think, it’s a safe assumption to be thinking that.

In all honesty, Sandor Katz, wasn’t someone I’ve ever heard of prior to hearing this track. But his “argument” isn’t new to me. And the song provided me enough information to deduce he’s yet another “new welfarist.” Even now all I know of him is what the song so descriptively illustrates of him.

For the record I think, anyone, including him, being offended, for reason’s other than his apparent “logic,” is a tad excessive. If not completely ridiculous. Read the lyrics, Mr. Katz…

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