Paging Dr. Gupta

Last week Elizabeth Cohen, on CNN’s American Morning spoke about a newly released study comparing the effectiveness of three different diets–a low fat diet, the Mediterranean diet and a low-carb diet–and with results in hand, quite surprisingly gawked at the findings. I’m sure if she went further into specifics of said study, it would tell quite a different story. But I digress… 

The study followed a bunch of people over a course of a two year period and tracked their weight-loss. I’m not sure about any specifics of the study, I’m too lazy and I don’t really care to cite it. But I have to mention this study was conducted by a group with a stake in the findings. And, rather shockingly the findings favored this group. 

Not my point… Continue reading Paging Dr. Gupta

No-One Listens To Me

My last post, Soothing pulled a lot outta my head yesterday. I would be remiss not to mention something that made laugh aloud while drifting off to sleep last evening. Question: Is it coincidence Aamen is part or the focus of my most prized memories while booze was anywhere within, say a 25 foot radius of him? Obvious answer: No it’s not.

I was reminded of this incident merely cos The Satanic Surfers were the last band I saw, or I remember seeing prior to my accident.

One night in mid-June, I’d guess Aamen and I piled into my family’s awaiting wiener red Cavalier and drove into the city to catch one of my favorite bands. Even today not much can touch the early to mid Surfers material. I digress, on the way we picked up Trouble and Mel, then subsequently made our way to 735 Queen Street East (wow, I remembered!). Continue reading No-One Listens To Me

Soothing

666 Motor Inn Album Cover

What an odd week. Odd in many respects. But most relevant are these feelings of nostalgia. I was on my old stomping ground today. And while a lot has changed, some memories are so strong that they resurface as a result of the slightest tug? Let me finish…
In the first half of 1997 I was still an inpatient at a rehab hospital out of town. Where distance and cost, at least initially, dictated I couldn’t go home quite as often as I’d eventually be able to, but once that time came I started going home weekends. I wouldn’t know where to begin to communicate the importance of such a weekly trip to my mental well being.

Most times it’s the little things that make a life worth living. And sometimes it’s all you have to hang on to.

Continue reading Soothing

I Have No Idea

Working through an idea is human nature, right? I must dedicate “resources” to an issue in order to fairly appreciate and understand it. But coming to a workable solution isn’t always a possibility.

I was presented a very intriguing premise yesterday while listening to VeganFreakRadio, show #58, Gary Francione Returns to VFR. I’ve recently become quite attuned and extremely interested in his views on veganism and animal rights. Which would seem–after hearing and reading his thoughts–they are merely different terms used to describe the same thing. Abolitionism. 

Usually I’m a little hesitant about viewing issues as having such contrasting positions. There are almost always “shades of grey.” With that said some issues ARE that “cut and dry.” You’re either are a racist, sexist or homophobe, or you’re not. And speciesism–according to Gary, at least–would fall in such a category.

He spoke about many an issue I care deeply about, but one especially caught my ear. His notion on companion animals or “pets,” if you will. Continue reading I Have No Idea