The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Digest part 3: All Flesh is Grass

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A Digest of  The Omnivore’s Dilemma Part 3: Polyface Farm
or
“All Flesh is Grass”

“Mother earth never attempts to farm without live stock; she always raises mixed crops; great pains are taken to preserve the soil and to prevent erosion; the mixed vegetable and animal wastes are converted into humus; there is no waste; the processes of growth and the processes of decay balance one another; the greatest care is taken to store the rainfall; both plants and animals are left to protect themselves against disease.” —Albert Howard,  An Agricultural Testament

Our past two posts on the subjects of corn and meat were not too pleasant, so this post promises to be more hopeful.  We’re moving on from mad cow disease to “glad cows at ease”.
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The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Digest part 2: The Feedlot, Grocer, and McD’s

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A Digest of  The Omnivore’s Dilemma Part 2: The Feedlot,  Grocery Store, and the McD’s
or
“We’re Not in Kansas Anymore”

“Processed food has become largely a supply-driven business—the business of figuring out clever ways to package and market the glut of commodities coming off the farm and out of the wet mills[..]The underlying reductionist premise—that food is nothing more than the sum of its nutrients—remains undisturbed.”—Michael Pollan

The Cow Factory
It’s not a secret to anybody that most of the beef you buy at grocery stores is from cows squeezed into CAFOs—Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.  That’s not new information.  It’s just that we’re not reminded of it enough, and when we are, it’s still a distant fact.  It’s also not usually woven into a story and set against a more natural story of raising animals.
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The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Digest part 1: “Corn-flation”

Posted by Caleb Coy on

A Digest of  The Omnivore’s Dilemma Part 1: Corn-flation
or
“We’ll Forget the Sun, as We Walk in Fields of Gold”

The Industrial Meal
I learned more about corn from this book than I ever thought I would.  When I was in 5th grade, an old woman came to my school as a scholastic  performer, playing a banjo and singing about corn:
Corn, corn, sing about corn
It’s a tasty treat
Corn, corn, sing about corn
It’s so good to eat
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Introducing: The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Digest

Posted by Caleb Coy on

“Whatever native wisdom we may have once possessed about eating has been replaced by confusion and anxiety[…we are] a notably unhealthy people obsessed with the idea of eating healthy.” –Michael Pollan

This is my first “foodie” book.  Oh, and really, why do people use the word “foodie”?  We should start calling people who don’t smoke “oxygenies”, and people who try to dress modestly “clothesies”.
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Why Liam Neeson Should Make a “Taken 3”

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It’s not because the acting, dialogue, or script were astounding.  Because none of them were.

It’s not because the film fills a gap in our need for vigilantes to do what we feel we can’t to make a difference in the world.  Because if films like that make us feel better, they can also make us feel complacent, and maybe a little blood thirsty.  These movies do end up being a little “torture porn the family can enjoy” in some scenes.

It’s not because if there’s a sequel there also has to be a trilogy.

There’s only one reason there needs to be a Taken 3, and the reason is because it should go like this:
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Avett Bros. Concert Review—Roanoke 6.20.13

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I’ve loved watching the Avett Bros.’s audience grow over the last ten years of following them, even though it’s made it more difficult to be up close to the stage.  Last night marks about the seventh time I’ve seen them, and though it’s not the best show I’ve seen, I’m glad they haven’t lost their touch.

I saw them last night at the Roanoke coliseum.  Surprisingly, there was no opening band.  Not even a local artist.  I found that disappointing.  Also disappointing was the sound issues, which were resolved early.  But considering that the band is still getting used to big arenas, I can see why they’re still adjusting.
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Why and How FOX News is Fair and Balanced

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It’s quite simple, really. Under one president, Hannity will have one view. Under another president, he will have another completely different view. And that’s what being fair and balanced is all about. On the same program, from the same man, you can be sure you’ll hear both sides of an issue. Just wait til the administration changes, of course.

Patriot Act: Good for Americans. Or bad for Americans. I’m sorry, who are we at war with? Eastasia? Eurasia?