Mid-terms are OVER! I’m trying hard to keep my A’s, but it’s at the point now where I’m just doing my best. And if that means getting a B, well then so be it. Either way, my GPA isn’t going to move but 0.05 points in either direction. No use worrying.
Last night I got to hang out with several girl friends of mine. We ate chili and chips & salsa, drank beers, sat around the campfire, and talked about girl stuff (mainly boobs). Sometimes you don’t realize how awesome your friends are until you all get a little sloshed around a campfire.
Then I came home to find that my roommate has yet again parked in my parking space (where my car is for 95% of the time since I rarely drive it). I put a note on her car asking her not to do it again. Because really, who parks in someone else’s parking space? It’s not like there aren’t 1,000 other places for her to put her car — we live on a farm. Then I went to my room, turned on the heater, and put on some music to fall asleep. Cranky roommate knocks on my door and says to turn down the bass because she has to work in the morning. It was only midnight, but whatever, I turned it down (even though it wasn’t loud to begin with). Then I wake up *before* she does, to find out that “I have to work in the morning” means “I have to leave for work at 10am” ??? Who bitches about something at midnight, when they don’t have to get up for another 9 hours? Blah.
Today I called up my friend Patrick, whom I haven’t seen in a while, and asked him if he wanted to do lunch. Of course, yes. 15 bike miles, one wrong turn, and an hour and 10 minutes later I was at his house, helping to chop up veggies for a “What do I have left in the refrigerator?” meal. Needless to say, it was, as always, delicious. We had cooked cabbage and julienned carrots, jalapeño-sauteed venison, rice, and pinto beans. YUM. Somehow I made it back home in only 50 minutes. Slam!
Tonight my friend Dani is having a soiree a su casa. More food and friends.
I like this weekend.
Published on
October 12, 2006 in
food.
I was eating at Cali n’ Titos today with Lisa.
The conversation speaks for itself.
Customer: What are you eating?
Lisa: An empanada.
Customer: An enchilada?
Lisa: No, an empanada. It’s got vegetables inside.
Customer: What’s in it?
Lisa: Vegetables. You can get them with ground beef too.
Customer: What’s it called again?
Lisa: EM-PA-NA-DA.
May 26, 2006
An Open Letter to Michael Pollan
John Mackey, CEO, Whole Foods
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June 12, 2006
My Letter to Whole Foods
Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma
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June 26, 2006
Detailed Reply to Pollan Letter
John Mackey, CEO, Whole Foods
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So far, so good…
Published on
June 17, 2006 in
food and misc.
Botany of Desire
by Michael Pollan
An interesting look into how plants have ensured their own survival through the ages by cultivating traits that are desirable to humans, who in turn, propagate these plants on a massive scale throughout the world. The subjects are the Apple, the Tulip, the Potato, and Marijuana. Each fascinate me in different ways, so I enjoyed his insight and analysis. For such a short book it’s very informative.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma
by Michael Pollan
This is Pollan’s most recent book. Basically, he spent serveral years tracing various aspects of the food supply chain in the U.S. and outlines the results of 4 meals: Industrial, pasture, organic, and hunter-gatherer. Although he was a bit unfair in his critique of the Whole Foods Market chain, for the most part this is a good book that is well worth a read.
The Long Emergency
by James Howard Kunstler
If any book has had a profound impact on my life, it’s probably this one. I don’t quite subscribe to the doom-and-gloom scenario that Kunstler paints here but most of what he writes is based on hard facts, science, and reputable sources. To sum it up: When oil prices get much higher, we’re all pretty much fucked. The signs are already appearing, but most people aren’t paying attention. Hello! The world oil supply is on a decline — as in, we’re running out, right now. Better start preparing. My plans for the near future have changed quite a bit since I read this book (more on that later).
Kunstler also maintains a somewhat funny (if in a dark way) blog called Clusterfuck Nation. Keep an eye on that one.
Published on
May 29, 2006 in
food.
I recently finished reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. While it was a very interesting and educational book, I couldn’t help but think he was too harsh on Whole Foods. During several of his rants I kept thinking “Does Whole Foods really do this? Do they really promote no-name Wal-Mart-ish industrialized organic agriculture?”.
Whole Foods has responded to Mr. Pollan’s criticism.
And it’s a good read.
I still recommend the book highly, although I think Mr. Pollan has lost some credibility.
On a related note, some regional managers from Whole Foods were down here at EARTH this past week. I found out that not only does Whole Foods get their bananas from EARTH, they have also started buying organic mangoes in the last year or so. One of Costa Rica’s ex-presidents stipulated in his will that his farm land be given to a good cause, and his wife chose to donate it to EARTH. It has been converted into organic mango production with Whole Foods as the buyer.
Additionally, two of the five WF managers that I met were in the process of reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Both of them thought, rightly so, that the book was too critical of Whole Foods. One said (to paraphrase) “If he has such a problem with shipping food around the country, he shouldn’t be shipping his books around the country either.” Ha.
As far as I know, all of EARTH’s profits from their partnership with Whole Foods go directly back into funding the university. Whole Foods has also set up a half-million-dollar program in Guatemala and Costa Rica called the Whole Planet Foundation that gives micro loans to impoverished entrepreneurs so that they can get off their feet and start a business.
So when you read the letter above, take into consideration these things — Whole Foods really does put their money where their mouth is. It’s a shame that Mr. Pollan based his criticisms of Whole Foods on assumptions and hearsay, instead of going to the source.
If only Whole Foods would put a store in Athens…