"Plant-Based" and Veganism

I keep hearing people say they are "plant-based". This term is so ambiguous. It really means nothing. People who eat meat also eat vegetables, and frankly, although I'm a vegan, my partner Jeffrey who eats meat, eats much more veggies than I do, and you can truthfully, correctly say that his diet IS plant-based, as he eats more plant foods than meat.


But from my understanding, these "plant-based" people claim to not eat meat as well--at least that's what they want you to assume, but sorry, they are not making sense. The word "based" means that's your foundation, major source of something; it doesn't meant that's all you eat. A big meat eater can also be called a plant-based person, as long as they mostly eat plants as the foundation of their diet.


I once informed a self titled "plant-based" blogger but I think she remained clueless as to what I said. Whatever, but if a person is going to call themselves something and shout it out proudly in public (even to a degree of sounding holier-than-thou), they shouldn't be surprised if they are corrected in public--because of their ignorance--by telling them the correct definition of "based".


Speaking of terms being defined incorrectly, it seems to me people have forgotten what the word vegan actually means. I was reading a blogger today and she posted:


"I went vegetarian on-and-off until I was 19 years old – I gave up meat for good and became a vegan not long after.As with many vegans, I thought the ethical choice was simple – don’t kill other things to eat them, don’t eat the products of animals cruelly confined and exploited for food. While animal rights are a good starting point, a truly ethical diet must take other factors into consideration. Plant-based diets are touted as being an environmentally-friendly choice..."





I replied this to her:


Veganism IS about being environmentally-friendly–always have been. Also veganism is about wearing cruelty-free clothing, and buying cruelty-free cosmetics, preferably from cruelty-free companies.

Veganism has ALWAYS been about all these things almost since the word vegan came into existence. I really don’t know why it’s been in the last decade or so that people tend to look at veganism as just what you put in your mouth.

I’m old-school; I’ve been a vegan since 1982 and back then, when a person said they are vegan, you automatically KNOW that means they are food/clothing/all products/environmentally cruelty-free. Now, it seems like one has to say they are “Ethical” vegans to define this, as oppose to “dietary” vegans or “environmental” vegans.

If a person ever said to me, "I'm plant-based", I'm going to say, "Oh. But do you still eat meat?" Plant-based is a meaningless name. This is why I love saying I'm vegan. There's no confusion. No bull. It's an original, meaningful name.


I think some people need to dust off their dictionaries and get reacquainted with it.

6 Weird Superstitions Attached to Animals

This link came to me in my email box from the Online Psychology Degree Resource Guide:

6 Weird Superstitions Attached to Animals

Thanks for the email! I really appreciate it.

Actually, although this is a good, legitimate link, it was in my spam mail box. I very rarely check my spam box, so good thing I checked this time to see the above link!

The Blessing of the Animals at The Grotto (From: July 16, 2012)

The National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother, popularly known as The Grotto is a beautiful 62-acre Catholic sanctuary on Sandy Boulevard at Northeast 85th Avenue, Portland, Oregon. The sanctuary sets both at the foot of and on top of a cliff. It is a non-profit organization supported solely by the proceeds of its gift shop and by donations. It is administered by the Order of Friars Servants of Mary, USA Province.









A large meditation hall whose main chamber is at clifftop level extends down to the foot of the cliff; a cross on the hall is visible many miles away. In addition to a church, there are several thousand feet of trails, including a trail of the Stations of the Cross, along which the faithful may pass in contemplation.





The Grotto is open daily throughout the year. (Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas following the celebration of Mass.).

Yesterday, The Grotto had their 29th Annual Blessing of the Animals in the Grotto Plaza, which is always held on the third Sunday of July (rain or shine) and offers individuals with pets an opportunity to reflect upon the positive impact animals have on our emotional and physical well-being. This annual event attracts a wide variety of animals and their human friends. Individuals of all faiths are invited to bring their companion animals, properly restrained, to The Grotto for the Blessing of the Animals. All animals are welcome.

Jeffrey and I brought our Chihuahuas, Tico and Paquita, to be blessed. It was actually Tico's second blessing, as he was blessed last year when he was less than a year old (Paquita will be a year old later this year).

Choosing Secondhand Goods

I love doing my share to help the environment by going to resale and thrift shops, and participating in freecycling--both giving and receiving.


So today, I stopped by the newest thrift shop in my city, which is the one above. Cool name, eh? Way Kool Thrift Store opened a month ago and the owner says they are very busy; I hope it continues that way. I'll be stopping by from time-to-time to see if anything interests me.


It's terrific to see so many thrift shops around. Not only can you save considerable money by buying unique and household items from secondhand stores, it's also good to contribute to the redistribution of products. And if or when you no longer have a need for one or more of your own possessions you always have a place to take them if the item is still in good condition.


Many forms of secondhand exchange have sprung up in recent years. Creative Reuse Centers, bike cooperatives that take donations of used bikes and components, Freecycle networks that connects thrifty locals through its Internet forums, and Car-sharing (in the UK known as car clubs) where people rent cars for short periods of time, often by the hour. They are attractive to customers who make only occasional use of a vehicle, as well as others who would like occasional access to a vehicle of a different type than they use day-to-day.

Frida Kahlo and Her Animals

Frida Kahlo de Rivera (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954. Born Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón) was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán, and is best known for her self-portraits.

 

 

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.” -- Frida Kahlo

 

 

 

"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best." -- Frida Kahlo

 

 

Companion Animal Documentaries and Cookbooks

I watched two great documentaries on Netflix about dogs called: Dogs Decoded: Nova, and Science of Dogs. I highly recommend people see them, especially dog lovers. Both are terrific documentaries.

My partner Jeffrey is the cook in the family and I am the baker. Today, as Jeffery cooked some food for our Chihuahuas, I decided to try out the doggie treat cookbooks I bought months ago to bake them some treats. So, from the book: The (small dogs) Doggy Bone Cookbook by Michele Bledsoe, I made "Chasing Cheese" (They also make a cookbook for large dogs; I guess you just use more ingredients). And from the book: "MacPherson's K-9 Cookbook: Easy to make Dog Biscuit Recipes" by Mary MacPherson, I made "Sniff N' Bite Biscuits". Both cookbooks come with their own plastic dog bone "cookie" cutters: 1 cutter from the small dog cookbook, but 3 sizes of cutters from the other cookbook.

The results: Both dogs love the treats!!

They (and their relatives) also made kitty cookbook versions: The Kitty Treats Cookbook by Michele Bledsoe, and Easy-to-make Cat Treat Recipes by Dianne and Sarah MacPherson, which I plan to get and make some treats for my Siamese cat.

The Truth About Male and Female Dogs

 

I've read many books on dogs, specifically Chihuahuas since I have two of them. What I have noticed in all the books I've read is although they give good instructions on how to house train, groom, feed, and avoid illnesses regarding your companion animal, not one mentions in depth on the many personality, less noticeable physical, and emotional differences of a male and female dog; I wonder why there is not much information on this in a book?

This is about as much information I could find anywhere:

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/articles.html?s=choosing-a-male-or-a-female-dog-what-is-the-difference

http://www.thebark.com/content/gender-gap

It's difficult finding information about male and female differences in general, and much less on male and female difference according to specific breeds. Surely there are many differences.

Places where I do find information about the differences between genders, they are in regards to when choosing a companion animal and not pertaining to just scientific research.

Maybe authors feel there isn't much to say about gender differences, but I feel that those who write a half-way informative amount in an article could flesh it out into a book, or even a decent size booklet.

I think possibly the best thing for me to do is not to look for companion animal books for the average person interested in getting a companion animal, but to look for some sort of historical, zoological dog book to find the full truth about male and female dogs, or any kind of companion animal.