neil

just saw this one... http://logo.cafepress.com/1/877201.jpg

DC is quite veg-friendly. thanks in part to many advocacy groups that are located here - Compassion Over Killing, Vegetarian Society of DC, Farm Animal Reform Movement, PCRM, etc. PETA had their headquarters in the suburbs for years, which also probably contributed. There are a handful of veg*n-only restaurants and others that serve both. There are a few places that serve vegan brunch. There are a handful of places that serve vegan cheese pizza. There are two places you can get soft serve vegan ice cream. There is an all-vegan bakery. There are vegetarian-only catering services. There is a movie theater that serves vegan hot dogs. There are a handful of veg*n-only health food stores/co-ops. I feel quite lucky. If anyone is interested, this tells you more: http://vegdc.com/restaurants.php apparently, HSUS used to have the nic-name "HS-useless" in the AR community. i think b/c they were mostly focused on companion animals. but, that's changing. since Wayne Pacelle (the executive director of HSUS) started, there has been a better focus on farm animal welfare and advocating veg*nism. he's vegan and was chosen as exec. director of the year by VegNews. they have a great farm animal welfare team that is mostly (if not all) vegan and they now have a vegetarian starter guide. i know/have met about 10 vegans that work there.

not sure about a link between the two, but i wouldn't be too surprised considering PETA used to have their headquarters just a handful of miles away from PCRM. i do know that PCRM has more doctors on staff and affiliated than they did 5-10 years ago. ~for what it's worth.

wow, that's cool. i get similar comments about looking young, as does my vegan girlfriend. oh yeah, i just finished a cup o' green tea. i drink it most mornings when i get to work.

wow! very cool to hear.

hmm, they say American, but maybe they're only referring to the U.S.A. this is one of my pet peeves, by the way. they do mention it being a national conversation.

i really enjoyed the movie. it's a great love story. and, like formicaL said, it's also visually beautiful.

i agree. my thoughts: worst for animals = chicken (because of the number killed and battery cages are a little worse than conditions for other animals) worst for environment = beef (deforestation, methane, resource use, manure)

Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade named: BOOK BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's so easy to use, even a child can operate it. Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere -- even sitting in an armchair by the fire -- yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc. Here's how it works: BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder, which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence. Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOKs with more information simply use more pages. Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet. BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by opening it. Unlike other display devices, BOOK never crashes or requires rebooting, and it can even be dropped on the floor or stepped on without damage. However, it can become unusable if immersed in water for a significant period of time. The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet and move forward or backward as you wish. Many come with an "index" feature, which pinpoints the exact location of selected information for instant retrieval. An optional "BOOKmark" accessory allows you to open BOOK to the exact place you left it in a previous session -- even if the BOOK has been closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used in BOOKs by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOKmarkers can be used in a single BOOK if the user wants to store numerous views at once. The number is limited only by the number of pages in the BOOK. You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with an optional programming tool, the Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus (PENCILS). Portable, durable, and affordable, BOOK is being hailed as a precursor of a new entertainment wave. Also, BOOK's appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

that is awesome! just found it: http://www.stickergiant.com/page/sg/PROD/mcs12 http://www.stickergiant.com/Merchant2/imgs/250/mcs12.gif

i agree. it's terrible that some are abandoned when there is so much excess. and that material objects are respected more than living beings. so sad. i've heard that portland oregon is very good to the homeless.

you're right, paying half twice a month won't help. but instead of twice a month, it's every two weeks. so, you're making 26 half payments a year which equals 13 full payments. (an extra payment every year) another option is to multiply your monthly payment by 13, then divide that by 12 and pay this amount once a month. some mortgage companies charge a fee if you pay early. so you may want to inquire. also, some of the "equity accelerator" services charge an initiation fee and/or a monthly service charge. some advise skipping this by doing it yourself. not too hard if you have online bill-pay with your bank.

i highly recommend this, too. by making the switch to bi-weekly payments, i'll pay off my 30 year mortgage in 23 years. i think my monetary savings are around $70,000. pretty crazy.

that is awesome! i love visualize impeachment. and great photo! here are a couple of the stickers on my bike: http://www.bumperart.com/ProductImages/2004091909_Display-35.gif http://www.neverbetter.com/catalog/images/sticker_bike_terror.gif

my sister just got me a bar of just soap. from the site: Good for you... and good for the Earth · All-natural · Cruelty-free · Mild and moisturizing · Affordable for everyday use · Minimally packaged · Biodegradable and they use bicycle power to make it! http://www.justsoap.com/

truuue! but if you're looking for a tingly sensation...

you're welcome! What a great name for an organization! Make me smile. i love them. they had a spay/neuter clinic for a $5 donation per cat. saved me $170 so i added an additional donation on top. if you haven't already seen it: http://www.alleycat.org/

ah yes, it's a mixed blessing! i couldn't believe it the first time i had 'em, and have gone thru half a bag with ease. they also have a sunflower butter flavor that's quite good.

so true what you said about post-consumer and alternative fibers for paper. yep. i watched the musical re-make of reefer madness the other day that had a li'l documentary (on the dvd bonus features) that showed how 2 business men and one politician worked together to stop hemp. one business man's interest was paper from trees the other was in t-shirts. i'm also a fan of seventh generation.

here's a nice crunchy snack i recently discovered... (they're reminiscent of cheetos) http://www.allergygrocery.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/tings2%20lg.jpg VeganGoods.com AllergyGrocer.com

exactly! it's just another case of environmental tragedy driven by consumer practices. consumption is the problem. it's very important to buy recycled. people wipe their butts with virgin paper! it's almost impossible to buy recycled toilet paper in major u.s. grocery stores. very sad. but, recycled alternatives are there for it, office paper, school paper, paper towels, envelopes, etc. Buy Recycled

wow! that's a beautiful picture. and, congratulations!

awesome. nice work and congrats!

great comic. even though giving up some of our privacy might not be that big of a deal, it's a bit different when you're not white. i know many non-white friends that get pulled over (etc.) a lot more often than white friends. and i see this as a real problem... yep. and the spying on peace activists has definitely happened recently. Is the Pentagon spying on Americans? Secret database obtained by NBC News tracks ‘suspicious’ domestic groups Dec. 14, 2005 i agree that this is a step towards fascism. reminds me of cointelpro (the counter intelligence program). here's an article: COINTELPRO Again? and an excerpt: Some fear that something like COINTELPRO may again be at hand. There are undercover agents infiltrating peaceful protests in America. Pretending to be political activists, local law enforcement officials are monitoring the activities of advocacy and protest groups based on what one judge calls those organizations’ "political philosophies and conduct protected under the First Amendment." the bush administration is ruling by fear. if the u.s. population is afraid, it will go along with almost whatever they want. the actual risk of being hurt by any terrorist attack is incredibly slim. even for me living in washington d.c. i believe getting in a car is more dangerous (over 50,000 people die every year in traffic accidents).

congratulations! i'm dating a vegan for the first time and it's wonderful. we both love to cook and we both get excited about veg*n restaurants.