This was the first link.
As a huge fan of Larson when I was about ten I just needed to share this.
Early Vegetarians Returning From The Kill
Oh and I need to thank Google Instant for making my life a little better today. I was searching originally for "returning to meat eating" and halfway through typing my query "vegetarians returning from the kill" came up as a suggestion so I clicked.
This was the first link.
As a huge fan of Larson when I was about ten I just needed to share this.
This was the first link.
As a huge fan of Larson when I was about ten I just needed to share this.
The First -ism
Yesterday I broke the news to my girlfriend. Luckily she seems to like this whole idea and even offered her support. Then our discussion turned to what would be the first lifestyle I would adopt.
Frankly I'm a little scared of this whole thing and I don't want to be overly ambitious as to my first attempt to live as an "other." Then again, I don't want to pick something thats too terribly easy to do. That'd just be cheating.
We came up with vegetarianism. Not so far out of the norm that it will cause a culture shock and not too sissy of a choice that I'll feel sheepish writing about it.
So its settled, for two weeks after I begin I'll live without the main protein staple in my diet. And to really get an idea of what this will mean for me I'm going to spend the next two weeks carefully tracking my normal diet, down to the last ounce of orange juice.
I'll use an app on my Droid to note the calories and the nutritional content of everything and I'll keep that going when I turn to the dark side. This way I'll have a baseline to use when I analyze the effects of my first -ism.
Now, just to clarify I'm not going to be giving up all animal products. I won't go full PETA just yet. I'll leave that until I'm feeling a little more daring. So far there still needs to be more research into it but I think I'll give up the flesh of any animal including fish, poultry and all the usual mammals. Eggs and milk will still stay as fair game.
In the next few posts I'll detail what I find out about the different levels of vegetarianism and what it will mean for my general health. I'll see a physician and perhaps a dietician to get a rundown of what it will mean for my energy level and what I should expect as far as digestive changes. I've also heard that returning to meat consumption can cause digestive problems as the body readjusts so I'll look into that.
So far its all very exciting. Expect more soon as things develop.
Frankly I'm a little scared of this whole thing and I don't want to be overly ambitious as to my first attempt to live as an "other." Then again, I don't want to pick something thats too terribly easy to do. That'd just be cheating.
We came up with vegetarianism. Not so far out of the norm that it will cause a culture shock and not too sissy of a choice that I'll feel sheepish writing about it.
So its settled, for two weeks after I begin I'll live without the main protein staple in my diet. And to really get an idea of what this will mean for me I'm going to spend the next two weeks carefully tracking my normal diet, down to the last ounce of orange juice.
I'll use an app on my Droid to note the calories and the nutritional content of everything and I'll keep that going when I turn to the dark side. This way I'll have a baseline to use when I analyze the effects of my first -ism.
Now, just to clarify I'm not going to be giving up all animal products. I won't go full PETA just yet. I'll leave that until I'm feeling a little more daring. So far there still needs to be more research into it but I think I'll give up the flesh of any animal including fish, poultry and all the usual mammals. Eggs and milk will still stay as fair game.
In the next few posts I'll detail what I find out about the different levels of vegetarianism and what it will mean for my general health. I'll see a physician and perhaps a dietician to get a rundown of what it will mean for my energy level and what I should expect as far as digestive changes. I've also heard that returning to meat consumption can cause digestive problems as the body readjusts so I'll look into that.
So far its all very exciting. Expect more soon as things develop.
The Grand Experiment
As a student studying International Relations I've been exposed to and read about a variety of global systems of ideals. Whole classes have been devoted to perceptions of identity and how they relate to the ideas and culture surrounding the individual. I've seen all of these systems, from Christian Evangelism to Bedouin Tribalism, through the lens of my white, American, quasi upper-classiness. I've had very little opportunity to actually become a part of the issues myself. More importantly, I've always found it difficult to empathize with the aggressors, the bigots or the just plain weird.
This is my experiment: Can I be something else, in every aspect of my life, for a fortnight? Can I be a Maoist? A Buddhist? A Tea Partier?
Who are these people and what makes them different from me? What insights will be gained? How will this change who I am and how I understand the world around me? Will I overuse question marks in the process? Who knows...
For each idea system, lifestyle or religion I will research and then subsequently adopt the canons of a true believer. I'll read the literature, listen to the music and show up to cultural or political functions wearing the weird underwear.
As a college kid in DC I'll have access to all the native foods, embassies and analysis for every group I could dare to attempt. I'll use these resources to the fullest and I'll record as much as I can here.
For two weeks at a time I'll become, as wholly as I can, an alien.
-- Look out John Hurt
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