Some things I like
August 23rd, 2009After writing a few doomsday pieces on overpopulation, I was thinking I need to mention some stuff I like.
The Slow Food movement. Although not a formal member, I follow a lot of the philosophy of it. Eat organic, heirloom foods. Eat traditional and local food. Don’t eat fast food.
Walking everywhere. If it’s not raining or snowing, why drive to the supermarket if you can walk there? I have no problem walking home carrying a gallon of milk in one hand and a bag of groceries in the other. Neither does my wife or my son. There’s a reason we’re in good shape, and it has nothing to do with genetics and everything to do with our attitudes about wasting resources.
Donald Driver, Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Kampman, and Charles Woodson - my favorite Packers. Driver because of his commitment to excellence (no, the Raiders can’t use that any more because they’re a joke and it has become just as stupid as certain corporate slogans). Rodgers because he has been humble through the whole Brett Favre thing and proved it with his abilities instead of his mouth. Kampman because he simply works harder than anyone else. And Woodson because he’s like Deion Sanders but without the ego. Yes, I still root for Favre to succeed, unless he’s playing the Packers.*
Nightwish and Opeth - the two most talented bands out there today. Both from Scandinavia (by the four country, not three country definition). I’m thinking when it comes to music right now, Scandinavia is where it’s at. Most of my fave bands now are from there.
I’m currently reading Watership Down. Loved the movie. Now finally bought the book.
Our apartment. We live downtown so we can walk everywhere. I religiously go to the Farmers’ Market every Sunday morning and stock up on fruits and veggies. Instead of centering the food around meat, it’s pretty even now.
One of the things I’m really loving are heirloom tomatoes. I love slicing them up and salting the slices. Very few things taste better than fresh heirloom tomatoes and salt.
We even go vegetarian one or two days a week. With apartment living, our costs are way down. Meat is expensive and cutting it out one or two days a week saves a lot. Plus, we have yet to break $50 for our electric bill. Yet another thing to love about living in a small apartment instead of a big house.
So tell me, what are you liking now?
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* I got money on both the Packers and the Vikings to win it all.
People complain about Favre being a prima donna. So what? So was General Patton, one of my other heroes. As a Sound Engineer (recording only), I’ve worked with musicians who never even released a CD and still had bigger egos than Brett Favre.
Prima donnas and divas don’t bother me as long as they treat me with respect. If they don’t, I simply refuse to work with them.
Good post. I’ve kinda gotten into Opeth lately too. Just read a pretty funny interview with the lead singer: http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/16912/tempidx/1/menuid/1
I agree about the slow food movement also. Besides the obvious benefits of eating local … cooking your own meals gives one more of an appreciation for what goes into what you eat. You eat slower, you eat less, and the process can be an event in itself. We’ve been going to a food co-op this summer and just love it: http://goodtobeblue.blogspot.com/2009/07/going-green-update-food-co-ops.html
Things I like: Just read The Road and loved it. Saw District 9 and loved it. Have never read or seen Watership Down. I’ll have to check it out.
the slow food movement is up there on my favs too. not only is it healthier, but it supports local growers and the environment. another thing i am “in to”.
i am not sure if i live in a weird place, but we walk all the time. and it isn’t odd. unless it is the scoot to work thing with kids schedules etc, we walk. in the winter, we drive everywhere… so maybe it is a seasonal dissorder thing tha we just don’t know exists. lol..
Love Nightwish. not so much with Opeth, a few i like. but i will agree with the scandinavian music being really awesome lately. Not sure if you are solidly into metal, but if not check out Apoptygma berserk. they do some really great covers (fade to black is my fav) but their actual music is awesome. but it is pretty technoish. again, not sure you’re into that.
watership down scared the bejesus out of me when i was little. don’t think i’d read the book as i am a chicken shit and still distrust bunnies and those fidgity eyes and twitchy noses. pure evil.
I am reading a book called the paradox of choice. it’s pretty good, talks about having too many choices and with the pressure of society saying “how can you not be pleased when there are so many choices to fufill yourself” that we are actually making things worse and increasing the odds of depression and other mental issues. it’s more a brain book, but still. http://astore.amazon.com/happierinsigh-20/detail/0060005696 heres the link if you are currious.
Dback - You may want to read the wikipedia article on it. The movie was great, and is not too kind to our species.
Thanks for the links. I’ll check them out.
Xmichra - I proudly call myself an environmentalist. Always have been. So was glad to hear about the Slow Food movement. I’ll have to check out Apoptygma Berserk. I’ll also check out that link.
Apartment? Did I miss something? I’m a firm believer in apartment living (but dear God, do I get nagged by people to buy). I walk whwnever it’s the least bit feasible…and that includes a mile walk to the grocery store or the “farm market.” I get looks from people because in Detroit it’s weird to walk. It’s okay to walk for exercise, but to walk to the store? They figure you must have lost your license. *sigh*
The interesting thing is that Dr. Sardonicus a month or so back listed a website where you could input your address and you’d get a score for how walkable your neighborhood is. Mine scored in the high 90s (out of 100). Woohoo!
I hate salt, so I eat my tomatoes as they are. LOVE tomatoes.
I can tell you what I am hating easier than what i am liking right now. I am hating that we cant get the floor to our shed up but the rest of its down. all we have left is the floor boards and they are sealed to the base boards they used….
Now on to liking I love that we can go out and be a family in the back yard unlike living in an apt. Yes there are cons and pro’s but I like my family time out in the back yard with the fire pit and just sitting there watching the flames.
We walk when we can but the nearest grocery store shut down about 3 months ago. So we have to take the car. Esp when we grocery shop. We usually major shop for like 2 months in advance. Yes we spend more at one time but t hen we dont ahve to worry about food for like 2 months. Sometimes more.
Ah, the slow food movement. Food is one of the great pleasures in life, why not take the time to enjoy It? I’m trying to buy as much locally and in season as I can lately. Food transport takes a lot of energy.
The city I live in is not kind to pedestrians, Calgary is very much a driving city. I’ve conidered moving to the core, but real eastate pricing is ridiculous. I wish I could walk more. I visit Vancouver occasionally, and people walk everywhere. You don’t see very many obese people in Vancouver.