Powers of Ten

My Netflix account is filled with stuff. So much so, that often when movies/documentaries show up, I usually don't remember putting them on my list. It's nice this way because I never really know what to expect when I put the DVD in the player.

Such is the case with a recent DVD arrival: "The Films of Charles & Ray Eames #1". When did I choose this, I thought... and what is it. So, I put in the DVD and began watching the first chapter, "Powers of Ten". I then realized (remembered) why I put this on my Netflix list. It's only 9 minutes long but really is interesting and makes one think about the relative size of space (not outer space but simply *space*) and the human existence in this space, both at the macro and micro level that we tend to take for granted. I vaguely remember watching it in a science class in high school.

I burned a copy of it, of course, but was able to find an original on YouTube to post here. Oddly, there are some parodies and other versions with new soundtracks and narrators, but the 1977 original is just perfect. More so, during my YouTube search, I realized the the outgoing part to "Men in Black" (where the alien are playing a game of marbles with our galaxy) is based on "Powers of Ten" where our galaxy is but one galaxy in a realm of an endless cosmos filled with matter and gas.

So simple in delivery but deeply provoking in metaphysical reflection. Pretty cool, I thought (no pun intended, although it works).

Enjoy.

Why Vegetarian?

A question I am asked periodically. More specifically, "What made you "turn" vegetarian?" Well, as I always explain, my original reason morphed into several important motivations for maintaining a vegetarian diet specific to both myself as an individual and the well-being of the environment.

About five years ago, I asked myself if I had the willpower to stop eating beef, chicken, pork and fish. This was after watching the movie Go Further at the 2003 SXSW Film Festival in Austin. It was a motivating movie in many regards (I have the DVD, if anyone wants to see it). The movie gave me motivation to choose a real New Years Eve resolution: stop eating meat and become a vegetarian. Could I do it? I was basically raised on meat and potatoes. I grew up in Texas! How does one become a vegetarian in a world of hamburgers and chicken sandwiches easily available at your favorite fast food restaurant on every corner, ordered, paid for and eaten in 5 quick minutes?

Well, apart from a few departures from the diet - most as a result of traveling to other countries and a desire (or requirement) to eat local cuisine (Llama in Bolivia - yes!), a couple instances of absolutely nothing to eat on the menu, and a few "cheats" - I was, and am, able to maintain a vegetarian diet. I've got some odd stories such as eating beans and rice EVERYDAY for 5 weeks in Belize, eating avocado after avocado during my two months in Mexico and spending the summer working and traveling the US Great Plains - regional beef producing capital - and eating basically potato and lettuce the entire time.

After five years, I enjoy tastes and food combinations that I never would have tried before. At first, I lost around 25 pounds and people were concerned. I looked like that skinny kid in eighth grade again - except I was 31. However, after much studying and reading about what to eat and the various nutritional secrets that food holds, meat is not needed.

Often (sadly), I see a news story that reemphasizes my decision to abstain from meat and have become the motivations to continue to maintain a vegetarian diet. The below link and the reason for this post is no exception - in fact it is disgusting.

A little Google querying had me discover that 143 million pounds of beef is roughly 300,000 cattle. Yes, that is a lot of cattle not to mention a lot of destroyed food.

How many acres were destroyed to raise these 300,000 cattle? How much grain was grown to feed these cattle (verses how much could have been fed to humans)? How much of the economy was squandered in processing these cattle? How much gas was used to process and transport the beef across the United States? How could corporations deliberately mistreat animals, contaminate their food, and endanger millions of customers all for a little extra profit?

How long will it take for people to forget it happened and eat another burger at their favorite fast food chain?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/02/17/usdabeef.recall.ap/index.html

Simpsonize?

So, after being tempted by jcb to "simpsonize" myself and thus wallow in the giant Simpsons marketing juggernaut , I did so.

It looks, well, nothing like me. However, it was a fun episode of wasting time on the web.

Give it a try...

http://simpsonizeme.com/