The Salt Maze. Peta would NOT approve.

I got into a debate with a very opinionated vegan kid yesterday. He informed me that he’s not vegan for health reasons. In fact, he’d be vegan even if it were very bad for his health. Instead, he claimed he was vegan for moral reasons. “It’s wrong to exploit animals.” He wouldn’t even eat insects, despite their lack of consciousness and superior nutritional value.
I think hardcore vaganism is mostly a social phenomenon, and a result of a socialization process. For some, it’s probably done out of a desire to feel different, and for others it’s a desire to fit in. Maybe I’m completely wrong, but it seems almost like a religion to me.

Brought to you by Loma Linda University:

Human research on soy and cognitive function is very limited, but one recent study did find a negative effect of soy. In the Honolulu Heart Program, an ongoing study of the health of Japanese-American men living in Hawaii, those who consumed the most tofu (two to four times per week) during middle age showed the most signs of mental deterioration in later years.

Those vegans/vegetarians think they’re sooooooo clever…

Indeed, John D. MacArthur points out:

What’s more, higher midlife tofu consumption was also associated with low brain weight. Brain atrophy was assessed in 574 men using MRI results and in 290 men using autopsy information. Shrinkage occurs naturally with age, but for the men who had consumed more tofu, White said “their brains seemed to be showing an exaggeration of the usual patterns we see in aging.”

Oh well. Who needs a brain anyway?

Aquatic Ape Theory (AAT) says that humans developed our weird characteristics through an aquatic evolutionary path. It kind of makes sense: the webbed fingers, hairless body, and downward-pointing nose…

Will Ferrell gave the Class Day speech at Harvard. Read it and laugh.

I wonder how many people who voted for Bush are among the 8 million or more workers who stand to lose their overtime pay under the plan his administration is proposing?

I just added my home and cell phone numbers to the new national do not call registry. I’m very excited to not be hearing from telemarketers. If they call me they can be fined up to $11,000.

In completely unrelated news:
I’m lusting after this camera, which can fit inside an altoids box.

Ever wonder how our president reacted when he learned of the 9/11 tragedy? Did he weep, become angry, faint, pee his pants, hide, what? Well, wonder no more.

I noted the lack of comment from the White House regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Texas’ anti-gay law, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be a very happy comment if there was one. The White House is a big fan of Souter, who wrote the dissent in this case.

Most people don’t realize it, but Mark Twain once gave a lengthy discourse on self-abuse.

I want some.