Because we obviously have the monopoly in emotions....

Featured in today's Telegraph...

'Astonishing video footage from a zoo in Germany of a female gorilla grieving for her dead baby.'

Click here for video.

Why is this 'astonishing'???

A Squandered Opportunity....

OK, so I fluffed it.

As readers of earlier posts will perhaps know, I was contacted by the Technology and Business Reporter, Curt Nickisch, of WBUR Boston's NPR station. He was preparing a short piece on the (then) upcoming sales tax holiday (last weekend) and had spotted my blog reference to the planned purchase of a new stove ('Rhubarb Rhubarb').

I was awash with excitement but in classic Amanda-style, I managed to allow my nerves to overwhelm me to the point that I utterly forgot the useful things I had lined up to say. Part of the problem was that he called me at work where the atmosphere is not exactly conducive to quiet chats recorded for the radio - what with the inane pager going off at all times. So conscious that this could occur at any moment, and painfully aware of my (wonderful) colleagues sitting having to listen to my every oven-related comment, I was stumped for what to say.

Yes, I had this marvelous opportunity to tell the dear gentleman all about how **since becoming vegan** I have a renewed interest in and passion for food and cooking. How crowding out (as Erik Marcus says) the animal bodies from my diet has allowed me to learn new techniques, develop new tastes and to savour new pleasures. How much of a shame it is that he lives in Boston because **Western Massachusetts** is where it's at for awesome vegan baking - especially once we get this dang stove hooked up!

But did I say that?
Any of it?

No.

But lesson learned. Having spent all evening rueing my missed opportunity I resolved to let it go. But next time - and there will be a next time - I will be more prepared, more empowered and I will speak my truth.

To hear what I did manage to blurt out, click here and follow the link....

http://www.wbur.org/news/2008/79433_20080815.asp

And, whether in Radioland or elsewhere, Stay Vegan, Friends!
:)

Wha Guru for me!

I wish, I wish I had a photo of the actual chewie bar I discovered yesterday at my local coop, but sadly it was gone in an instant. So here's the manufacturer's official image of this heavenly little treat:



With several varieties in the line and an excellent price point (I think I paid 89cents), Wha Guru Chews are my new favourite snacky friend! Although they don't have a 'certified vegan' stamp, the one I tried (Almond and Ginger) containes only Brown Rice Syrup, Evaporated Cane Juice, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Crystallized Ginger Pieces, Almond Butter, Wheat Germ, Ginger Root Powder, Sea Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Lemon Flavor.

But I tell ya - I was blown away by how wonderful it was. I just wish the 1.13oz bars were bigger!

Try them!

Amd stay vegan, friends!

Veganize Boston

--given my thwarted attempts to locate a fine dining restaurant in which to entertain friends from out of town (California, in fact) who perhaps don't want yet another cheeseless pizza or burrito, veganizing Boston seems like a very good idea.

In the face of multiple attempts to find a suitable eaterie, even My Beloved threw up his hands and exclaimed "But where's the **regular** vegan food????"

As a pre-vegan, that says it all.

Go vegan, Boston!

Vegan Blog Tracker - Vegblogs!

Am I the last person ever to learn about RSS and newsfeeds?

Apparently so.

And to remedy that, I have added a feed (top, right, friendly-looking orage icon!) to Cackleberry so now you never need to miss a post!

Why? I hear you ask.

Well, I would very much like to be included in the blogroll at Vegblogs.com among such vegan luminaries as the Vegan Freaks (Bob and Jenna!), Fatfree Vegan Kitchen (Susan!) and A Vegan Ice Cream Paradise (Agnes!) so I have added my feed and will wait to see what happens!

To check out Vegblogs.com yourself, click on this link or visit via my blogroll to the right, 'Blogs of Note' ->

A Life Connected.

I think I shared this link with a few friends, but it bears wider publication.

From NonViolenceUnited.org....

The question isn't whether or not you can make a difference. You are making a difference. But what kind of difference are you making? What kind of difference do you want to make?

Each of our choices in the past built the world we live in today. And each of our choices from this moment forward will build the world we live in tomorrow.

We will build a world reflective of our values when our everyday choices are aligned with those values.

A Life Connected, Pt 1: For the People



A Life Connected, Pt 2: For the Planet



A Life Connected, Pt 3: For the Animals



It all speaks for itself.

Stay Vegan, Friends!

Changing the world, one animal at a time.

Hot on the heels of my post about Peaceful Prairie comes another sanctuary-related snippet. I have just discovered a wonderful place out in Wyoming which cares for and rehabilitates animals rescued from research facilities. The Kindness Ranch is a new and developing resource - the website is pretty basic but it's heart-warming to see the images of the residents. I would have liked to know more about their individual backgrounds, their stories and how they made their way to the ranch.

Intriguingly, the site does allude to the difficulty of getting research establishments to give up their animals alive: 'Obtaining the release of any animal is never easy, and in many cases, it's not free!' and scientists 'for reasons of economics or policy, have traditionally euthanized animals when they are no longer useful'. But this is vital work and the ranch needs and deserves our support. If you can help financially, their basic adult membership is just $25 and they accept donations by all the usual means.

And if you are ever out in Wyoming, it certainly looks like an awesome place to stay!