VA/DC/MD Primaries are Today!
Posted on February 12, 2008 - Filed Under Politics, VA/DC/MD Happenings, Current Events
In case you forgot, go vote in the Republican or Democrat primaries. As taken from the Fairfax County website:
Voters in Virginia do not register by political party. Therefore, any registered voter may choose to vote in any party primary. However, when both parties hold a primary at the same time, voters must select whether they wish to vote the Democratic or the Republican ballot.
Any eligible county resident who will be 18 by or on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, may register and vote in the February primary.
Polls open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.
Here’s the link to the Maryland primary voter information and this one takes you to the DC site.
Desire, Suffering, and the Journey
Posted on February 5, 2008 - Filed Under Just Breathe, Deep Thoughts, Mantras
I often have difficulty reconciling my desire to be happy in my career with the knowledge that Buddhism teaches that desire leads to more suffering. This makes sense to me; that wanting something inherently means you will get it or not get it, with the latter causing suffering and the previous being hollow and materialistic, and leading to more desire. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that most Buddhists, specifically monks and nuns, must live in a environment without desire or petty distractions constantly knocking on their door. Internal detachment from the world ends suffering, so by following the way of the Buddha, you can achieve internal detachment. Physically unplugging from society can often seem like the only solution. There’s a circular conversation I often have with myself that goes a little like:
- Why do I often feel empty or unfulfilled? Because work and others often makes me angry.
- Why do I let myself get angry at these things? Because most of my time is spent at work and I want to be happy there.
- Why do I spend most of my time at work? Because I am obligated both financially and socially; it’s a necessary evil to “get along” in the world.
- Why do I have to do these things like everyone else to “get along” in the world? Because I am supposed to contribute something to society by working for a business.
- So why does working make me feel empty and unfulfilled?
Substitute friends or family for work, or anything that causes you desire. I accept others for how they act, even if I cannot be with them because of it. I do not want a perfect house, but I have been painting and remodeling for weeks now. Why?
Part of what I have come to realize is that it’s okay to live your life based on your own idea self improvement. It’s also healthy to be proud of your accomplishments, even without encouragement from others, as the self improvements are for yourself. And as long as the journey toward self-improvement is valued as much as the possible reward, then desire and suffering can coexist by merging who you are with who you want to be.
Namaste.
The Meat Machine Dissected
Posted on January 28, 2008 - Filed Under Mother Nature, Food, Consumerism
In my quest to only consume meat as the occasional palate treat, I found Mark Bittman’s article in today’s New York Times, Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler, an excellent “state of the union” on where meat production stands in the United States and abroad.
In an oil-to-meat comparison, Bittman explains that the environment is taking a huge hit because of meat production (growing and then killing animals): “if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan — a Camry, say — to the ultra-efficient Prius.”
Consumers driving up the demand for more meat doesn’t simply mean more animals, it also means more land, more food (corn, soy) for the livestock, and this can also mean less food for poorer individuals competing for grains with high-cost meat products (cows, chickens, pigs). “… An estimated 30 percent of the earth’s ice-free land is directly or indirectly involved in livestock production, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, which also estimates that livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gases — more than transportation.”
The environmental impact of meat production is staggering; with this demand for meat causing three-quarters of America’s water pollution problems such as tainted streams and rivers.
Something that I was not aware of is that Americans consume twice the amount of protein daily that is actually needed and recommended by the federal government’s standards. So out of this exorbitant 110 grams of protein consumed, 75 grams comes from meat alone. The article goes on to say that we could get along fine consuming 30 grams of protein per day, most of it from plant sources.
I definitely believe that we vote for want we want and support with our dollars. Buying organic, especially with meat production, has already positively changed the farming industry with many now aware of the devastation caused by factory farming and choosing instead local and all-natural products with emphasis on waste management and environmental concern.
So please check out the article on the Times website and rethink your own meat-guzzler.
Alexandria Whole Foods is Ditching the Plastic
Posted on January 23, 2008 - Filed Under Mother Nature, VA/DC/MD Happenings
Last night during my after gym run to Whole Foods in Old Town I noticed a bright green sign declaring that on Earth Day of this year (April 22) Whole Foods (in Old Town as far as I know) will no longer be using plastic bags for their groceries. They will, however, continue using their bag supply until it runs out. This is fantastic news! What a great step toward reducing unnecessary waste and an excellent example of a business owning their environmental responsibility. So start bringing your cloth bags to the grocery store.
Namaste.
Craptastic Bars in Dupont Circle
Posted on January 22, 2008 - Filed Under VA/DC/MD Happenings
In my blog travels I discovered a delicious review of 7 bars one should avoid in Dupont Circle unless you’re one of the douchebags this writer is trying to avoid, in which case you will enjoy these bars. See, it’s a win-win. Recreating my experiences at these bars (I’ve been to most of them) is just pointless when someone has done such a great job, and they even included a nice mashup for you with the diggs on the bar and a Google map of the bars’ locations.
Enjoy!
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