I've Had a Really Busy Day

I've had a busy day, and it ain't over yet. I spent most of the day getting publicity photos taken -- that one to your left is eight years old, so it was about time. You'll see a new photo very soon. But, of course, getting the photos taken meant going to get a manicure (got a pedi while I was at it) and then to the salon for a wash and blow-dry. Then changing, and doing my makeup, and all that stuff, before I went to the studio.

And before all of that, I put on my editor's hat (new and shiny as it is), and got in the articles for CarbSmart Magazine. And in an hour and a half, I'm kicking off the holiday weekend by going to a dinner party. (Woo-hoo! I happen to know we're having lamb. Yum.)

All of this is by way of explaining why I'm cheaping out on the blog today, and just posting a couple of links. I promise, however, that they're good links. They were both sent to me by Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth , one of the most important books I have read in the past year, and also one of the most beautifully written. If you're tired of nagging and proselytizing by vegetarian friends and/or family members, or just want to understand why the claims that vegetarianism is the "greenest", most compassionate, and most healthful diet simply aren't true, you very much need to read The Vegetarian Myth. It will reward you richly.

Anyway, Lierre and I have become cyberpals, and she sent me a couple of terrific links that I thought I'd pass along. One is to an interview with a fellow named Spencer Wells, who has written a book called Pandora's Seed:The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization. He points out that not only has agriculture undermined human health, but has also led to the vast overpopulating of the planet (I wish I could remember who said this to me recently, but it's so: Agriculture didn't let us feed the planet, it let us overpopulate the planet.) The interview is just a few minutes long, but smart and thoughtful.

The second link is to neat article called Why We Need Cows. That Nice Boy I Married and I, plus The Organic Gardening Gods next door, have been talking about getting some mini-cows -- cows that get as big as a large dog, and give 1-3 gallons of milk per day. This article makes me wish I had the money right now! It's a really good primer on the idea of integrated farming -- what farms used to be, before a "farm" was a factory for growing thousands of acres of corn or soy beans.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these two links as much as I did. I have to go dress for this dinner party!