Animals = Humans

Famous quotes about animals throughout the centuries:

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet" - Albert Einstein


Put a small child in a playpen with an apple and a bunny. If s/he eats the apple and plays with the bunny, s/he's normal; but if s/he eats the bunny and plays with the apple, I'll buy you a new car. Somewhere along the line, we must have been TAUGHT to do the wrong thing. - Maynard

The wild, cruel animal is not behind the bars of a cage. He is in front of it. - Axel Munthe

I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. Well, I think my mother is attractive, but I just keep photographs of her. - Ellen DeGeneres

When a man wants to murder a tiger it is called a sport, when the tiger wants to murder him it is called ferocity. - Geroge Bernard Shaw

The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men. - Alice Walker

Nothing more strongly arouses our disgust than cannibalism, yet we make the same impression on vegetarians, for we feed on babies, though not our own. - Robert Louis Stevenson

We fill the slaughterhouses daily with screams of fear and pain. - Robert Louis Stevenson


"For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love" -Pythagorus

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Mahatama Gandhi

The thinking [person] must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition and surrounded by a halo. When we have a choice, we must avoid bringing torment and injury into the life of another... - Albert Schweitzer


A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral. -Leo Tolstoy

Animals share with us the privilege of having a soul - Pythagoras

"But for the sake of some little mouthful of flesh, we deprive a soul of the sun and light and of that proportion of life and time it had been born into the world to enjoy." - Plutarch

Now I can look at you in peace; I don't eat you any more. -Franz Kafka

Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it. - Mark Twain

Truly man is the king of beast for his brutality excedes theirs. We live by the death of others. We are burial places. - Leonardo Da Vinci

"I ask for the privilege of not being born ...not to be born until you can assure me of a home and a master to protect me, and a right to live as long as I am physically able to enjoy life...not to be born until my body is precious and men have ceased to exploit it because it is cheap and plentiful." - Author Unknown

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. - Anonymous


I care not much for a man's religon whose dog and cat are not the better for it. -Abraham Lincoln

To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. The more helpless the creature, the more that it is entitled to protection by man from the cruelty of man. -Mahatma Gandhi


"The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being." - Konrad Lorenz, "Man Meets Dog"

"I saw deep in the eyes of the animal's soul look out upon me. I saw where it was born deep down under feathers and fur, or condemned for a while to roam four-footed among the brambles, I caught the clinging mute glance of the prisoner and swore that I would be faithful." - Henry David Thoreau

"He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man..." - Isaiah 66:3

What are we doing when we brainwash children in schools to cut open their fellow animals? Are we dangerously desensitizing them? Some of the most warped and blunted people I know are those who have gone through training of this sorts. -Richard D. Ryder

Conserve a hunter, harvest one today. -unknown

The fate of animals is of greater importance to me than the fear of appearing ridiculous; it is indissolubly connected with the fate of men. -Emile Zola

We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumes flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle: these are our brothers. All things are connected like the blood which unites one's family. -Chief Seattle

Flesh can not be procured without causing destruction of life; one who uses flesh, therefore, commits hisma (injury) unavoidably. -
Jainism

There is not an animal on the earth, nor a flying creature on two wings, but they are people like unto you. - The Koran

Behind every beautiful fur, there is a story. It is a bloody, barbaric story - Mary Tyler Moore

The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest - Henry David Thoreau

The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man - Charles Darwin

The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them, that's the essence of inhumanity. - George Bernard Shaw

The more I see of men the more I like dogs. - Madame De Stael

I feel very sorry for women who continue to purchase real fur coats. They are lacking in a woman's most important requisites, heart and sensitivity. - Jayne Meadows

All beings tremble before violence. All fear death. All love life. - Buddha

Palm Spring, an Eating Guide

We recently spent two nights in Palm Springs and found a few great places to eat.  As you know I eat vegan and try to stay away from too much processed stuff and avoid preservatives and chemicals.

The first place we went was Native Foods. It seemed like this would be hard to beat. It was entirely Vegan and left us wanting to try all kinds of new ideas out in our own kitchen.  I had the Surf Tacos (Rubio's fish taco style) made with fried Tempeh instead of fish.  They were just like a fish taco, something I haven't had in a long time. Amanda got a Mediterranean Bowl of some kind and didn't care for it at all.  It was tough to choose off the menu because there are so many different kinds of food served.
All the "Vegan Friendly" places in San Diego County are very specific in what they serve. There are Mexican, Asian, Fast Food, Deli, but there isn't anywhere to just go get a variety like you could at multiple "normal" restaurants.

Our next stop was Lulu: California Bistro. 

We had seen it packed the night before and figured we would give it a shot for breakfast the next morning.  We read the menu outside and I was sold on the Roasted Acorn Squash stuffed with quinoa, bell pepper, basil, and figs. Served on a bed of greens and an apricot vinaigrette. It was good alright, nothing over the top, but good.  Amanda had minestrone soup and a Chinese salad and thought both were well done.  The amount of staff was staggering! They had a waiter for every 4 tables and he only took your order and checked on you. Somebody else brought you water, somebody else brought bread, somebody else brought the food, and yet another person cleared the dishes. There were something like six or seven people involved in our dinning experience. Overall, it's a worthwhile stop while in Palm Springs.

Statue in the hallway at the hotel.

During the day we were lounging by the pool at our hotel, The Colony Palms Hotel,

Our actual room, I think.

The Restaurant is right at the pools edge.

and decided we would use our $25 voucher at the hotel restaurant (All Day Menu). The prices are steep but we had $25 off, right?  So we had the Fried Avocado (really good), the Roasted Garlic Hummus (well executed), and the House Made Veggie Burger (took a few tries to get right, but ended up fine). 

For dinner on second night we headed over to Thai Smile because Thai sounded good and it was only one block from our hotel. It looks great on the website and it got some good reviews online, but it was mediocre Thai food at best.  I got a curry like I always do (it would be hard to really mess up a curry) and Amanda got a cashew veggie dish of some kind.  My curry was just normal curry, but I tried Amanda's dish and it was not spicy at all and just tasted like salt.  That was all I could taste. Not good.

We got back to the hotel and I searched for "Vegan" on the iPhone map app and found Palm Greens Cafe. We woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and headed out to Palm Greens.  Boy oh boy and I glad I found this place.  It's the kind of place that every vegan wishes they lived next door to. Amanda and I split a Breakfast Burrito with "tofu eggs". I wasn't sure if they had given us real eggs by mistake! (scrambled eggs and tofu, when done right, taste almost the same) We also split the Vegan French Toast and it was french toast. I mean you would have to really do something special to french toast to make it noteworthy, but it was vegan and tasted just like any other good french toast you would order.  I'm a sucker for shakes and had to get a chocolate date shake. And I love shakes alright, it was nice (I haven't weighed myself since we got back yet).  When you go here, get the Salad Sampler. There were a lot of interesting items on one dish.  It would be great to find a place like this in San Diego somewhere.

Then it was back in the car for the drive home.

We are off to the home of the mouse this weekend for the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon...more to come 

Race Info

Blood Lubricates the Wound

Today I ran my first half marathon as a runner. I did the Carlsbad half marathon 10 years ago or so and barely ran at all, I was so out of shape and heavy.
Today was a completely different story. Same course as ten years ago but it just flew by.

Leading up to the race I had hopes of coming in at a sub 2 hour time, but I got injured playing soccer one and a half weeks ago. Since my injury I haven't been able to train at all. So I hadn't ran for two full weeks and only got back to walking normal this last Wednesday. I was quite nervous starting the race because I had no idea how my leg was going to respond.
I started out at a 10 minute pace to test out my leg and it felt good so I bumped it up to 9:30-9:45. I kept this pace for most of the first half of the 13.1 mile course. Then around mile 8 I was feeling good and a woman marathoner started to pass me at a 8:40 pace so I matched her for the remainder of the race and came in with a time of 2:02, according to my watch. My mind was so knackered that I didn't even look at the big time clock.
Around mile 5 my Vibram FiveFingers started to wear the skin off of my right instep. I messed with it for a second but didn't want to get out of the groove. So I let the shoe wear it down so the blood could just build up a lubrication layer and I didn't feel it anymore after mile 7 or so.

I'm pleased that I could go out and run very close to my goal time while "injured" and without training.

Special thanks to Ryan & Kristina for driving and cheering me on at the finish line...awesome experience!

Stir Fried Rice...Vegan Style

So, eating vegan, I don't eat eggs. Fried rice is vegan, except the eggs that are always in it. So here is my recipe:

- One package soft tofu
- 2 to 3 cups cooked brown rice
- coconut oil
- garlic powder
- soy sauce
- sesame oil
- black pepper
- tsp sugar

Heat, on high heat in a large wok, 6 Tblspns coconut oil.
Cut the tofu into 1/2 inch cubes.
Cook the tofu in the oil until it starts to brown.
Add 2T soy sauce and a dash of sesame oil, cook for an additional minute.
Strain out the tofu and save.
Clean and dry the pan.
Put 4 T coconut oil in the pan and heat on med/high heat.
Add the brown rice and stir to coat.
Add the precooked tofu.
Add about:
tsp black pepper
T garlic powder
tsp sugar
Stir continuously.
Add 2-3 T soy sauce and stir.
Feel free to "break up" the tofu so it kind of resembles scrambled eggs.

Everything is already cooked and could be eaten raw, so just heat it through and serve.

I hope you like it.

Tropical Vegan Rice

I had a few recipe requests, and for good reason...I've had some good food lately.

I'll start with a Tropical Fruit Coconut Rice Bowl:

-4 cups Short Grain Brown Rice
-2 1/2 cups Light Coconut Milk (1 can)
-3 cups water
-1 Mango
-1/2 Papaya (seeds removed and saved for a salad dressing)
-2 medium tomatoes
-tbsp of Tamari

I use a rice cooker to make the coconut rice (if you don't have one, then just make it in a pot the way you would normally make rice).
Add the rice to the rice cooker with the coconut milk and the water. Let it finish cooking.
Meanwhile, dice up the mango, papaya, and tomatoes. We all know that you don't eat the skin of the mango and papaya, right?
Put your fruit mix in the fridge to cool down.

Once the rice is done (oh, the heavenly smell of cooking coconut rice) just scoop some in a bowl and stir in your fruit mix. Drizzle the tamari over the top and let it run down through the mixture and enjoy!

I have to give my homegirl Kate a shout out for inspiring this one. I will round up her recipe (which has a little more to it...taste included) and add it to this post.

Eat happy, eat healthy!

Add in some diced jalapeño, cilantro, and basil with a squeeze of lime. Kate style.