Fresh Friday Finds

1. Military punk.
This summer, go for above-the-knee cargo shorts and tucked in, rolled up button-downs like this look from Edun‘s Spring/Summer 2008 menswear collection. Choose a monochromatic color theme, and accessorize with a wallet-chain, your best-beat up shoes, and a dissenting attitude! This look is easy to put together at any thrift store, military surplus store – of if you’re feeling like dropping a paycheck, directly from an Edun retailer.

Edun Summer 08

3. The Loudermilk Man is a conscientious bad-ass.
Stay tuned in the following week for my exclusive interview with the Duchess of Eco-Lux herself, Linda Loudermilk.Where to buy.

Linda Loudermilk MenswearLinda Loudermilk Menswear

3. 500 NYC Cats to be killled this Tuesday. Trap-Neuter-Return
Attend the Rally to Save JFK cats. Tuesday, June 3rd, 11:15am- 1pm (Rain or Shine) at Port Authority headquarters, 225 Park Avenue South, between 18th and 19th Streets, Manhattan.

According to Super Vegan:

The hundreds of feral cats living at JFK airport are facing death once again. Today, AMNY reports the Port Authority plans to capture the cats and turn them in to animal shelters. The organization continues to refuse assistance from The Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection groups offering—at no cost—a humane and effective solution towards feral cat management through a Trap-Neuter-Return program. The Port Authority seems unsympathetic to the fact that placement in a city shelter is a near death sentence for the wild critters, most of whom aren’t tame enough to be adopted into homes.

Click HERE to find out how else to help, and how to contact NYC officials who can stop this!

4. Tea Boxes from recycled pallets in Calcutta.

Typically in Clacutta, boat loads of pallets arrive and are simply discarded every single day. An enterprising young box-maker salvages old and discarded shipping pallets, strips them down, and creates these unique hand made boxes. Each box contains 2 ounces of tea. For the full story, click HERE. From the’carbon free’ company, The SImple Leaf:

The Simple Leaf Logo

.

5. Vegan Cowboy Ankle Boots.

They “Wayne” and “Ankle Harness Gusset” from Alternative Soles is an awesome, affordable vegan ankle boot for men. The sleek sole, stitching details and choice of two colors makes these boots kick ass. Wear ‘em with fitted chinos or skinny jeans – steer clear of wearing these with wider/baggier pants and shorts. Only £25.00 !

Men's Wayne Cowboy Boot - BlackMen's Ankle Harness Gusset Cowboy Boots - Tan

6. Artisana Nut Butters are OBSESSION worthy. I can’t stop eating the entire jar of the whipped cashew butter – and at a party the other night I was dunking chocolate cookies into the coconut butter. Healthy fats, raw, vegan, and tons of nutrients and protein – what’s not to like?

Artisana Raw Cashew Butter

Image

7. My other new obsession is Bikram Yoga. If you ever craved a workout that leaves you feeling as light and clear as air – bikram yoga, otherwise known as ‘Hot Yoga’ might be right for you. The first class tests your limits, no doubt. But as it gets easier, the benefits come through.http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/players/08/07/core0814/t1_core.jpg

Vivisection Takes Front Stage in New York Times, Today

//www.wired.com/news/images/full/3d_robot_feeding_f.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

The journal Nature, and the NYT today displayed a cold-hard celebration of vivisection at University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. In what was purported to be a scientific breakthrough for advancements in brain-machine interface technology, two macaque monkeys – who were shot at a very specific angles to hide the hideous science-fiction-like wires connecting their brains to computers (notice the big metal tube conveniently covering the monkey’s head in the NYT video, and the black box in the Youtube Video below) – were forced to fetch food with a robotic arm using their brain implants.

The resounding result of this study should be a call to end horrific experiments on animals. If these monkeys are intelligent enough to master the complexity of controlling robotics, and intelligent enough to be considered suitable models for humans – then how can we justify imprisoning them and conducting disgusting and torturous experiments that we wouldn’t conduct on dissenting humans? In short, if their brains are so similar to ours, why is it OK to do this?

There are many paralyzed and/or limbless humans who would gladly participate voluntarily with the potential of regaining lost motor skills.

“…the new report “is important because it’s the most comprehensive study showing how an animal interacts with complex objects, using only brain activity.” – NYT

Over 100 million animals are used in experiments worldwide every year.Vivisection effectively reduces sentient beings to the status of disposable tools, to be used and discarded for the benefit of others. In the words of Mark Twain:

I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn’t…The pain which it inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity toward it, and it is to me sufficient justification of the enmity without looking further.

Had the Monkey’s been given a key to unlock themselves and return to their friends and family in a natural habitat, I’m sure the grapes and marshmallows would not be missed. For more info on  vivisection and alternatives, please visit NAVS.

Please write to the New York Times and express your opinion, and ask why the ethics of such experiments were not even raised.

Puppy Love in the Sun

This summer, the hottest thing happening is rescuing shelter dogs! Open your heart and your home to a loyal friend that will greet you with electric-enthusiasm every time you walk through the door and who will love you unconditionally. Save a life!

Here’s my Enzo adoption story. I can’t wait to hear yours!

These dogs are currently up for adoption at New York Animal Care and Control.

If you are in New York City, search HERE

If you are outside NYC, Search:

Petfinder.com

If you don’t know about puppy mills, last month, Oprah did a special on Puppy Mills and breeders:

DB Etiquette Recommendation: For every pet bought from a breeder or pet store, over 800 are put down. Yep – 800. Per day. In each State. Simply because there are already millions of dogs being euthanised because no one wants them. And the devastating thing is – you can definitely adopt pure breeds from shelters!

Mottainai: Fall 2008 Preview & Interview with Luke McCann

Luke McCann’s mom was a hippie. He says he learned to do a lot with a little. That might be one reason he’s spearheading a line of menswear that embraces organic denims, all natural vegetable dyes, organic Italian cotton shirtings, organic cotton knits, korozo nut buttons, and small-scale production in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

“Mottainai is about not wasting anything period..whether it be food, your time, your words, your money…a necessary, respectful almost lost way of life in a time of conspicuous consumption.” - Luke McCann

Mottainai is not 100% organic yet, but Luke is working towards that. The name Mottainai (moe tie nie) roughly translates from Japanese into “what a waste”, and can be used to describe when natural resources are squandered. The Japanese have folk tales of a Mottainai Ghost who comes after people who waste things to punish them.

I recently interviewed Luke about making clothes and making change. Here is our interview:


DB: What inspires you to create garments?
LM: To make clothes that are worthy to cover our bodies. We were frustrated with almost everything out there for young men and wanted to fill in the gap.

DB: Were you always an environmentalist? What does that word mean to you now, and how do you apply it to your life?
LM: Well, being born in Eureka, California to my healthy hippy mom definitely forced me to be environmentally conscious, all the time. Now, the word means what it has always meant to me. Someone who has a deep reverence for nature, and as a result, for themselves.

DB: What has the response been like to your “eco lux” collections so far?
LM: So far so good! Its not all peaches and cream but the reaction has been better than I predicted. A lot of people are very surprised and happy to see the use of eco-friendly fabrics and low-impact production methods coming from a younger, Brooklyn-based brand. The green movement will only get stronger with time and awareness.

DB: If destroying the earth isn’t making us happy, why do you think it’s still happening?
LM:
To me its like when you see Wiley Coyote in the Loony Tunes falling off a cliff and then vanishing – only he doesn’t know he is falling. We think we are flying and everything is okay, but really we are falling, deeper and deeper into our demise. I think it will take a lot of educating and as sad as I am to say it, something very, very catastrophic may need to happen to really evoke change that will actually better our situation. Speaking of change, check this out: http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/4016

DB: What role can the fashion industry play in making sustainable = sexy?
LM: A leading one, if you create a eco-friendly brand, it must still be attractive, sexy, of great cuts, colors, lines, and texture. After visiting Premier Vision in Paris for the past 2 years, I have seen the Eco-lux textile industry explode and offer a lot of great products that at first, do not strike you as “eco-friendly”. So I think soon that will trickle down into the masses. But it may take a long time. Price is still a big factor.

DB: Is fashion more than just clothes and accessories?
LM: No not really, fashion is what is offered, fashion fades, fashion and vanity is what some believe to be the destruction of the soul. I think Style on the other hand, is eternal and unique to the man/woman, and as important as the feathers on a peacock or the mane on a lion.

DB: What is your opinion on animals exploited for clothing and fibers?
LM: Well that’s obvious, animals should never be exploited. Was it Ghandi who said something like you can learn everything about a country by looking at how they treat their animals? I think it sad, tragic, and evil what happens everyday to animals in terms of profits. However, if the animal is honored, the food and products are appreciated and used as nourishment or protection, then we maintain that balance that is missing from our society.

DB: Fill in the blank: In a perfect world_______
LM: …bill collectors lose their voice and have to call in to work sick everyday.

DB: What is the biggest failure of our culture right now?
LM:
Our inability to prepare for a better future…and also family life and healthy social living has been destroyed over the past century…but it’s not too late to bring change.

Holiday

1. Wearing:

Summer Wallets from DB Clay

0-swim-full0-thrower-full

Fair-Trade, organic Low-tops from Ethletic

Beach Shorts from Gilded Age

2. Listening to Ratatat and Bon Iver (thanks to Karl of Partybots)

3. Eating

Holy Moley! The Cheezey- Spinach Artichoke Dip, Chef’s Salad, Vegan Quiche and Pumpkin Chai Latte at Teany are so amazing it made me want to eat the dish-ware. They also have around 100 teas to choose from.

Josh and Melissa at Teany!


4. Reading “An Unnatural Order: A Manifesto for Change”, by Jim Mason (thanks to Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary)

A Manifesto for Change Cover

“An eloquent, important plea for a total rethinking of our relationship to the animal world. Mason analyzes the West’s ‘dominionist’ worldview, which exalts humans as overlords and owners of other life…. His powerfully argued manifesto will change many readers’ attitudes toward hamburgers, animal experimentation, hunting, and circuses.” -Publishers Weekly

5. Going to:

Check out these events in the next couple of weeks!

Fresh Friday Finds

1. Watch Ellen today. Yesterday she confronted John MCcain(who couldn’t even make eye-contact with her)and rumor has it she may reveal something quite excting (watch out Oprah…)! Special guest and friend of DB, Rory Freedman (Skinny Bitch, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch) will be her guest.

Ellen DeGeneres Logo

2. For those that missed it, Oprah is vegan (for at least 3 weeks). All I have to say is wow…

3. Sign this petition to help call for a South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary, and help end whaling!

Stop Whaling - A Better World for Animals and People

3. Don’t Teese Yourself! Ok, fine – Teese yourself. It melts!Teese Vegan Mozzarella Cheese

4. DB reader, MOR is a former employee of Whole Foods. He calls attention to Wholefoods’ not-so-socially-progressive policies. Read Wholefoods Breaks Their Promise.

.

5. Fujimori is being tried for Human Rights Violations in Peru. He is the first head of state to be extradited to his home country to stand trial for human rights violations. Praxis Institute for Social Justice invites you to visit their bilingual liveblog and follow current developments in the ongoing human rights trial of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori.

“Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori served from 1990-2000 and is suspected of committing innumerable human rights violations during his decade in office. These allegations have been documented by the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in its Final Report, published in 2003, and the trial against the former president marks the fulfillment of one of the TRC’s most important recommendations for preventing future human rights violations by the state.”

For more info:

6. Non-leather belts can be more than a hemp braid – thank god.

City Belt by Vegetarian Shoes - Black

.

.

.

7. On Tuesday, the USDA made it official, implementing a no-downer policy for cattle in the United States. Read the article HERE. ‘Downers’ are animals too sick or injured to walk or stand, and are typically left to suffer – as veterinary care and euthanasia cost more than most farmers will make on the body of the animal – making it economically undesirable, and ethically disgusting.

http://www.chooseveg.com/LargePhotos/DownedCow.jpg

7. Cruelty-free, vegan colognes (thanks Peta2):

Abercrombie & Fitch and Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch
Mesmerize Cologne Spray by Avon
California North for Men and O2XYGEN for Men by California North
Number Six by Caswell-Massey
Eau Dynamisante and Eau Tranquility by Clarins
Chemistry by Clinique
360° for Men and Perry Ellis m by Perry Ellis
Tommy for Men by Tommy Hilfiger
Aramis and Lauder Intuition for Men Cologne Spray by Estée Lauder
OP Juice by OP
REGENCY™Cologne by Merle Norman

8. RECIPE!

Joshua’s Vegan Baked Mac & Jeeeeze Casserole

What You’ll Need:

  • 1 Block Silken Tofu
  • 1 Block “Follow your Heart” Cheddar style vegan cheese (or Teese!)
  • 2 Tbs “Earth Balance” or other vegan margerine
  • 3 Tbs Nutritional yeast (more to taste if desired)
  • 1 Tbs sugar or other sweetner
  • 1 Tbs salt
  • 1/4 cup vegan milk (soy, almond, rice, etc make sure it’s plain and not “vanilla” falvored)
  • 1/2 cup Bread crumbs (make your own by putting crisp toast in a blender)
  • 1 – 2 cups of elbow pasta

Directions:
Boil pasta. Combine all ingredients aside from bread crumbs and pasta in a blender or food processor. Mix the “cheese sauce” with the boiled pasta. place in casserole dish, and top with breadcrumbs. Bake on 350 for 15 – 20 minutes.

Tip - for a cheesier dish, shred additional vegan cheese over the bread crumbs before baking.

Oprah Goes Vegan (for now…)

Oprah announced today that she’s going vegan for at least 21 days. She’s even acknowledged that evolving to “conscious eating” means more than just being conscious of yourself and your choices – but conscious of the animals whose bodies are milked dry, tortured and bled, and pulverized for gluttony. The good news about this is, of course, the far-reaching influence of her example.

http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2007/06/04/Oprah.jpg

My brain grew this much.

“…this first day wasn’t hard at all. For breakfast, I had steel-cut oatmeal with fresh blueberries, strawberries, chopped walnuts and a splash of soy milk and some agave nectar. For lunch, chunky mushroom soup with wild rice and pecans. As a snack, a handful of roasted almonds. And for dinner, a baked potato drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper with a salad of shredded lettuce, cranberries, pine nuts and tiny orange slices with a vinegar and oil dressing.Very satisfying.”

So why is Oprah doing this? In her book Quantum Wellness, best-selling author and spiritual counselor Kathy Freston suggests trying a 21-day cleanse as a way to jump-start an inner makeover. She was a guest on Oprah and was pretty convincing.

GALActic

The Farm Sanctuary Gala was amazing! Being with so many compassionate, wonderful people in one room was inspiring. I met my president, Dennis Kucinich, got felt up by Skinny Bitch: Rory Freedman, and ate amazing pastries from Vegan Treats!

Farm Sanctuary Gala 2008

Top Down: Joshua Katcher, Dennis Kucinich, Rory Freedman,
vegan treats cakes, Kevin Nealon, Melissa Fornabaio, Lisa Edelstein
Russell Simmons, Chloe Jo Berman (Girlie Girl Army), Jeremy Davis

I had the pleasure of producing a video for the Gala:

Thanks to Kaight Shop for my hot organic blazer and organic green shirt by Turk & Taylor! I also wore an organic tie by John Patrick Organic, thrift pants, and NOVOCAS Dennis Brown shoes. If you haven’t been to Kaight in the LES, definitely check it out. There is a nice sized organic menswear section!

Kaight Shop

Boutiques, Sweets, Slices, & Endangered Bears

1. Eco Boutique Opens in LA.
An awesome eco-boutique, Visionary, has opened in West Hollywood – but so far it’s only for the ladies. Hey Visionary! Don’t forget about us Brutes!

2. Penny Licks is Vegan Sweets Heaven!
Last night at Penny Licks – Melissa, Jodi and I indulged in vegan brownie sundays with soy whipped-cream and a cherry on top! While wearing a gorgeous Organic cotton polo, I had a peanut-butter brownie sunday with temptation cookie-dough vegan ice cream. Jodi went to town on a huge slice of vegan coconut cream cake from Vegan Treats. To top that off, We ate with biodegradable corn-based spoons and ate out of biodegradable cups. Not everything is vegan here, but most of it is, and most of it is organic as well. This is my new favorite spot! See you there….

Penny Licks

3. Vinnie’s Pizzeria Makes Love to the Vegan Pie.vinnies vegan pizza
Just a few doors down from Penny Licks, Vinnie’s Pizzeria is putting shame to any other pizza place that has attempted to do vegan pies before. There isn’t just one “we have to put something out to take economic advantage of those annoying vegans” pie. Every day there are at least three innovative pies, in addition to handwheels, rolls, and sandwiches. They use Teese, from the same people that brought you Temptation.

4. Polar Bear on Official “Endangered Species” list.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/07/08/polar_wideweb__430x272.jpgEarlier this week, the Secretary of the Interior placed the polar bear on the Endangered Species List as a threatened species.The listing is clearly a step in the right direction. Much more needs to be done — to save the polar bear and solve the climate crisis. WeCanSolveIt.org

Fresh Friday Finds

1. There is still time to come out and support Farm Sanctuary’s life-saving efforts! Hang out withhttp://annansi.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/Russell-Simmons-pic.jpgDennis Kucinich Russell Simmons, Dennis Kucinich, yours truly, and other animal and eco advocates, celebs, designers, and all the ethically fabulous people at the 2008 Gala, hosted by Heather Mills.

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Emily Deschanel, Christine Ebersole, Lisa Edelstein, Susie Essman, Rory Freedman, Dennis Kucinich, Swoosie Kurtz, Vanessa Marcil, Peter Max, Kevin Nealon, Dan Piraro, Eric Roberts, Ally Sheedy, Russell Simmons, Hal Sparks, Loretta Swit, True and Keisha Whitaker, Persia White, and, many more…to be announced!

Tickets are $400 per person.
To purchase tickets, donate and learn more, or to find out about sponsorship and advertising opportunities and make product donations and auction contributions to support the event, please contact us at 607-583-2225 ext.221 or gala@farmsanctuary.org

2. Lazy Activist? Help Animals Every Time You IM!

3. Joshua’s Vegan Ricotta (for Stuffed Shells, Manicotti, or Lasagna)

//www.kraftfoods.com/assets/images/video/stills/370_easy_baked_manicotti.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

What You’ll Need:

  • 1 package jumbo shells / manicotti (can be used in Lasagna also)
  • 1 large jar/ 2 cans of organic, vegan red sauce or marinara
  • 1 block silken tofu
  • 1 block “follow your heart” Monterey-Jack vegan cheese
  • 2 Tbs olive oil
  • 2 Tbs Nutritional Yeast
  • 1 Tbs Basil
  • 1 Tbs Sugar or other sweetner
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Black Pepper
  • (add spinach or mushroom to the mixture if desired)

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor, use like ricotta to stuff shells or manicotti, or layer in lasagna.
  2. Pour a 1/4 inch layer of red sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Stuff shells/manicotti with the mixture using a teaspoon. Arrange the stuffed pasta on top of the sauce, side by side. Pour remaining sauce over the pasta. the sauce should come up to just about the top of the pasta.

Tip - For a cheesier dish, shred additional vegan cheese to melt over the top while baking, (make sure to cover with foil or pyrex lid so it melts) if desired.

4. If you are a homo in California, you can now legally get married! Read the NYT article. The court’s 4-to-3 decision striking down state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman makes California only the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriages.

5. Good news for forests!

Environmental Investigation Agency Applauds U.S. Congress for Passing World’s First Ban on Import of Illegally Logged Wood. Read the full article here.

“WASHINGTON, May 15 — The United States Congress today passed landmark legislation to address the global illegal logging crisis. The U.S. is the first country in the world to prohibit the import of illegally-harvested wood and wood products.”

6. Organic Skinnies and Chinos from Loomstate:

LOOMSTATE at Barney’s