Running With Russell, Vegetable Frenzy & Rise of the Power Vegans

Ryan Olbrysh,  www.lasvegassun.com

• Power Vegan. What does this phase connote? According to the Business Week article from Nov. 4th, The Rise of the Power Vegan is an interesting turn of events for a culture of executives and power-players who want to take control of their own health, and thrive for as long as possible.

…a growing number of America’s most powerful bosses have become vegan. Steve Wynn, Mort Zuckerman, Russell Simmons, and Bill Clinton are now using tempeh to assert their superiority. As are Ford Executive Chairman of the Board Bill Ford (F), Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, venture capitalist Joi Ito, Whole Foods Market (WFMI) Chief Executive Officer John Mackey, and Mike Tyson. Yes, Mike Tyson, a man who once chewed on human ear, is now vegan

• A new, slightly controversial article in New York Magazine explores why vegetables are the new meat, becoming the focus of entrees at unlikely restaurants throughout cities famous for fervent foodies. Vegetables Are the New Meat, they say – but they make sure to distinguish themselves from vegetarians, still calling on meat, butter, and cheese for flavor. What do you think about the “vegivore” trend?  Leave a comment!

“Sales are up 15 to 20 percent,” says Mountain Sweet Berry Farm’s Rick Bishop, whose spigarello broccoli and spring-ushering ramps have cult followings at Union Square. “You see lines at the market now for vegetables. People used to only line up for eggs and fish.”

• If you like football, but hate the stereotype of the meat-maniacs that fill the parking lots, you’ll love Peta’s list of the Top 5 Vegetarian-Friendly NFL Stadiums:

  1. 1. Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Eagles), where protein-packed mock-steak sandwiches, faux-chicken sandwiches, veggie dogs, and veggie burgers are coming off the grill faster than DeSean Jackson in the open field.
  2. 2. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland Raiders)
  3. 3. Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers)
  4. 4. Georgia Dome (Atlanta Falcons)
  5. 5. (Tie) Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs) & Ford Field (Detroit Lions)

• I made my debut on Oxygen Network’s Running Russell Simmons last night, where I was drenched in fake blood and wrapped up in a meat tray in times square! So may people have been Tweeting that they are considering going veg! Thanks to the amazing Simone for asking me to join her at this event! Watch the full episode (the PETA demo starts at about 36 min. in):

• Win a Gardein Stuffed Turk’y Thanksgiving Meal from Mercy For Animals! Gardein has provided MFA with five coupons for free Savory Stuffed Turk’y products to give away to our supporters. All you have to do is enter MFA’s Savory Stuffed Turk’y contest for your chance to win a free coupon. So, what are you waiting for? Enter to win today! Five lucky winners will be randomly selected on November 15.

37206_453179055431_111897680431_5756255_2120781_n.jpg

April 77′s Runes, We Love Fluevog, Revolution & Trousers 5A

April 77, created by our favorite rock-n-roll, vegan, Parisian designer Brice Partouche, is cleverer than everer. Their new collection features runes-style codes that let you download exclusive music tracks!

John Fluevog does it again. My favorite leather-free shoes from last season are back in a smart navy, tan, black and red plaid. Knock em’ dead with these and a pair of fitted jeans, khakis, or a navy suit. Resin and wood soles, faux-suede interior, cotton uppers and all ethical handsomeness.  $189

CBC (Navy Plaid)

Adbusters #91: The Revoltion IssueADBUSTERS’ “The Revolution Issue” is a must-read for anyone who wants to change the world.

“It may be hard to imagine a revolution erupting tomorrow, but we need to remember that human history is one of resistance, riot and rebellion. In this issue, Adbusters #91: The Revolution Issue – I, Revolution, we provide a look back at history’s greatest struggles as well work from some of today’s freshest radical thinkers.”

.

.

Trousers London offers an adaptation of the classic T5 – 100% Raw Organic Denim with a premium shirting fabric used as lining in a lighter, brighter check, with the piping detail on the side pockets. $294

http://shop.trouserslondon.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail2/294x480/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/1/0/1001.jpghttp://shop.trouserslondon.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail2/294x480/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/1/0/1002.jpg

Viva Las Vegans & Chrissie Hynde’s Clothing Line

A scenic view of the Wynn Las Vegas.Steve Wynn

• Vegans of Nevada and ethical gambling tourists will rejoice now that there are dozens of vegan dining options …available at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas, two resorts operated by mogul Steve Wynn, who recently decreed that every restaurant at his Vegas properties would provide several vegan choices. That includes, yes, even the lowly buffet, which now has a vegan dessert section,” according to AOL News. The 68-year-old casino mogul is rumored to have gone vegan recently. Read the full story here.

• Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders is set to launch a line of clothing called Fairground Luck, featuring “leather” jackets, skinny jeans, and cowboy boots  – all totally vegan, according to WWD. The line is a collaboration with her recording partner, JP Jones, a Welsh singer – and this leads me to believe (and hope) that the line includes things for men! Discerning Brute pals Todd Oldham and John Bartlett are rumored to have consulted on the line. Full Article.

Fall’s Positive

• I like this organic cotton crewneck sweater from EDUN. $258
EDUN is a contemporary lifestyle brand founded by Bono and Ali Hewson with the mission to encourage trade in Africa and build awareness of what is possible there.

5200109aa-263_front

• Portland General Store’s grooming products are worth more than a few bucks. From rhassoul mud cleansing balls and whiskey and tobacco aftershave to smelling salts and plant-based fragrances – their vegan range is suitable for any rugged gent. *Not all their products are vegan, please read the labels. All listed below are vegan:

WHISKEY natural aftershave splash  with sea minerals - veganTHICK - natural thickening shampoo with palo santo and marula oil - vegan, paraben and sulfate freeeau de toilette SAMPLES - all fragrancesEUCALYPTUS  smelling salts - cold and sinus treatmentFACE BOMB - natural, vegan rhassoul mud cleansing ball

We’re not kids anymore. The truth behind forcing animals to perform in the circus is as sickening as it is silly. We know that an elephant is a huge, intelligent, emotional animal whose needs and desires far exceed what an abusive and confining life behind bars and balancing on balls can provide. Our pal Gary Smith takes a stab at the most horrible show on earth, Ringling Bros in his new article. Check it out why circus’ using animals are indefensible.

Illustration of a crying circus elephant

• Black & Noir’s offers this 100% organic cotton twill jacket in gray, made in Canada. $412

Blanc & Noir Cotton Twill Jacket in GreyBlanc & Noir Cotton Twill Jacket in Grey

REDHANDED Computer Bags

Getting caught with one of these sleek bags is no crime. This line of sustainable, vegan computer/ briefcase bags are made in the You-Ess-Ay! They’re sweatshop-free, made with faux-leathers from non-PVC, VOC-free compounds of polyurethane, cotton, and cellulose (more quickly biodegradable), and utilitarian with some excellent features.

Florence To’s Subversive Nature

Florence To works mainly with eco-friendly fabrics and believes that all forward-thinking fashion should be sustainable. Her research into human identity and psychosis heavily influences her work, and her dedication to upcycling fabrics gives this designer a competitive edge over her less concerned peers.  None of her garments contain fur, leather, or wool and this menswear specifically is made from different, upcycled cottons, and is inspired by the idea of packaging. I’ll definitely be keeping me eye on this smart and driven talent.

Dirty Dozen, Have a Cow & Prime Peacoats

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/34/94073857_8ec3ce9699.jpg

• Timeless Navy coats get ethical. Dress to oppress (I mean impress…). I love Barney’s exclusive organic cotton twill peacoat, inspired by Fidelity’s classic US Navy coats. Barney’s also offers a handsome Fidelity, organic cotton, toggle front peacoat in khaki. While an ethical military may never exist, the utilitarian clothing designed for it is often flawlessly functional.

• The Dirty Dozen. The Environmental Working Group, a public health nonprofit, put out a list of the fruits and veggies to absolutely avoid unless they’re organic. They analyzed almost 100,000http://www.studiobotanika.com/avactis-images/pimage_654_000000001_0.jpg produce pesticide reports from the USDA and the FDA. The “Dirty Dozen,” which contain 47 to 67 pesticides per serving, are the most dangerous because they have porous or textured skins that suck up more pesticides.

  1. 1. Celery
  2. 2. Peaches
  3. 3. Strawberries
  4. 4. Apples
  5. 5. Domestic blueberries
  6. 6. Nectarines
  7. 7. Sweet bell peppers
  8. 8. Spinach, kale and collard greens
  9. 9. Cherries
  10. 10. Potatoes
  11. 11. Imported grapes
  12. 12. Lettuce

Clean Fifteen. On the other side of this equation is the fruits and veggies that are not terribly hazardous if you get the conventional, non-organic varieties. These had the least detectable residues of pesticides:http://www.clarkart.edu/media/image/web/20100121-onions.jpg

  1. 1. Onions
  2. 2. Sweet corn
  3. 3. Sweet peas
  4. 4. Asparagus
  5. 5. Cabbage
  6. 6. Eggplant
  7. 7. Sweet potatoes
  8. 8. Avocados
  9. 9. Pineapples
  10. 10. Mangoes,
  11. 11. Kiwi
  12. 12. Domestic cantaloupe
  13. 13. Watermelon
  14. 14. Grapefruit
  15. 15. Honeydew

• Have a Cow, Man. Do you have some land? Enough for a cow or two to hang out on? Farm Sanctuary needs a few good men to be new dads to some recently rescued calves. What’s better than hanging out with a giant puppy? Click HERE to find out how you can become the most ethical cowboy around.

Sea & Sand: Desert Boots & Boat Shoes

http://www.mooshoes.com/prodimages/alt_images/mariner3.jpg

I just purchased these sweet, faux-nubuck “Mariner Shoes” with a gum-rubber sole. Boat shoes are really comfy, non-slip, and a great, light summer shoe. Plus, they’re a classic that is having a moment in the spotlight again. Fairly made in Portugal. Sustainably leather-free. mooshoes.com $119.95

Speaking of classics having a moment, Desert Boots are big right now, too. They were originated for utilitarian military purposes in Cairo during World War II as an alternative to stiff, hot, and heavy army boots. Nathan Clark, upon his return to the US after serving in the 1940s, apprehensively introduced the boot through his family’s shoe company, and they caught on with Jazz musicians and mods in the 50s and 60s, and rappers and alterna-rockers in the 90s. Finally, a sustainable and rugged desert boot in faux-suede, lined in corduroy with double stitching. Made fairly in Poland. Sustainably leather-free. vegetarian-shoes.co.uk $80.


Desert Boot (Brown)  - click to enlargeDesert Boot (Black)  - click to enlarge

Snack Obsession, Blazing Through, & Alpacas in the Oil Spill

• Blazing Through. John Varvatos offers a cotton/bamboo-blend, two button blazer in tan, and a linen herringbone blazer in brown. $198 (from $595) on GILT Groupe . Varvatos is a fur-free designer, and now if he’d only replace leather, lambskin, and merino wool, I’d be a happy man!

Cotton Bamboo BlazerCotton Bamboo BlazerLinen Houndstooth Blazer

• Snack obsession of the day: Dried Chili-Lime Mango. The sweetness of mango, the kick of chili, the tang of lime – with a texture as satisfying as jerky, this is a fruit snack for big boys. To boot, recent research indicates that Chili may help stop the spread of prostate cancer cells and may contribute to improved weight loss.

https://www.therawchoice.com/shop/images/products/173.jpg

I have mixed feelings about Alpaca hair being used to soak up the oil spill. According to the UK’s Telegraph, hair from more than 100 alpacas in Pennsylvania is on its way to the Gulf of Mexico to help soak up the oil spill. Something doesn’t sit right with me about this (aside from the ethical implications of exploiting animals for their fur/hair/skin). Does the ecological impact of the livestock sector outweigh any possible good that could come out of using any (or every) part of these creatures’ bodies to clean up an environmental disaster?

Alpaca hope: The fur will be stuffed into pantyhose and used as makeshift booms that will - hopefully - soak up the oil spewing in to the Gulf

Other solutions exist. In addition to Alpaca, human hair is being stuffed into pantyhose to be used  as makeshift oil booms. There are probably tens-of thousands of hair salons in the united states, if not more – why even bother using Alpaca? If you cut hair or know anyone that does, now is the time to make use of your garbage!

Human hair stuffed into nylon stockings is being collected for its efficiency at absorbing large amounts of oil

Celery Hard-On, Our Legacy, and Black & Noir

• All of you Discerning Brutes out there know how difficult it is to find menswear that is distinctive, well-made, ethical, and classic. Our Legacy is a Swedish line featuring thoughtfully tailored shirting, suiting, knitwear and more. Their blazers are versatile, and cut short. Many of their shirts are inspired by cuts from the 1940′s. They do have several ethical options, including a naturally dyed, oak-buttoned blazer in hemp, a linen bomber-jacket in navy, dead-stock shirts, shirts in organic cotton, and hemp shorts and trousers in olive and camel. Everything is sweatshop-free; designed in Sweden, constructed in Portugal with Japanese fabric. I really hope to see more and more sustainable fabrics added to future collections, and for these Stockholm designers to ditch leather (why, you ask?).

http://4pack.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/celery2.jpg• Admit it, celery gives you a hard-on. A new study concluded that eating lots of celery is like “Vegetable Viagra“. It contains androstenone, a natural steroid that increases pheromone secretion, sex drive, and ups the amount of ejaculatory fluids, making climax stronger. Of course, this is not news to you guys who already know that diets heavy in meat and dairy have been linked to poor sperm quality, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction. Contrary to popular belief, the male hormone testosterone that determines sexual development and interest has been found to be 13 % higher in vegans than in meat-eaters.

.

• You’re in a rush (again), and your hair is a greasy mess. It’s okay, we all do it; there’s no time for a shower. So, do you throw on a baseball cap and throw in the flag? Certainly not! You use organic, dry shampoo! It’s only tested on human heads, is talc-free and scented with earthy essential oils, and takes care of greasy, oily buildup. From Lulu Organics. Comes in a handy travel-size, too! $40 for the huge one, and $9.50 for the mini.

http://www.luluorganicsnyc.com/luluorganics_hairpowder.jpghttp://www.luluorganicsnyc.com/travel_big.jpg

• Nothing beats a beat-up, super soft tee in spring, summer or underneath a button-down. Ultrasoft, 100% organic cotton V-necks from Black & Noir  – $58 at blackbirdballard.com

Blanc & Noir Short Sleeve V Neck Tee in GreyBlanc & Noir Short Sleeve V Neck Tee in Haze