The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man » philosophy

Shred the Streets Green

JohnHolden — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:41:37 +0000

by contributor John Holden Since 1986 Etnies has been manufacturing some of the most cutting edge skateboard shoes on the market. Now celebrating their 25th year anniversary they are continuing on that path with a new campaign BUY A SHOE PLANT A TREE. For every pair of Jamieson 2 Eco shoes sold Etnies will plant a tree in the rain forests of Costa Rica. The Jameson Eco 2 is not only a stylish pair of shoes but the out soles are made from recycled bike tires and plastic gloves while the laces are made from Pet recycled plastic bottles.

Living Lean & Green in the New Year

JohnHolden — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:00:45 +0000

If your New Year's resolution is to be more conscious of your health, consider what you will wear when hitting the gym or yoga mat. "Satori" is a Japanese term for enlightenment. Make this the year of understanding and becoming aware of where and what your clothing is made from. The following eco-friendly designs are from the Satori Movement label. Full Spectrum Shorts: Laid-back Twill Short w/ Asymmetrical Side Zip Pockets, Built in Belt, and Satori Woven Label: 55% Hemp/ 45% Recycled PET, Conscious Yoga Bag: Canvas-100% Hemp, Mecca Pants: Fleece-55% Hemp/ 45% Organic Cotton-Sage, Chocolate, Black

Buy Shoes, Plant Trees

JohnHolden — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:00:05 +0000

After a Blizzard took over NYC, I'm already thinking about spring. Seeing some of the styles from myCATS, how could you not wait to slip in to some of these espadrilles. Along with all of the vibrant colors you can feel even better knowing that these eco-friendly kicks are handmade and they have partnered with the organization Tress for the Future. " For every shoe sold, myCATS will plant 2 trees in your name. These trees not only clean our air by reducing carbon emissions and fighting global warming, but also provide significant income and livelihood options for people. Trees provide medicine, beverages, fruit, soil fertility, erosion control and even something as simple as shade can help improve the quality of life for these people."

Smells Like Crap & Tastes Like Coffee

joshuakatcher — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 08:42:14 +0000

The Civet Cat is a rather cute animal. Sort of cat-like, but actually from the Viverridae family - the animal is native to Africa, Madagascar, the Iberian Peninsula, southern China, and Southeast Asia. Strangely, we humans have taken a liking to this fuzzy critters poop and anal gland secretions. We've been wearing it in our fragrances and drinking coffee beans that pass through (if you know what I mean). The smelly stuff, which is also called civet, that comes out of the perineal glands (near the anus) is quite musky and acts as a stabilizing agent in fragrances - it extends the life of the overall smell, their olfactory duration, if you will. Left to itself in nature, the musk is very offensive, has been known to induce vomiting in humans, and can smell for up to four months. In order to harvest the secretion, the civet must be killed or have the thick, yellow grease painfully scraped from the gland's anal sac. The civet’s secretions must be combined with alcohol and other chemicals to bring out its “pleasant musky odor". It is rumored that civet cats produce more secretions when they are under stress, so many of the farmers hit their cages to keep them scared. Fortunately, synthetic civetone has been synthesized from precursor chemicals found in palm oil, but many supposed “high-quality” perfume manufacturers still prefer torturing these unfortunate and smelly animals. There are other animals also used for their smells. And if you didn't think this poor animal already had it tough, people have been drinking incredibly expensive coffee that has been shat out after these guys eat the coffee cherries. It sorta looks like a Babe Ruth bar, no? At first, people collected the wild droppings, but now they've realized that farming the civets yields greater revenue. The whole demand for the crappuccino comes from the distinct and rare flavor that occurs from the fermentation process inside the civets stomach. Now, I know there are people out there who are scientists. Can't you think of more intelligent way to ferment coffee cherries? Fortunately, someone has done just that. According to poopcoffee.com, "The Trung Nguyen Coffee Company hired a German scientist to research the chemical processes that occur in the Civet’s stomach, and in 1996 scientists were able to isolate six specific digestive enzymes and then use these enzymes to create a synthetic soak known as Legendee, which they patented. " When you cage a wild animal, you prevent it from doing anything that nature intended it to do. It is emotional and physical torture for wild animals to be locked up - and this is no exception, no matter how delicious the coffee tastes, it's still shitty. No matter how amazing the fragrance smells, it's still shitty. Free the civet cats!

New York Times: A civet farm in Liwa, a town in Sumatra, where the catlike animals eat coffee cherries. Their droppings contain coffee beans fermented in their stomachs.

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

joshuakatcher — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:58:44 +0000

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. 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. Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland Raiders)
3. Lambeau Field (Green Bay Packers)
4. Georgia Dome (Atlanta Falcons)
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.

Cuddled and Killed

joshuakatcher — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:02:42 +0000

GQ correspondent, Alan Richman attempts to talk about ethical eating in a recent article, Eat No Evil, featuring a halo-crowned, severed cow's head in a romanticized, baroque style photo - a cow we are asked to believe may have been loved to death. Alan's healthy serving of skepticism accompanies him on a road-trip through various incarnations of ethical eating - none of which involve veganism. He says, "I have always eaten exclusively for taste, which seemed like a good plan until now", and his sentiment is not an isolated one. A newcomer navigating the ethics of eating can be easily overwhelmed and misled by greenwashing, whitewashing, and other wolves in sheep's clothing in their reluctance to change habits, and Alan can not hide that he is one of those newcomers. For example, he says "Only your doctor or your mother should tell you what to eat, and these days I'm not so sure about Mom," not realizing how dangerous a doctor's nutritional advice may be. Richman has no idea that most doctors have a shameful, mere few hours of nutritional training - and that only one-fourth of medical schools even require med students to take a course in nutrition! One would think that in an exploration of ethical eating, veganism would be revered, but instead, Richman takes several juvenile stabs at the vegan lifestyle with no real vindication, possibly to justify his avoidance of having to validate the most obvious ethical diet. "I don't romanticize vegetables. I don't believe in their nobility, nor have I been convinced by those who claim plants have feelings and scream silently when tossed into a hot pan. (I wouldn't mind if that were true, since it would require vegans to starve themselves to death)", he confides to his audience of mostly non-vegans. Accompanying the article are Richman's "10 Commandments of Ethical Eating", of which number seven is "Consider vegans a warning sign of ethical eating run amok," situated next to an embarrassingly unfashionable closeup of an enthusiastic vegan from the Veggie Pride Parade. Alan Richman must make enemies of vegans in order to evade confronting the obvious: that veganism derails most of the dilemmas inherent in the ethics-of-food quandary: hurting and killing animals, carbon footprints, groundwater pollution, fragile ocean ecosystems, overuse of land and resources, human welfare, health concerns, etc. Richman's unfriendliness toward vegansim as a viable, ethical lifestyle is the major failure of his piece, and on a deeper level, the unveiling of his personal insecurity. His logic follows that vegans must be written off right away, otherwise he'll have to actually look at and talk about what they're doing and conclude that it may actually be a wonderful solution.

"Today, even Mollie Katzen eats meat. "For decades I ate brown rice, broccoli, and tofu," she told me. "And I felt tired, depressed, and irritable. As I've aged, I've felt a need for animal protein."

Like a homophobe, his stereotyping, reliance on anecdotal anti-vegan sentiment, and offensive depiction distracts from any need to substantiate the lifestyle, and he allows his personal opinion to obscure facts. We all know plenty of tired, depressed and irritable non-vegans, but that's rarely blamed on their diet. The article is in partial earnest; he makes some valid observations about the need to recognize animals as individuals with complex emotional lives, but misses many glaring flaws. The story is riddled with Alan's eagerness to believe what every "humane" farmer who loves their animals to death (literally?) has to say, and he seems to want nothing more than permission to continue eating animals minus his new-found guilt. He devours the humane myth as quickly as he would a lamb chop that was cuddled before killed.

Jamie Bissonnette of Coppa in Boston prepared meat from pigs that he had fed and touched, which raised this ethical point: "I felt the pressure. I had to do them justice."

These humane killers (let's be honest, that is what they are claiming to be) wax poetic about raising, naming, loving and then killing animals as if there are no other options for survival. As if breeding and slaughtering animals is somehow unavoidable; if we must kill animals, let us do it with love, right? The flagrant flaw is the fact that we have other options - kinder options, more ecologically sound and healthful options - and they're more than brown rice and tofu, contrary to what Richman would have us believe.

"I traveled to farms raising animals in North Carolina, Michigan, and Massachusetts, where I was awed not only by the humane treatment of cows, pigs, goats, and sheep but also by the commitment of the people caring for them," he says. Then later, "After this trip, I cooked ethically raised lamb at home and expounded on the fine existence the animal had led. A guest pushed her plate away and said queasily, "You sound like a funeral director."

In all the discussion of fantasy-farms where the animals are treated like family (that are killed and eaten), the darkest parts of animal agriculture are left out. The continuous pregnancies dairy cows must endure, only to have the mother-child bond that nature intended destroyed as their children are torn away and turned into veal or more dairy cows so we can drink the milk meant for the baby. He never mentions how mother cows bellow for days after this. Nor does he talk about the unwanted male chicks who are ground up live or suffocated to death because they have no economic value (they do not lay eggs), or the fact that even "grass-fed" and "humane" meats end up at the same, horrific USDA slaughterhouses. The list goes on. Like the twisted logic of an abuser who justifies his violence by saying it comes from a place of love, Richman writes "Nobody loves pigs more than Ed Mitchell, chef and co-owner of The Pit, in Raleigh, North Carolina...". Actually, Alan, I'd ague that people who rescue pigs from those that would slit their throats and devour their bodies, love them more. The solution is simple. Go vegan.

MIKE MAHLER: Not TOFU-k With

joshuakatcher — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:57:18 +0000

Some people argue that Mike Mahler is the exception to the rule; he's huge, powerful, and thrives on a vegetable-based diet. As a respected member of the fitness community, he's got the strength to challenge stereotypes and prove that you can get big and strong without eating any animal products (Paleo what?). He has built an empire as impressive as his quads, with DVDs, books, and a voracious following. He has trained some of the most impressive athletes like five-time UFC Middleweight Champion, Frank Shamrock and helps form routines for military and contact sports trainers and coaches. Mike answered a few question I threw at him last week: The Discerning Brute: What the hell is a Kettlebell, why have some of us not heard of it, and why should we get down with it? Mike Mahler: Glad that you asked. Imagine a black bowling ball with a suitcase handle on it and you have an idea of what a kettlebell looks like. A kettlebell is a big hunk of iron that comes in several sizes: 8lbs, 12lbs, 18lbs, 26lbs, 35lbs,44lbs, 53lbs, 70lbs, 80lbs, 88lbs, 97lbs and for super strong men and women 105lbs! You can do standard weight training exercises with kettlebells such as: bench presses, curls, and rows. However, the unique value of kettlebells is derived from ballistic (fast exercise) work such as: snatches, swings, cleans, and jerks. In addition to giving you incredible muscular endurance when done in high repetitions, with a proper nutrition plan any excess fat that you have will melt off rapidly. Ballistic exercises are not the only exercises that you can benefit from, kettlebell exercises such as: the Turkish get-up, Bent Press, and Windmill will develop a rock-hard midsection and increase shoulder flexibility and stability. As a result many chiropractors are using kettlebells with their patients for rehab. If you are a man or woman that wants to increase size and strength, try doing some of my favorite kettlebell exercises: Double Clean and Press, Double Front Squat, Renegade Row, Double Swing, and the Double Clean. If you are a man or woman that wants to lose weight and tighten up your glutes, quads, abs, and arms, apply a steady diet of kettlebell training ballistic work with some low rep kettlebell training strength work and you are all set.

DB: You're huge and ripped... what is the general reaction you get when people find out you don't eat animals? MM: People are very surprised to say the least. Most people respond by saying most vegans they meet are small and skinny. This stereotype is often true. However, there are many high-level strength coaches such as Jon Hinds of Monkey Bar Gym and Ory Ortega of Briga Training that thrive on a plant-based diet. Both have told me that they have never felt better. Many athletes also excel on a plant-based diet such as MMA superstars Jake Shields and Mac Danzig. Both look great and display incredible athleticism. As more athletes and physical culture experts show that one can thrive on a plant-based diet, more people will realize that they can make it work as well.

Animal protein is directly correlated with being big and strong and that message is sold to the public very effectively.

DB: You've been called "one of the premier strength trainers in the world " by mainstream fitness experts. Why do you think so few people in the fitness world take plant-based nutrition seriously? MM: People often feel that I am the exception to the rule. This is a clever way to justify avoiding change in life. Just say someone is special and that others will not get the same results, and you can stay where you are in life. People do this everyday in a multitude of contexts. Animal protein is directly correlated with being big and strong and that message is sold to the public very effectively. Most people take the path of least resistance. In addition, there is social pressure to eat meat especially in the fitness industry. If you try a plant-based diet and tell anyone, just about everyone you know that eats meat will try to talk you out of it. Very few people have the backbone to handle peer pressure and cave very easily. I met a guy at a party one time that used to be a vegan but gave it up. I asked him why and he stated that he was tired of feeling out of the loop at social functions. This was a grown man by the way not a teenager. Eric Hoffer has a great book on mass movements and how people will do anything to be part of the group. Very few people like to stick out and are willing to go out of their way to accommodate others. This is why our country and world is in the shape that it is in. No one wants to say what needs to be said and instead just want to go with the flow. At the same time, there are a lot more trainers that are trying plant based diets these days and people are much more open to it then they used to be. This does not mean that they will give up meat completely, but it does mean that they are adding more plant based food to their diets.

DB: You've said that strength training is about more than just physique. It's also about mental strength and character. Can you explain why this concept is important? MM: It is not enough to just have a strong body. That is not real strength in my opinion. I see big and physically strong men and women frequently that cannot think for themselves and are at the mercy of the people around them. On the other hand, I know many intelligent people that excel in academia and in the business world. Yet, physically, many of them are weak and would be in serious trouble in any situation that required physical strength. They may be mentally strong, but overall they are weak. For real strength and vitality a multifaceted approach is crucial. Eating right and training properly are both of course very important but we need to go beyond that. If you do not have a career that gets you excited and friends that hold you accountable to be your best, then you are really missing out. When you take charge of your life on multiple fronts, you realize how exciting and fulfilling life can be. That does not mean it all needs to be done at the same time. Focus on one component at a time. Perhaps you are out of shape and starting a solid training program and nutrition plan is the best move to make. Once you start losing fat and feeling better you will automatically start thinking about other areas of your life to improve. Never get complacent and always work on taking it to the next level. Maintenance is an illusion as we are either getting better or worse. DB: Sometimes I feel like a broken record when people ask me about my lifestyle. Are there any misconceptions you continuously have to dispel again and again? MM: There are several that I have to dispel often:

1. Getting enough protein on a vegan diet.
2. The myth of the benefits of cardio for fat loss. Fat loss is about hormone optimization not burning a few calories. The best way to win the war on fat is too build as much lean muscle as possible. Hormone optimization is a crucial component of physique composition goals and over all well-being.
3. The fact that focusing on isolation training such as curls is the way to build a strong and muscular physique. The reality is compound exercises such as deadlifts, squats, and military presses, provide the most bang for the buck.

DB: I often say that mainstream male identity is a roadblock to sustainability. Do you see any problems with mainstream machismo culture or male-identity in general when it comes to ideas about strength and power? MM: I think men and women have an identity crisis right now. We have differences for a reason and these are things we should embrace not try to suppress. I am not trying to say that women should cook and clean at home and that men should dominate. However, men should not be afraid to embrace their masculinity and women should not be afraid to embrace being feminine. Masculinity is often associated with being sexist, physically aggressive, mean spirited, and acting like a moron. Thus many men feel they need to put on a face of being a jerk in order to be a man. Being compassionate is not often associated with masculinity even though it takes great courage and inner strength to be compassionate. Being masculine is not about being a jerk that lets others define what being a man is. It is about taking charge of your life and having the courage to express your beliefs and stand up for what you believe in. It is about being able to make your own decisions and not be a pinball in the game of life. Real masculinity is strength of character and being a courageous member of society. Unfortunately our society these days has a lack of real role models and also rites of passage into manhood. As a result we have a lot of lost souls that do not know how to be real.

DB: Let's say I'm Joe Shmo... the only exercise I do is walking to and from my house, office, and car, but I have dreams of being in good shape. What is the first thing I need to do to set me on course? MM: Increase the intensity in a gradual and systemic manner. Incorporate strength training into your routine with a focus on compound exercises such as the military press, bench press, squat, deadlift, pull-up, and bent over row. These exercises work multiple muscle groups and provide the most bang for your buck. Try doing 2-3 full body workouts to get started. Three sets of each exercise in the 8-12 rep range is a good starting point. In addition to strength training, incorporate some high intensity cardio such as sprinting, kettlebell ballistic work, sledgehammer tire strikes, jump rope interval work etc. Clean up your diet by focusing on organic real food. Get all carbohydrates from fruits and veggies and load up on nuts and seeds, which are great for energy, hormone optimization, and recovery. DB: What's next for Mike Mahler? MM: I have several projects in the works. One I am doing a joint venture with strongman competitor and top strength coach Mark Philippi. The project is a DVD that shows how to get super strong and fit with barbells, dumbbells, and body-weight exercises. This will be a great DVD for all levels. Next, I have another kettlebell DVD in the works, which will be for advanced trainees that want to take their training to the next level. Finally, I am putting out a book soon on my life philosophy called “Live Life Aggressively! What self help gurus should be telling you.” It is a hardcore approach on how to take charge of your life and the importance of brutal self inventory in order to evolve and thrive.

Fall’s Positive

joshuakatcher — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:53:43 +0000

• 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.

• 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:

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