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

Dept. Store Finds & Getting Healthy Quick and Easy

joshuakatcher — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:29:12 +0000

• Sometimes it's hard to just find that practical stuff in sustainable textiles, like this organic, woven cotton shirt from Steve Alan made in the USA. Some other great department-store, sustainable menswear finds like Threads For Thought, and Nordstrom brand organic cotton blend tuxedo shirts and classic boxers. • Did you know that oregano, cinnamon, cloves and ginger are so high in antioxidants that they can counter-act a high-fat meal? A year in the making, Michael Greger, M.D's NutritionFacts.org is a hub for nutrition-related research, as published in scientific journals, translated into short, easy to understand video segments and posts. Michael Greger, M.D., is a physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. A founding member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Greger is licensed as a general practitioner specializing in clinical nutrition. You can also subscribe to the daily video feed (http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/feed/) or follow them on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org) and twitter (http://twitter.com/nutrition_facts)

Weathered Belts, Broken Records & South Korea’s Dog Days

joshuakatcher — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:53:25 +0000

• If you like the look of an old, weathered and beat-up leather belt, you've probably been disappointed with the vegan selections thus far. In comes CLIFF belts to the rescue, made from cork. The cork is lightweight, strong, and the belts are reversable. So put a cork in it and go buy one. Eventually, you can even build your own. According to the CLIFF website:

Cork is environmentally preferable to leather as it comes from a lower carbon impact source (tree bark) and does not use animal products in its manufacture (a vegan product). The environmental concerns associated with leather include the energy and carbon intensity of generating animal products and the chemicals used in the leather tanning process that can be damaging to human health and the environment. Cork is a naturally beautiful and greener alternative to leather.

• I feel like a broken record. A new environmental study urges people to eat far less meat and cheese. This one is interesting, though. Unexpectedly, the biggest offender when it comes to GHG emissions is lamb! Lamb is a whopping 50% worse than beef. Damn! What sicko eats a defenseless, cuddly baby, anyway? Macho men, that's who - guys who are tough enough to stand up to a dangerous creature like a lamb! Take that you puffy, fluffy, gentle threat to my manhood.

The deadly creature in question

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released the Meat Eater's Guide to Climate Change and Health, a comprehensive study warning Americans that the extreme amounts of meat and cheese we eat take a huge toll on the environment, animal welfare and human health. Meat and dairy products require more energy and resources to produce, and generate more toxic waste and pollution than equivalent amounts of potatoes, rice, beans and other plant-based foods. According to the EWG, if everyone in the U.S. chose vegetarian foods over meat or cheese for just one day a week, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would be the equivalent of taking 7.6 million cars off the road per year.

• Every year, two million homeless or captured South Korean dogs are butchered and eaten. They are often electrocuted, strangled, or bludgeoned to death and are then skinned, chopped up, and boiled. The cruelty and suffering endured by these dogs is unimaginable. Even though the country's Animal Protection Law, which was passed in 1991, considers dogs to be "domestic pets, officials often turn a blind eye and allow this to continue . Click here to find out more and help.

A dog rescued in 2010 from South Korea's meat trade - In Defense of Animals

Destination Woodstock, NY

joshuakatcher — Mon, 02 May 2011 23:17:49 +0000

I was fortunate enough to spend the day in Woodstock at the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. It's only 2 hours north of the city, and is well worth the visit. If you haven't met a sheep or a turkey, a cow or a goat - make sure to take a day and head up to visit and meet some of the animals who have been rescued from some harrowing situations. It's thrilling and surprising how complex, intelligent, and affectionate these critters are (especially considering their previous experiences around humans). Sanctuary founders Doug and Jenny are incredible hosts and give daily tours of the farm. After a day of relaxing, exploring and socializing on the farm - Garden Cafe on the Green was the scene for our dinner. We sat outdoors in the garden, and Master Chef Pam created a delectable menu: Curried Panko Crusted Fresh Green Pea Fritter lightly pan fried with toasted coconut sauce. Spring Vegetable Risotto Cake with Balsamic Caramelized Onion tempeh with red pepper basil artichoke sauce, sauteed greens. Vegan Caesar tossed with red onions, homemade croutons and toasted almonds. Polenta with Peas and Mushrooms with Basil Leek Tomato Sauce roasted asparagus and marinated artichoke salad with black olive mustard dressing, pan fried tempeh round with caramelized onion and roasted pepper relish sauteed greens.

Viscous Vegetarians & Championship Fights

joshuakatcher — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:40:24 +0000

The UFC homepage had this image up yesterday! How cool is that? Vegan and vegetarian men are kicking serious ass, and on April 30th, Jake Shields will be fighting for the welterweight championship! Who is hosting a party in NYC to watch?

Top-Ranked Welterweight, Jon Fitch, Shares His Daily Grub

joshuakatcher — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:13:05 +0000

Jon Fitch was recently ranked the #2 welterweight MMA fighter. He gets a lot of questions about what he eats to stay so lean, strong, and healthy - so he made the video below to share his nutrition tips with you. Why don't you tweet Jon @FitchFighter and let him know what your favorite, vegan power-packed snack is. Thanks to contributor, Pierre Grzybowski, for the tip.

Apolis, Join the Club & Gilt Sale

joshuakatcher — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:50:56 +0000

• Apolis: Global Citizen is the future of garment production - and it's a necessary future. From Bangledesh to Nepal and Uganda, "Apolis connects developing economies to the global marketplace through seasonal stories and tracks our tangible social results... Although Apolis is heavily inspired by philanthropy, we are a for-profit social enterprise wherein our customers act as benefactors, allowing Apolis to grow as a sustainable business instead of depending on fundraising for support. We have found this model of social business to be the most valuable and effective way to accomplish our ambitious long term goals of “advocacy through industry.” While I wish (and I find myself doing this too often) that more of the items were free of livestock products, considering the immense ecological toll and inherent cruelty of raising animals to use their skins and hairs (leather & wool), from a human-rights and labor standpoint, I still think this is a very important business model to point out. Here are some of the cruelty-free items from the website: • 90% off at GILT MAN's Holiday Sale! Here are some vegan jackets and blazers I've selected from the options. If you're not a GILT Member, get your invitation by clicking HERE. • Join the club. Point collars and spread collars are not the only options out there. Club collars are rounded, smaller, and offer a soft but sophisticated alternative. They were popular in the first few decades of the twentieth century - and likewise, offer the wearer a subtle antique-gentleman or dandy appeal. The shirt on the right, from Patrik Ervell, does not even require a tie. When wearing a shirt like this, it is best to button up all the way, and layer under a blazer, cardigan, or sweater-jacket. Getting sick of super-skinny ties? (me too!) The club collar is a great excuse to pull out a medium or wide, striped tie. •

Snack Attack, Nude Attitude, Man Tools & The Cost of Cheap Clothes

joshuakatcher — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:39:43 +0000

• The simplicity of a henley is a thing of beauty. Practical, utilitarian, and handsome whether you layer it with an organic plaid shirt, or wear it on it's own. When that henley is fairly-made in Italy or Portugal from organic cotton, it's also a thing of ethical handsomeness. While I wish on all my lucky-charms that Nudies would stop using cruel and ecologically devastating leather for their denim tags and jackets, I am happy when they have items like this that are leather-free. (Don't they know about all the cutting-edge, supple faux-leathers made from recycled soda bottles, TV's, or in closed-loop Japanese factories?). Nudie does, however, have an amazing human rights program set up with Amnesty International - that with the purchase of any one of their organic cotton "Human Rights Tees", 10 Euros gets donated to AI. They've got some pretty cool designs, as well. • Is cheap denim worth burning young women to death? Most people would say no - but our shopping habits speak otherwise. On December 15th, 2010, a multi-story sweatshop making clothes for notorious sweatshop slumlords, The Ha-meem Group (employed by GAP Inc., Wrangler jeans, JC Penney, Target, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, Walmart, Kohl's, Sears, Next and Osh Kosh B'Gosh, trapped and killed at least 29 workers in Bangladesh. The unsafe and unchecked conditions in the sweatshop prevented these mostly young girls from making a safe escape, as exists are commonly locked from the outside to prevent people from taking breaks. Many were burned alive, and many jumped to their death. To add insult to injury, "...the workers who were burned alive were likely being paid some $24 a month, less than $1 a day," according to Change.org. The disconnect we have concerning where our clothes come from is shameful, but understandable considering the epic propaganda and marketing machine that tells well-funded myths about cheap clothes. Between 2006 and 2009, 414 workers died in 213 factory fires. This latest fire at the Ha-Meem Group factory was not the first one to occur this year either - and famous factory fires that kill poor people or immigrants have a well-documented history. If you unwrapped a Christmas present from any one of these companies yesterday, or plan on going to the mall to spend gift-certificates, I would seriously consider using the opportunity to return items, speak to a managers, write letters, or otherwise voice your outrage. Lastly, please Sign The Petition to demand that these manufacturers at least compensate families of the victims. * If you are designer or work with any of these companies - check out the amazing work that Made-By is doing, and find out how to get the button sewn into your label! • Snack Attack! I am drooling like a rescued pitbull just thinking about these new snacks! The vegan mozzarella-style sticks from Chicago Soy Dairy's Teese line offers 15 sticks for 6 bucks - that ain't bad at all. Then, squeeze some of Tiger Tiger's flavored vegan mayo on your favorite sandwich or burger, and for dessert, how about some raw, Nutella-inspired Rawtella over ice cream or in a cookie sandwich? • Man Tools from Jack Black are a sure way to keep a well-groomed face and handsome conscious. A cruelty-free and Men's Health Magazine award-winning lather-brush designed to both meet and exceed the performance of Silver Tip Badger hair, and a razor-sharpener that extends the life of any razor are often hard to find, but here they are:

Year of the Rabbit

joshuakatcher — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 22:32:53 +0000

2011 is the year of the rabbit, according to the Chinese Zodiac. Peace, harmony, and education are associated with the Rabbit. If you're like me, someone who is skeptical of most things astrological, supernatural, spiritual or otherwise other-worldly, the Zodiac is simply a fun offering of interesting advice and useful ethical navigation to be taken with a grain of salt and informed by whatever is going on in your personal life. I am not convinced that there are only 12 types of people in this world - yet I still find myself reading astrology now and then. I guess it's just fun to think something in the newspaper is about me. China's animal-inspired zodiac showcases a curious affection for animals - infusing them with meaning and symbology... curious because the country itself has no animal welfare regulations and is notorious for brutalizing many of the same animals they elevate with so much cultural importance. From the rabbit fur trade, to bear-bile farms, to zoos where the endangered animals' bones are served as soup, China is the last place any animal would want to be. I made the painting above, titled "Unlucky" to symbolize a dichotomy in our relationship to rabbits, to call attention to the silliness of superstition, and to recognize animals that are killed for their skins. A fur coat has just as much superstitious meaning behind it as a rabbit's foot. The bearer believes the coat to be a form of protection; a talisman that transforms them into an elegant fashion icon, and at a very base level, a symbol of power over those weaker than ourselves. It is the year of the Rabbit - not of the rabbit jacket or ear-muffs or hat. Not year of the skinned-alive rabbit, nor year of the screaming rabbits (and they do scream), and certainly not year of the powerless rabbit. Why is it then, that most of the worlds rabbit fur comes from China? Why is it that designers are using faux-spirituality like the über-Zen Donna Karan, instead of faux-rabbit fur? My New Year's Resolution is to make the year of the rabbit one that a rabbit would want. Please join me by getting involved in the PINNACLE Initiative. Some other helpful links for animals in China:

• Chinese Animal Protection Network, China: http://capn-online.info/en.php
• Humane Society, International: http://www.hsi.org/news/news/2010/06/chinese_zoos_062310.html
• World Society for the Protection of Animals: http://www.wspa-usa.org
• China Cat Animal Protection: http://www.pictures-of-cats.org/china-cat-animal-welfare-protection.html
• Animal Concerns - In Defense of Animals, International: http://www.animalconcerns.org/
• World Animal Net - Animal Protection Law: http://www.worldanimal.net/protect.html
• Animals Asia Foundation: http://www.animalsasia.org/