I used to love Vice Magazine. I still like it a lot. Ten years ago or so I would scour the East Village for copies when it came out, back when no one knew to associate its back-cover American Apparel ads with harassment lawsuits. I saved copies for years to reread articles I enjoyed. I think I went to some of their parties, but I forget. I appreciate that it’s[…] Keep reading →

Following up my series on liberating ourselves from moralists, meddlers, and others who want to impose their subjective values on us in the name of objective truth in the realm of food, let’s continue with anatomy, the next on my list of a few days ago. This reason makes little sense to me, but I hear it regularly. People who eat meat point out things like that most predators have[…] Keep reading →

Following up my series on liberating ourselves from moralists, meddlers, and others who want to impose their subjective values on us in the name of objective truth in the realm of food, let’s continue with religion, the next on my list of a few days ago. I expect this would-be reason to be a non-issue for obvious reasons. Well, first, I don’t belong to any religion that has any rules[…] Keep reading →

The media continue with their “great man” model of leadership with regard to Kim Jong Un’s succession. They imply if things are happening, the person in the leadership position must be making them happen. I think a systems perspective more accurately describes the situation. For example, today’s New York Times describes him becoming “supreme commander” of the military, signaling that his succession is moving forward unimpeded. They imply some chance[…] Keep reading →

Following up my series on liberating ourselves from moralists, meddlers, and others who want to impose their subjective values on us in the name of objective truth in the realm of food, let’s continue with feeling closer to nature, the next on my list of a few days ago. I can keep this post as brief as yesterday. Both meat eaters and non-meat eaters claim their eating habits bring them[…] Keep reading →

Following up my series on liberating ourselves from moralists, meddlers, and others who want to impose their subjective values on us in the name of objective truth in the realm of food, let’s continue with animal cruelty, the next on my list of a few days ago. I’ll keep this brief. Once an animal is born, it has to die. Killing it for meat doesn’t mean it feels more pain.[…] Keep reading →

Following up my series on liberating ourselves from moralists, meddlers, and others who want to impose their subjective values on us in the name of objective truth in the realm of food, let’s continue with animal rights, the next on my list of a few days ago. I confess I don’t know much about animal rights, so I won’t say much today. I distinguish between reasons not to eat meat[…] Keep reading →

Many people have commented on the video of North Koreans crying over the death of Kim Jong Il. You’ve probably seen it but, if not, here it is. I’ll have you compare it with videos more familiar to our culture, then ask a few questions hopefully to increase your self-awareness, authenticity, and freedom. It’s been viewed almost seven million times in less than a week. Typical reactions point out how[…] Keep reading →

Since Vaclav Havel died the day Kim Jong Il’s death was announced, and that the two of them sat on different sides of totalitarian rule, many articles mention them together. Havel played a significant role in dismantling one regime. Kim maintained his. My series on North Korean strategy concluded with limited methods to change North Korea. My limited number of ideas in North Korea makes me wonder if I might[…] Keep reading →