Month: September 2012

Best Of, Self Improvement / Healthy Living, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Profile Piece: Vegan Dad Interview

Michael Anthony

This week, instead of doing a typical blog entry, I decided to do a quick interview with John Potter.  He’s a father, vegan, and blogger at: VegDad.com.  What’s great about John’s story is that he’s a man who turned his life around, and it all started when he changed his diet.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and who you were pre-vegan:

I am 37 years old, happily married to my wife of 10 years Amanda. And I have two beautiful little girls Jewel and Jessie hence my website and nickname Vegdad. I am currently a human resources director for a non-profit health center in Oklahoma. I have worked as a graphic and web designer for 10+ years and just recently decided to make a career change for the better. Pre-vegan I was your typical soon to be middle aged dad just kinda going through the motions and eating whatever I wanted, although I will admit I was never a huge fan of pork.

Going vegan is a pretty big life decision, what was it that spurred you to change everything and become vegan?

First was my health. My blood pressure was climbing, and my weight was at almost 230 lbs. I was dealing with depression even though I did not realize it…. And I was drinking way too much alcohol. I knew I wasn’t being the best parent but had no idea how much my diet was actually contributing to my overall state of mind. I then came across the documentary “Forks over knives” on Amazon and rented it. I watched the movie on a Thursday and by the following Sunday I made the declaration to my wife and kids that I was going Vegan. I immediately purchased “The China Study” and read it cover to cover further reinforcing my commitment to my health.

How was the transition? Any bumps in the road? Any unexpected, but pleasant, experiences?

It was phenomenal. For me I began running and eventually won several 5k events and trained to a point where I could run 14 miles at one go. The only bumps was realizing that eating out was not going to be an option unless I made sure the menu had an item I could manipulate. Pleasant experiences are everywhere; I recently talked with Rich Roll via email about my transformation. It was a very humbling experience speaking with one of the top vegan athletes in the world. My energy has gone through the roof and I constantly am seeking new challenges physically… And by the way the food tastes a lot better!!!

I’ve noticed that every vegan has a go-to argument they use whenever talking to meat-eaters. What’s your, quick, go-to argument that you use whenever you’re talking to a meat-eater?

I show them a before and after pic, then challenge them to a 5 mile run…. lol… I also utilize the anatomy of a carnivore versus a human and then ask them to go eat a piece of carcass on the side of the road next time they say they are carnivores…. I always recommend “The China Study” as a fall back. I might not be a Dr., but that book is written by one of the only Dr.’s in the country that realizes the importance of a plant based diet.

Favorite two dishes as a vegan?

Lately I have been on a vegan gyro kick…. I have not completed a perfect recipe for it but plan on posting it on my website vegdad.com once I do. My other favorite and fall back food is an Amy’s bean and rice vegan burrito for convenience. I normally do not recommend prepackaged foods, however in this fast pace world it is hard to rely solely upon whole vegan meals without supplementing a little.

You’ve told us about your pre-vegan now tell us a little about your life as a vegan now, and what you’re up to?

As a vegan I have won several 5k events. I dropped a total of 62lbs. lowered my blood pressure to normal and as of lately I have committed to becoming a vegan body builder. I packed back on 20 lbs. of which 14-16lbs are lean muscle gains. I started my blog vegdad.com and with my bodybuilding background I have started seeing a huge interest in younger vegans wanting to get big on plant based protein. I am currently considering writing a book on how middle aged men should consider my journey for their families’ sake. My wife and kids have been awesome, and my children eat more vegetarian daily. I am not sure if it was my being vegan that led to me become a Buddhist or vice versa. All I know is that the good karma that is in my life right now is awesome and the compassion that I feel for my fellow human and animal brethren grows daily.

Any final tips for the new vegans out there?

Research, research, research! Don’t listen to the carnivores. If someone says you can’t survive on it, know that you can as long as you do it right. Chips and coke are vegan, however six months of eating that way you will become the stereotypical representative of vegans (sick and pale). Eat right, eat diversely, take a multi-vitamin, get exercise and support the cause, support the planet, and support the future. Vegan Power!

Don’t forget to check out John’s blog: VegDad.com

 

Blogishness, Self Improvement / Healthy Living

Is The World Becoming More or Less Vegan/Vegetarian Friendly?

Michael Anthony

I recently read two interesting articles about vegan/vegetarianism.  The first appeared in the UK’s Guardian, and it regarded scientific projections that the whole world will have to be vegetarian by 2050.

“There will not be enough water available on  current croplands to  produce food for the expected 9 billion population in 2050  if we follow  current trends and changes towards diets common in western  nations,” the report by Malik Falkenmark and colleagues at the Stockholm  International Water Institute (SIWI) said.

“The report, called Feeding a thirsty world:  Challenges and opportunities for a water and food secure world, is being  released at the start of the annual world water  conference in  Stockholm.

There, 2,500 politicians, UN bodies,  non-governmental groups and researchers from 120 countries are meeting to  address global water supply problems.

The report says dramatic cuts in our meat  consumption are the only answer.

‘There will be just enough water if the  proportion of animal-based foods  is limited to 5% of total calories and  considerable regional water  deficits can be met by a reliable system of food  trade,’ it states.”

However, I also recently read a report that bananas are no longer going to be vegan? 

“As Science Daily reports, scientists have come up with a new spray they say will prevent bananas from ripening into brown mush for almost two extra weeks. The downside? The spray is made from chitosan, which is derived from the shells of shrimp and crabs.”

The articles are both very interesting and should be read in their entirety but it does raise an interesting issue.  Do you think the world is becoming more or less vegan/vegetarian?  Put your thoughts in the comments.

 

Best Of, Politics / News, Politics / News

My Trip To The 9/11 Memorial in NYC – With Pictures.

Michael Anthony

A few months back I got to take a trip to NYC and get a private tour of the World Trade Center memorial in NYC.  It was an intense experience, and I was accompanied by a close friend that I’d fought with in Iraq , so the exeperience was all the more etheral.  I thought I’d share my pictures today.

This is a shot of the construction from far away.

NYC word trade center construction from far away

Here’s an image of the pools from our hotel room. 

world trade center two pools

Blogishness, Blogishness, Politics / News, Politics / News, Uncategorized

Top 5 Military TV Shows

Michael Anthony

There’s been a lot of military TV shows, some good, some bad, and I decided to make a list of which ones I thought were the best.  Let me know in the comments whether you agree or disagree?

5 Stars Earn Stripes.  New show, but I like it because it reminds me of number 2 on this list—but more on that later.

Stars Earn Stripes premiered on August 13th, 2012, and is in its first season.  The series is a reality TV show that follows a group of celebrities, accompanied by members of the United States Armed Forces and others, competing in various challenges for charity based off actual training exercises used by the U.S. military.

What’s Good:  It’s a good show because it shows celebrities in a different light—going through the tough training of the military—and it raises money for charities.  Plus, it’s a reality TV show so the military people are all real, badass, guys.  And it’s interesting watching these intense soldiers deal with more delicate celebrities.  Looks very promising.

What’s Bad:  They could’ve gotten some better, more interesting, celebrities.   Most of them I don’t even know who they are.  Hopefully there’s a second season, and hopefully they get some better celebrities.

4 The Unit.   Just started watching this show.

The Unit is off television now but it aired on CBS from March 7th 2006, to May 10th 2009.  It was an American action-drama television series that focused on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force.

What’s Good:  Well, first off, it’s about Delta Force, and second off, Eric Haney, one of the founders of the real-life Delta Force, is an executive producer, and the show is based off his memoir.  So the show is the real deal and isn’t just some shit thrown together by a bunch of civilians.

What’s Bad:  The Worst part of the program is the military wives; they’re not painted in a good light at all, they’re SUPER annoying, and it makes their parts hard to watch.

3 MASH.  Set the bar for all military shows.

MASH is off the air but premiered on September 17th, 1972, and ran until February 28th, 1983, the final episode received a record-breaking 125 million views.  It was a military medical dramedy that followed a fictional medical hospital during the Korean war.

What’s Good:  They did an excellent job of capturing the behind the scenes and peccadilloes of a hospital unit in a war zone.  A lot of good comedy and since the show was a show that showed its politics it had a profound influence on American during its airing.  The episode are still good to watch even all these years later.

What’s Bad:  It’s an old show and has been off the air for a long time.  Most people my generation have never even heard of the show, little alone watched an episode.  Sometimes older shows can be harder to watch for a new generation because they won’t understand what’s going on/went on.

2 Combat Missions.  Great show!

Combat Missions aired from January to April 2002, lasting only one season.  It was a one hour long reality TV show hosted by former Navy SEAL Rudy Boesch.  The show pitted four teams of highly-experienced military and police operatives against each other in physical challenges and “mission” scenarios.  The mission scenarios has each team face off against the opposing “Shadow force” (not another team) using MILES gear in real-life combat situations.

What’s Good:  For starters, it featured people, not actors, from some of the most badass organizations around: SWAT, Marine Recon, Navy SEAL, Army Special Forces, Delta Force, and even a former CIA spook.  Watching some of the drama between these guys was awesome, and seeing how they handled each other in competition.  These guys are the best of the best and it was great to be able to see them all working together.

What’s Bad:  One of the guys on the show, A Navy SEAL, Scott Helvenston, went off to work for Blackwater after he was on the show, apparently he pissed off some of the wrong people and was killed while in Afghanistan.  Also, a SWAT guy won the show, so it didn’t make the military guys look too good.

1 Band of Brothers.  It was technically only a mini-series, but Band of Brothers was a great TV show!

Originally airing in 2001, Band of Brothers was a ten part, 11-hour television Word War II miniseries.  The series fictionalized the history of “Easy” company (part of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division) from jump training in the US to the capitulation of Japan and the end of the war. The events portrayed are based on research and recorded interviews with the real Easy Company veterans.

What’s Good:  It’s based on a true story, on a real unit.  Incredibly well casted, scripted, and the production value is amazing.  Everything about this show was great!

What’s Bad:  It only lasted one season—The Pacific, is supposed to be a sequel, in a sense, and based on Marines during WWII, but I haven’t seen it yet; it’s on the to watch list, though.

UPDATED: I’ve finally seen The Pacific on HBO and it’s honestly a tough call between The Pacific and Band of Brothers. Both are amazing shows, incredibly well done, but I think I’m actually going to choose BoB over The Pacific, maybe it’s the army vet in me, but the end of Band of Brothers, still gives me goosebumps (go on YouTube and watch the clip: Band of Brothers, ‘gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die’).

 

Civilianized: A Young Veteran’s Memoir

If you’re looking to take a break from military TV shows and films, then check out the dark humored War Memoir, by Iraq veteran Michael Anthony. Civilianized is a must read for any veteran, or anyone who knows a veteran, who has returned from war.

dark humored military memoir“An intense memoir.” -Kirkus

“I wont soon forget this book.” -Mary Roach

“A must read.” -Colby Buzzell

“[S]mart and mordantly funny.” –Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Anthony delivers a dose of reality that can awaken the mind…” Bookreporter

Order your copy of Civilianized: A Young Veteran’s Memoir .

Blogishness

The Vegan Comedian

Michael Anthony

If you’ve been following this blog for a while you may know that I’ve tried my hand at stand up comedy once or twice, and it was a disaster, but I’ve slowly been working on a comeback.  Expect some new LIVE videos to be coming soon.  I’ve been rounding out a solid routine about life as a vegan.

I’ll be posting the videos on here and Youtube as soon as I can.  Hopefully the comedy videos will catch on as fast as my last video: The Vegan Song, which already has over 30,000 views.

 

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11KBIaJ9c0[/tube]