I’ve been doing some vegan stand up comedy; I’m going to be breaking the jokes up individually and posting them on here–plus a few bonus jokes, too!
Vegan Abortions – Joke
[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iJFi7hlH2Q[/tube]
Related Posts:
Author: Michael Anthony
Michael Anthony is a Massachusetts based writer and the author of the graphic memoir "Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag," and the acclaimed memoirs "Mass Casualties" and "Civilianized." He has an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University and is a volunteer for The Veterans Writing Project.
The Transition from Military to Civilian
Imagine being away for a long time, in a place that doesn’t even resemble the world you grew up in. It used to be a feather pillow, jeans that fit just right and the smell of fresh cut grass that meant you were home. Now you’ve dedicated yourself to being a soldier, bravely and lovingly protecting the place you call home from thousands of miles away. Hospital corners, camouflaged pants and the smell of smoking guns becomes your new norm. What happens when your tour comes to an end and it’s time to trade in your combat gear for street clothes? Will you be prepared? This life-changing transition of re-integrating into American society has the potential to knock even the most decorated soldier off his or her feet.
Planning Ahead
Transition planning is everything, especially coming back into a world that isn’t quite how you left it. With unemployment rates high and an economy that has taken a hit, finding a job can be a much heftier mission that you might have originally anticipated. Thus, financial planning for potential hardships when a soldier returns home is key in making the military to civilian transition as seamless as possible. To cover all bases, its best to make a three-fold monetary plan of action: prepare for deployment, ensure security for the duration of your tour and have an exit strategy in place, accounting for potential economic changes that might occur while deployed.
When creating your plan of action, it is important to take advantage of the military benefits available to you, like career counseling/placement and special investment vehicles. Seek out a recruiting firm that specializes in placing military personnel, meet with a representative to discuss your career interests, education and experience and keep in touch with the representative over the course of your tour. Consider opening a thrift savings plan that can be managed for the duration of your deployment and thereafter, offering special tax advantages for military personnel saving for retirement. Start planning your return home 8-12 months in advance with your placement representative. They can act as a liaison between you and potential employers.
Integrating Back into Civilian Life
Many veterans experience waves of emotions when they are integrating back into civilian life such as fear, anxiety and frustration. Proper transitional planning will allow you to enjoy the experience of coming back home to your friends and family. Minimize the negative emotions ahead of time through planning so when you reunite with your feather pillow, the jeans that fit just right, and the familiar smell of fresh cut grass, you can exhale and do so with a smile.
Jeffery Sterner writes and blogs about personal financial well-being and issues that influence it for Debt.org, America’s Debt Help Organization.
Vegan and Vegetarian Jokes – Vegan Comedy
I’ve been doing some vegan stand up comedy; I’m going to be breaking the jokes up individually and posting them on here–plus a few bonus jokes, too!
How To Tell When Meat Has Gone Bad – Joke
[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_3jOnxGxKA[/tube]
Related Posts:
A Vegan Comedian Follow Up Post
PTSD and Veteran Suicide in 2013
So the statistics just came out and 2012 was the highest year so far in veteran suicides. The number have constantly been going up for the past decade with each subsequent year the new highest year for veteran suicides.
On the same note, two of the most popular posts on my website have been posts about PTSD and what to do if you/a friend/or a spouse has PTSD. A week doesn’t go by where I don’t get at least two or three emails of people looking for help, either for themselves or a friend.
Just thought I’d mention those two things. Things don’t seem to be getting better, only worse. What more can we do?
Related Posts:
PTSD: What to do when your spouse has PTSD
What Veteran’s Day Is Really About
All Gave Some, and Some Gave All…
Me and Raphael served together in Iraq. This is us visiting Arlington National Cemetary where our brothers in arms are buried.
The graves are all from soldiers of Our generation, not long ago, from some long forgotten war.
Some of them were probably vets who went through our hospital doors, people we weren’t able to save.
SMART TIPS TO EAT HEALTHY ON BUDGET
Now-a-days, as there is an increase in the price of essential goods it became very challenging to eat healthy on a budget. It is very essential to eat nutritious food with secure diet to live healthier. Consuming nourishing food on financial plan is a tricky but not impossible. Making and choosing the best options will enable to make it possible. Below-mentioned are few tips which can be followed to nourishing consumption on a budget.
Planning a budget:
Prepare a budget of regular goods which are necessary by making wise decisions and stick to it. Always make a list of groceries which you want to buy before going to the supermarket. Following this will makes you to know the unnecessary outlays.
Search:
Search for the retailers which are offering goods on discounts and schemes as it aid you to buy more foods in fewer amounts and also help in savings. These savings can be used in the next budget.
Purchase in bulk:
Bulk purchasing can save more incomes. Calculate the amount of food that your family sustain in a month and makes the purchases accordingly. Only buy foods which can be stored for a long time.
Buy season foods:
Instead of buying unseasonal foods which cost higher price, you can acquire the seasonal intakes which charges the lowest price and within your budget.
Approach local markets:
It is always a better choice to approach the local markets as it provides the essential for low cost and which comes with your financial plan. You can also find the organic and fresh food in such markets.
Use coupons and gift vouchers:
Coupons and gift vouchers can also be used for purchasing. Use these tickets which aid you to save earnings and offers discounts on the whole sum.
Storable foods:
Purchase preservative goods such as canned or frozen vegetables and fruits as they can be stored for long period and you can use whenever needed. If the storable consumptions are available for cheap, buy and preserve them in storage capacities.
Procure smart:
Don’t go in a rush and buy the unnecessary things, stick to your list without getting deviated towards your delights. Shop smart by comparing the value of an item as they are produced by distinct companies. Buy the items which are of best value and cost suitable price.
Work with scraps:
Rather than throwing the leftovers, preserve and use them as your next suppertime. Try to avoid waste and prepare food by measuring your family sustains. If the food prepared is left extra, seize it in the containers and have it in the next meal.
Rise own yield:
You can also raise your own yields if you have enough time to produce. Make use of your backyard and start with the small produces like vegetables and fruits as it ensure and allow you to use the fresh goods without any unsafe essences.
Maintain a healthy diet to stay fit and strong. You can also choose processed foodstuffs, taking advantage of discounts and deals and so on to eat nutritious foods on a budget. Make use of your savings or low interest credit cards to make the payments. If you are in middle of the month, out of cash or on a grocery shopping with the insufficient cash take short term loans such as payday loans as these credit instant cash and don’t require a credit check.
Author Bio: I am Michelle Ryan from UK. I’m into Finance and Health who had experience in writing quality guest posts. Catch me @financeport
Got Milk?
I was asked to share this by LearnStuff.com. Very interesting stuff…
German War Poem: Translated by: Alexa Fleckenstein
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to talk with author Alexa Fleckenstein. And somewhere, amongst our many topics of discussion, she began talking about an old German war poem, and given my background, she insisted on sharing the poem with me; and since she could not find an English translation, she translated it herself. I figured that now, as we enter year twelve of the war in Afghanistan, was an appropriate time to share. It is a beautiful poem and translation. Read it below.
Erich Kästner: But when the next War seemed a certain fact
But when the next War seemed a certain fact,
The women said: No way!
And locked in brother, husband, son
And took the keys away.
In every country, every town, they stormed
Each sergeant’s, major’s, off’cer’s home,
And chased the guys, and got them tight,
And beat them with a broom.
They gave a beating to everyone who
had ordered to break the peace:
The bankers, brokers, ministers,
Generals and military police.
A lot of brooms were shattered then
And many a blowhard finished and done.
So many men cried, so many men whined.
The War was over before begun.
All that accomplished, the women went home
To brother, husband, son,
And said there was no War.
The men looked hard not in their eyes
But rather to the floor.
[translated by Alexa Fleckenstein 2012]
Profile Piece: Vegan Dad Interview
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
Is The World Becoming More or Less Vegan/Vegetarian Friendly?
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.