I Am a Strange Non-Mammalian

A couple of months ago I stopped eating mammals. I'd dabbled in vegetarianism before for health reasons, but this time it's different. Lately I've been getting a lot of questions from friends—usually at a meal, where discussing the topic can be awkward—so I'm writing up my thoughts here. I'm not trying to persuade anyone to think differently or change their behavior. Just explaining myself.

It started while I was reading I Am a Strange Loop, in which Douglas Hofstadter attempts to identify the crux of self, or I-ness. In one part, he notes that the species on Earth form a continuum from little or no consciousness (e.g. an amoeba) up to us humans. Language was a huge step forward for us, but despite that advantage, some other animals are surprisingly close to us. Consider: bonobos, dogs, dolphins, and crows. Many non-human species are clearly capable of experiencing emotions, meaningful relationships, and logical reasoning.

To get to the heart of the matter, we all draw the will-eat/won't-eat line somewhere. For many people it falls along our species boundary. For exocannibalists it falls along the tribe boundary. Sometimes the line subdivides a species, like when a child on a farm names a piglet. She won't eat it, but she won't necessarily pass up a ham sandwich either.

It's easy to look down from our vantage point at the top of the food chain and feel entitled to eat whatever we please. To me, though, abstaining from eating our nearest neighbors on the consciousness continuum is like rooting for the little guy or tipping my hat to the unpopular kid. Pick your favorite metaphor. And it's also about respecting the incredible phenomenon that we call life.

"Are turkeys mammals?" "What about fish?" "Why stop at mammals?" These are some of the questions I've gotten. Answers: "No," "Yum," and "Well, this is the right place for me right now." I don't feel too bad about fish. They don't seem to have much going on between their earholes. Birds are a little less robotic. I rationalize by reminding myself that their ancestors ate mine for millions of years.

Test drives at the Palo Alto Electric Car Rally

Alice and I went to the EAA's 36th annual Electric Car Rally at Palo Alto High School this afternoon. I've been reading about electric cars and bikes for several months. It was exciting to see them up close and to test drive a few.

I was most excited about the CycleCar (above). It has the same battery technology as the Tesla Roadster, so it has awesome acceleration, can go at highways speeds, and can get over 100 miles per charge. It also weighs only 600 lbs. and is affordably priced.

There were also electric scooters...

electric bikes...

whatever this thing is...

a tzero (a 1997 concept car that famously beat a Ferrari and a Porsche Carrera in a drag race)...

a converted 1955 Beck Spyder...

a Myers Motors NmG...

and a few other curiosities like the Smurf-mobile...

I plan to get either a recumbent BetterBike, which I also test-drove today, or a Montague folder real soon now for my 8-mile commute to work (for days when I don't feel like riding my traditional bicycle).

On my wishlist for next year's show:  (images from autobloggreen.com)

The Aptera	The XR-3
The VentureOne	The Cree Sam

This album has the rest of our photos from today. Thanks Alice for shooting them and bearing the 98° heat with me!

As a 1930s husband...

As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Who I'll be in 2008

I've been thinking about who I want to be in 2008. I've decided to be first and foremost a positive force in the world. That's kind of vague, I know, but it means something to me. Let me try to explain.

It's easy to get hung up on things in life, like injustices, mistakes, failures, and criticism. Days and even years can go by before people even realize that something is limiting them or somehow holding them back. Even when a person successfully identifies a culprit issue, he (or she) may remain crippled because he cannot identify a suitable resolution or feels powerless to achieve it.

This year I plan to let go of a lot of things that have frustrated or limited me in the past -- like, for instance, not knowing the ultimate meaning of life, doubting whether I live up to my full potential at work or at home, and second-guessing decisions I've made. I am what I am, I am where I am, and I am who I am. I accept this, and it's good enough for me.

This year I pledge to treat each day as a chance to bring more good into the world however I can -- usually in small ways, of course. And rather than fret about whether I'm doing all that I can, I'll just keep an eye out for new opportunities.

I sure love new beginnings. Don't you?

Happy 2008!

Gingerbread Nativity

Alice and I recently bought a Peruvian crèche, but it's kind of small. Today, while Alice was working on an apple pie, I put to use some cardboard from our overseas shipment and the gingerbread cookies we decorated last week.


Now we have a nativity scene that we can enjoy from across the room.

Merry Christmas!