A Thinking Reed

  • Lost, baby!

    Just sayin’. UPDATE: Lost and Political Philosophy (via)

  • What’s right with America

    Interesting piece by Michael Lind, who I always find thought-provoking. Despite a lot of pessimistic talk, Lind says that long-term trends–with respect to ethnic and racial integration, religious fundamentalism, and the solvency of our entitlement programs–are actually quite positive: Barring catastrophes, the US in 2050 will be much more racially integrated; will remain culturally and…

  • Crunchy cons, Pollan, Scully and meat-eating

    Rod Dreher of Crunchy Cons fame reflects on the morality of meat-eating, prompted by a discussion with a Christian friend about The Omnivore’s Dilemma (permalinks don’t seem to be working – scroll down to “Re-thinking the meat guzzler”). He also refers to Matthew Scully’s Dominion, an indictment of the factory farming system (and other practices…

  • A vegan critique of Pollan

    Erik Marcus, vegan and animal rights activist, has a review of The Omnivore’s Dilemma that is appreciative, but critical in key places. Key quote: Pollan’s book convincingly shows that animal agriculture can, in fact, operate in a way that respects the environment. For a reader who’s acquainted with the staggering wastefulness of animal agriculture, it’s…

  • More on Pollan and vegetarianism: vegetarianism as vocation

    I have to admit that I find Pollan’s argument that the domestication of certain animals entails a real gain both for the animals and for us pretty convincing. He points out that animal husbandry may be a necessary part of a sustainable agriculture since relying on animal fertilization is the chief alternative to the chemical…

  • Pollan on the ethics of meat eating

    In general I find Michael Pollan’s indictment of our current industrial food system, which floats on a sea of subsidized corn, fossil fuels, and chemical fertilizers, entirely persuasive. And his account of a week spent at self-described “libertarian Christian environmentalist” Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm, where the natural ecosystem of a functioning farm is respected and…

  • Obama in SC

    I’ve been an Obama skeptic (I don’t much care for his rhetoric about transforming politics in some kind of great transcendent leap forward), but even my stony heart was moved a bit by his victory in South Carolina and the ensuing speech: Realistically speaking, I think he’s our best bet, which is probably about as…

  • Against the globalized food chain

    And why should a nation produce its own food when others can produce it more cheaply? A dozen reasons leap to mind, but most of them the Steven Blanks of the world–and they are legion–are quick to dismiss as sentimental. I’m thinking of the sense of security that comes from knowing that your community, or…

  • Friday metal – rap-metal edition

    Two great tastes that taste great together. Well, sometimes… This particular cross-hybridization has spawned a lot of junk (Limp Bizkit, anyone?), but also some interesting stuff. Here’s a sampling: Onyx and Biohazard, “Judgment Night” (from the soundtrack of the movie by the same name; this featured a bunch of metal/rap team ups): Anthrax, “I’m The…

  • Surprisingly apt search terms

    Sometimes bloggers will post lists of the wacky search terms that lead people to their blog. But this selection of mine from the last couple of days shows people…being led here looking for things that are actually discussed on this blog. How boring! presidential candidate quiz “skeptical of the skeptical environmentalist “where did the party…