Thanksgiving (November 24, 2008)

Growing up I was never a big fan of Thanksgiving. I never liked eating turkey or gravy or potatoes or stuffing and the whole pilgrim story seemed a bit… lopsided. Unlike, say, Valentine’s Day (chocolate and flowers and love stories), Thanksgiving just never felt like “my” holiday. I realize this is rather ridiculous because, as with anything, a holiday is what we make of it – and what is a greater cause for universal celebration than giving thanks?

Last winter I started to write down things I am thankful for every night before bed. I’m sure many of you “count your blessings” before going to sleep (anyone else thinking of Rosemary Clooney and der Bingle right now?), and I find the physical act of writing them down makes a lasting impression. Flipping through my bedside journal enables me to reminisce over remarkable occasions connected by (and outnumbered by) the more easily overlooked days. Sometimes it takes a little creativity to find things to be grateful for when you’re broke or your heart’s broken or maybe just your heater’s broken… but then “cooked rice” and “had a good dream” and “got new socks” become your triumphs. And trust me, positivity is contagious. It’s the best kept secret that we can’t afford to keep secret anymore. I find writing thank-you notes has a similar effect – if you are ever feeling sad write a thank-you note to someone you love and I promise you will be smiling within five minutes. Or look at these little guys:

I know the holidays can be stressful due to fears about family and finances and flying (I am also grateful for alliteration). Just about every industry is fanning those flames. But appreciating what we have makes us more present and therefore resistant to the inevitable external gusts. Giving thanks enables us to take responsibility for the pace of this beautiful time of year and to savor all it brings (butternut squash, branches of bittersweet, Beaujolais Nouveau!) and to see that Earth is abundant. Despite her current maladies, she continues to give and give and give. And when we give back to her, much like planting a seed, we ultimately receive the fruits of our actions.

Thank you for a wonderful year of music, travel, and friendship. Happy Thanksgiving!

Adopt-A-Turkey

Thanksgiving’s Toll on Turkeys

Top Ten Reasons Not To Eat Turkeys

Turkey Investigation

Jivamukti Focus of the Month: Compassion, Diet, Strength, & Happiness

ThanksCooking

Thanksgiving at The Bowery Mission

New York Cares

Volunteer NYC

Tons of food needed to eliminate the most extreme cases of world hunger:
40 million
Tons of grain that will be fed to farmed animals this year:
760 million
Number of people who could be fed with the grain and soybeans fed to farmed animals in the US:
1.4 billion

Carbon dioxide savings if every person in the US replaced one chicken-based meal per week with a vegetarian meal:
the equivalent of taking more than 5 million cars off the road
Carbon dioxide savings if everyone ate only vegetarian foods one day per week:
the equivalent of taking about 8 million cars off the road

Gallons of water needed to produce 1 pound of meat:
5,000
Gallons of water needed for one year’s worth of showers for one person:
5,000
Gallons of water needed to produce 1 gallon of milk:
990
Gallons of water needed to produce 1 pound of wheat:
25
Gallons of water needed to supply food for a meat-eater for one day:
4,200
Gallons of water needed to supply food for a vegan for one day:
300

Ratio of fossil fuel it takes to produce 1 calorie of animal protein to fossil fuel it takes to produce 1 calorie of plant protein:
11 to 1

Number of people on the planet today:
nearly 7 billion
Number of cows, chickens, pigs, and other farmed animals on the planet:
approximately 20 billion
Amount of excrement produced by farmed animals in the US, all without the benefit of waste-treatment systems:
roughly 89,000 pounds per second

Acres of land needed to produce food for a meat-eater:
3.25
Acres of land needed to produce food for a vegan:
0.17

Percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions produced by all cars, trucks, planes, and other types of transportation in the world combined:
13
Percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions produced by chickens, cows, pigs, and other animals raised for food:
18

* From PETA’s Animal Times, Fall 2008

Thanksgiving (November 24, 2008)

Growing up I was never a big fan of Thanksgiving. I never liked eating turkey or gravy or potatoes or stuffing and the whole pilgrim story seemed a bit… lopsided. Unlike, say, Valentine’s Day (chocolate and flowers and love stories), Thanksgiving just never felt like “my” holiday. I realize this is rather ridiculous because, as with anything, a holiday is what we make of it – and what is a greater cause for universal celebration than giving thanks?

Last winter I started to write down things I am thankful for every night before bed. I’m sure many of you “count your blessings” before going to sleep (anyone else thinking of Rosemary Clooney and der Bingle right now?), and I find the physical act of writing them down makes a lasting impression. Flipping through my bedside journal enables me to reminisce over remarkable occasions connected by (and outnumbered by) the more easily overlooked days. Sometimes it takes a little creativity to find things to be grateful for when you’re broke or your heart’s broken or maybe just your heater’s broken… but then “cooked rice” and “had a good dream” and “got new socks” become your triumphs. And trust me, positivity is contagious. It’s the best kept secret that we can’t afford to keep secret anymore. I find writing thank-you notes has a similar effect – if you are ever feeling sad write a thank-you note to someone you love and I promise you will be smiling within five minutes. Or look at these little guys:

I know the holidays can be stressful due to fears about family and finances and flying (I am also grateful for alliteration). Just about every industry is fanning those flames. But appreciating what we have makes us more present and therefore resistant to the inevitable external gusts. Giving thanks enables us to take responsibility for the pace of this beautiful time of year and to savor all it brings (butternut squash, branches of bittersweet, Beaujolais Nouveau!) and to see that Earth is abundant. Despite her current maladies, she continues to give and give and give. And when we give back to her, much like planting a seed, we ultimately receive the fruits of our actions.

Thank you for a wonderful year of music, travel, and friendship. Happy Thanksgiving!

Adopt-A-Turkey

Thanksgiving’s Toll on Turkeys

Top Ten Reasons Not To Eat Turkeys

Turkey Investigation

Jivamukti Focus of the Month: Compassion, Diet, Strength, & Happiness

ThanksCooking

Thanksgiving at The Bowery Mission

New York Cares

Volunteer NYC

Tons of food needed to eliminate the most extreme cases of world hunger:
40 million
Tons of grain that will be fed to farmed animals this year:
760 million
Number of people who could be fed with the grain and soybeans fed to farmed animals in the US:
1.4 billion

Carbon dioxide savings if every person in the US replaced one chicken-based meal per week with a vegetarian meal:
the equivalent of taking more than 5 million cars off the road
Carbon dioxide savings if everyone ate only vegetarian foods one day per week:
the equivalent of taking about 8 million cars off the road

Gallons of water needed to produce 1 pound of meat:
5,000
Gallons of water needed for one year’s worth of showers for one person:
5,000
Gallons of water needed to produce 1 gallon of milk:
990
Gallons of water needed to produce 1 pound of wheat:
25
Gallons of water needed to supply food for a meat-eater for one day:
4,200
Gallons of water needed to supply food for a vegan for one day:
300

Ratio of fossil fuel it takes to produce 1 calorie of animal protein to fossil fuel it takes to produce 1 calorie of plant protein:
11 to 1

Number of people on the planet today:
nearly 7 billion
Number of cows, chickens, pigs, and other farmed animals on the planet:
approximately 20 billion
Amount of excrement produced by farmed animals in the US, all without the benefit of waste-treatment systems:
roughly 89,000 pounds per second

Acres of land needed to produce food for a meat-eater:
3.25
Acres of land needed to produce food for a vegan:
0.17

Percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions produced by all cars, trucks, planes, and other types of transportation in the world combined:
13
Percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions produced by chickens, cows, pigs, and other animals raised for food:
18

* From PETA’s Animal Times, Fall 2008

Thanksgiving (November 24, 2008)

Growing up I was never a big fan of Thanksgiving. I never liked eating turkey or gravy or potatoes or stuffing and the whole pilgrim story seemed a bit… lopsided. Unlike, say, Valentine’s Day (chocolate and flowers and love stories), Thanksgiving just never felt like “my” holiday. I realize this is rather ridiculous because, as with anything, a holiday is what we make of it – and what is a greater cause for universal celebration than giving thanks?

Last winter I started to write down things I am thankful for every night before bed. I’m sure many of you “count your blessings” before going to sleep (anyone else thinking of Rosemary Clooney and der Bingle right now?), and I find the physical act of writing them down makes a lasting impression. Flipping through my bedside journal enables me to reminisce over remarkable occasions connected by (and outnumbered by) the more easily overlooked days. Sometimes it takes a little creativity to find things to be grateful for when you’re broke or your heart’s broken or maybe just your heater’s broken… but then “cooked rice” and “had a good dream” and “got new socks” become your triumphs. And trust me, positivity is contagious. It’s the best kept secret that we can’t afford to keep secret anymore. I find writing thank-you notes has a similar effect – if you are ever feeling sad write a thank-you note to someone you love and I promise you will be smiling within five minutes. Or look at these little guys:

I know the holidays can be stressful due to fears about family and finances and flying (I am also grateful for alliteration). Just about every industry is fanning those flames. But appreciating what we have makes us more present and therefore resistant to the inevitable external gusts. Giving thanks enables us to take responsibility for the pace of this beautiful time of year and to savor all it brings (butternut squash, branches of bittersweet, Beaujolais Nouveau!) and to see that Earth is abundant. Despite her current maladies, she continues to give and give and give. And when we give back to her, much like planting a seed, we ultimately receive the fruits of our actions.

Thank you for a wonderful year of music, travel, and friendship. Happy Thanksgiving!

Adopt-A-Turkey

Thanksgiving’s Toll on Turkeys

Top Ten Reasons Not To Eat Turkeys

Turkey Investigation

Jivamukti Focus of the Month: Compassion, Diet, Strength, & Happiness

ThanksCooking

Thanksgiving at The Bowery Mission

New York Cares

Volunteer NYC

Tons of food needed to eliminate the most extreme cases of world hunger:
40 million
Tons of grain that will be fed to farmed animals this year:
760 million
Number of people who could be fed with the grain and soybeans fed to farmed animals in the US:
1.4 billion

Carbon dioxide savings if every person in the US replaced one chicken-based meal per week with a vegetarian meal:
the equivalent of taking more than 5 million cars off the road
Carbon dioxide savings if everyone ate only vegetarian foods one day per week:
the equivalent of taking about 8 million cars off the road

Gallons of water needed to produce 1 pound of meat:
5,000
Gallons of water needed for one year’s worth of showers for one person:
5,000
Gallons of water needed to produce 1 gallon of milk:
990
Gallons of water needed to produce 1 pound of wheat:
25
Gallons of water needed to supply food for a meat-eater for one day:
4,200
Gallons of water needed to supply food for a vegan for one day:
300

Ratio of fossil fuel it takes to produce 1 calorie of animal protein to fossil fuel it takes to produce 1 calorie of plant protein:
11 to 1

Number of people on the planet today:
nearly 7 billion
Number of cows, chickens, pigs, and other farmed animals on the planet:
approximately 20 billion
Amount of excrement produced by farmed animals in the US, all without the benefit of waste-treatment systems:
roughly 89,000 pounds per second

Acres of land needed to produce food for a meat-eater:
3.25
Acres of land needed to produce food for a vegan:
0.17

Percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions produced by all cars, trucks, planes, and other types of transportation in the world combined:
13
Percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions produced by chickens, cows, pigs, and other animals raised for food:
18

* From PETA’s Animal Times, Fall 2008

Relief (November 5, 2008)

It’s only today, through this tremendous sense of relief, do I realize how much tension I have been holding leading up to the election. I feel like I have exhaled for the first time in eight years. The alternative was so incomprehensible… and listening to people cheering and dancing in the streets last night was a moment I’ll never forget.

Things are weird right now, indeed, and they will most likely get a little weirder… but we are reclaiming our power as individuals and as a nation and that is something worth celebrating.

Thank you for your inspiration.

Current Listening: “Born Into a Light” – Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Happy Birthday, Ryan.

Living and Falling in New York City (October 20, 2008)

At the end of last week a cold front moved in. The wind stirred up fallen leaves as I walked through Tompkins Square Park and the fragrance of decay filled my lungs with its distinct sweetness. It felt like Halloween. I felt like a little kid. A few hungry ghosts tugged at my coat sleeve, but this didn’t bother me. The sensations released with each crunch of my step made me aware of the life force all around – the pulsation of Earth beneath the pavement, the sky struggling to commune with her, swirling in yellow frustration. In that moment I was able to witness the perfect balance of Life and Death.

I have always walked with Death. Of course we all do, though some of us look East, some of us look West, and some of us don’t look at all. I’ve always been keenly aware of her step and the clicking of her heels has been the cause of many sleepless nights. However during those sleepless nights we’ve come to know each other. I now realize that Death is, in fact, the guardian of Life. Not only does her presence give meaning to one’s life, but Life itself depends on her – like the dead leaves softening into Earth’s embrace to create food for other organisms. Death has given us our lives and one day we’ll give them back.

Wrapped in this autumnal cloak I went to the St. Thomas Church to listen to Mozart’s “Requiem”, one of my all-time favorite pieces of music. Though I have walked by it for over two decades, I only just discovered St. Thomas Church during a rainstorm a couple months ago. On this particular late summer afternoon I sought refuge from not only the rain, but also the chaos of Fifth Avenue, and just as I nestled into a pew to meditate and bring myself back to center the organ soared into an eerie Hitchcockesque tidal wave of passion to answer the call of the storm. My body reverberated with chills for twenty minutes before I slipped back out into the rain. I imagine it was someone rehearsing for an organ recital, which they appear to have on weekends. Last week The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys surpassed all expectation during the “Requiem.” Also on the program was Haydn’s “Insanae et vanae curae,” Richter’s “Missa Hyemalis,” performed for the first time since 1789, and Mozart’s “Ave verum corpus.”

Last week I also finally saw Man On Wire at Sunshine Cinema. The film documents the passion of Philippe Petit, a man who very literally walks with Death as he prepares for and accomplishes his famous illegal high wire walk between the Twin Towers. I was tremendously inspired by his conviction and the urgency with which he approached his art. His committent to – and his respect for – the unknown aspects of the creative journey – again, Life and Death – moved me to tears.

On Saturday I went to the MoMA to see Ken Jacobs’ epic Star-Spangled to Death. It was a captivating collage of footage that spans fifty years and the film felt especially relevant to my present Life-Death reflections. One character is The Spirit Not Of Life But Of The Living. It’s amazing how as soon as you fix your gaze on something the world opens up and everything seems to match its color. Inspiration translates into creation and creation translates into us and we translate into inspiration and around and around it goes. Perhaps this is the Spirit of the Living. We need each other like the leaves need to fall. Despite its heavy undertaking the film was remarkably playful. Here’s what Jacobs says about the film on his site:

“STAR SPANGLED TO DEATH is an epic film shot for hundreds of dollars! combining found-films with my own more-or-less staged filming, it pictures a stolen and dangerously sold-out America, allowing examples of popular culture to self-indict. Racial and religious insanity, monopolization of wealth and the purposeful dumbing down of citizens and addiction to war oppose a Beat playfulness.

“A handful of artists costumed and performing unconvincingly appeal to audience imagination and understanding to complete the picture. Jack Smith’s pre-FLAMING CREATURES performance as The Spirit Not Of Life But Of Living (the movie has raggedly cosmic pretensions), celebrating Suffering (rattled impoverished artist Jerry Sims) at the crux of sentient existence, is a visitation of the divine. – K.J.”

I also visited The Met for the first time in over two years. I didn’t have a lot of time before closing, so I decided to take a modest bite and stick to the “New York, N. Why?” photography exhibit with accompanying poems and the modern wing. The above “Untitled” by Anish Kapoor was a delightful surprise, for when the whispers of the couple standing nearby were amplified considerably by the design of the mirrors, the piece revealed itself in a way that would have gone unnoticed had I been alone. Another valuable lesson in togetherness.

To enjoy the beauty of this season outdoors I recommend the 9th Street Community Garden at Avenue C, a wonderful place to observe the foliage. With found art, a gazebo, gardens, a generous toy collection in the sandbox, and a goldfish pond, this is an East Village gem. Of course Central Park is the King of Parks, but The New York Times created this list of “Small Parks, With a Bit of Peace in Every Nook” last month, also worth checking out.

It’s nearing bedtime, so I want to also mention Lola Montes and Ballast, both at the Film Forum. The newly-restored Lola Montes is a masterpiece of color and sound. Ballast is an powerful, intimate independent film – and it closes tomorrow, so you’ll have to hurry.

Chili peppers from Saturday’s Greenmarket in Union Square – a very good way to stay warm.

Store your scraps in the fridge and take them to the NYC Compost drop-off, also at the market, every day.

Happy Birthday, Tom. And good night!

Living and Falling in New York City (October 20, 2008)

At the end of last week a cold front moved in. The wind stirred up fallen leaves as I walked through Tompkins Square Park and the fragrance of decay filled my lungs with its distinct sweetness. It felt like Halloween. I felt like a little kid. A few hungry ghosts tugged at my coat sleeve, but this didn’t bother me. The sensations released with each crunch of my step made me aware of the life force all around – the pulsation of Earth beneath the pavement, the sky struggling to commune with her, swirling in yellow frustration. In that moment I was able to witness the perfect balance of Life and Death.

I have always walked with Death. Of course we all do, though some of us look East, some of us look West, and some of us don’t look at all. I’ve always been keenly aware of her step and the clicking of her heels has been the cause of many sleepless nights. However during those sleepless nights we’ve come to know each other. I now realize that Death is, in fact, the guardian of Life. Not only does her presence give meaning to one’s life, but Life itself depends on her – like the dead leaves softening into Earth’s embrace to create food for other organisms. Death has given us our lives and one day we’ll give them back.

Wrapped in this autumnal cloak I went to the St. Thomas Church to listen to Mozart’s “Requiem”, one of my all-time favorite pieces of music. Though I have walked by it for over two decades, I only just discovered St. Thomas Church during a rainstorm a couple months ago. On this particular late summer afternoon I sought refuge from not only the rain, but also the chaos of Fifth Avenue, and just as I nestled into a pew to meditate and bring myself back to center the organ soared into an eerie Hitchcockesque tidal wave of passion to answer the call of the storm. My body reverberated with chills for twenty minutes before I slipped back out into the rain. I imagine it was someone rehearsing for an organ recital, which they appear to have on weekends. Last week The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys surpassed all expectation during the “Requiem.” Also on the program was Haydn’s “Insanae et vanae curae,” Richter’s “Missa Hyemalis,” performed for the first time since 1789, and Mozart’s “Ave verum corpus.”

Last week I also finally saw Man On Wire at Sunshine Cinema. The film documents the passion of Philippe Petit, a man who very literally walks with Death as he prepares for and accomplishes his famous illegal high wire walk between the Twin Towers. I was tremendously inspired by his conviction and the urgency with which he approached his art. His committent to – and his respect for – the unknown aspects of the creative journey – again, Life and Death – moved me to tears.

On Saturday I went to the MoMA to see Ken Jacobs’ epic Star-Spangled to Death. It was a captivating collage of footage that spans fifty years and the film felt especially relevant to my present Life-Death reflections. One character is The Spirit Not Of Life But Of The Living. It’s amazing how as soon as you fix your gaze on something the world opens up and everything seems to match its color. Inspiration translates into creation and creation translates into us and we translate into inspiration and around and around it goes. Perhaps this is the Spirit of the Living. We need each other like the leaves need to fall. Despite its heavy undertaking the film was remarkably playful. Here’s what Jacobs says about the film on his site:

“STAR SPANGLED TO DEATH is an epic film shot for hundreds of dollars! combining found-films with my own more-or-less staged filming, it pictures a stolen and dangerously sold-out America, allowing examples of popular culture to self-indict. Racial and religious insanity, monopolization of wealth and the purposeful dumbing down of citizens and addiction to war oppose a Beat playfulness.

“A handful of artists costumed and performing unconvincingly appeal to audience imagination and understanding to complete the picture. Jack Smith’s pre-FLAMING CREATURES performance as The Spirit Not Of Life But Of Living (the movie has raggedly cosmic pretensions), celebrating Suffering (rattled impoverished artist Jerry Sims) at the crux of sentient existence, is a visitation of the divine. – K.J.”

I also visited The Met for the first time in over two years. I didn’t have a lot of time before closing, so I decided to take a modest bite and stick to the “New York, N. Why?” photography exhibit with accompanying poems and the modern wing. The above “Untitled” by Anish Kapoor was a delightful surprise, for when the whispers of the couple standing nearby were amplified considerably by the design of the mirrors, the piece revealed itself in a way that would have gone unnoticed had I been alone. Another valuable lesson in togetherness.

To enjoy the beauty of this season outdoors I recommend the 9th Street Community Garden at Avenue C, a wonderful place to observe the foliage. With found art, a gazebo, gardens, a generous toy collection in the sandbox, and a goldfish pond, this is an East Village gem. Of course Central Park is the King of Parks, but The New York Times created this list of “Small Parks, With a Bit of Peace in Every Nook” last month, also worth checking out.

It’s nearing bedtime, so I want to also mention Lola Montes and Ballast, both at the Film Forum. The newly-restored Lola Montes is a masterpiece of color and sound. Ballast is an powerful, intimate independent film – and it closes tomorrow, so you’ll have to hurry.

Chili peppers from Saturday’s Greenmarket in Union Square – a very good way to stay warm.

Store your scraps in the fridge and take them to the NYC Compost drop-off, also at the market, every day.

Happy Birthday, Tom. And good night!