It's the Fifth Avenue of farms, the Barney's of barns, the Saks of cow stalls.
Welcome to Arethusa Farm in Litchfield, Conn., a flourishing dairy dynasty with designer pedigree and stiletto style.
The pristine dairy farm may seem an unlikely business initiative for fashion gurus George Malkemus and Tony Yurgaitis. The Manhattanites are best known as the top executives of the high-end shoe brand, Manolo Blahnik, the finely crafted, Italian women's stilettos and such made famous by Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO series "Sex and the City."
But don't let these city guys fool you. With the same commitment and attention to quality they put into their pricey shoes of desire, the longtime partners have crafted the creme de la creme of dairy products while gaining international attention for their cattle.
"This is not a hobby. It is a work of love," said Yurgaitis. "We wanted to save this farm."
The story did not start so altruistically in 1999, when the couple bought the place. It was more about being a little selfish when it came to the view from their house, which is across from the farm.
"We had this beautiful vista that we woke up to every day, and we didn't want it spoiled," explained Malkemus. "So we bought the farm."
The former horse farm could have become a golf course or tract housing - two earlier plans for the property - but Yurgaitis and Malkemus wanted to preserve the gently rolling pastures. When they started planning, the 300-plus-acre farm became home to 300 head of Holsteins, Brown Swiss and Jersey cows, heifers and calves, a chicken coop, nine barns, five farmhouses, and a nearby retail store, creamery and bottling plant.
In the beginning, they researched the place. They learned it was once a dairy farm called Arethusa (an extinct orchid). Anxious to preserve its history, they not only restored the farm's original name but purchased five cows because there was "something missing" when they looked out at empty barns, they said.
"Then the five just kept calving and calving, and we did more research and we knew we had to take the next step," Yurgaitis said. More cows were added, more land purchased and the business began to blossom.
The two were consumed with learning all they could about farming and it was clear there was not going to be a lot of profit, if any, in dairy farming. But the business was about more than just money. It was about the land.
"We were both concerned about farmland preservation as well as making this a working farm," said Malkemus, as he recited statistics reflecting the dramatic drop in the number of dairy farms over the decades.
"People can do a lot with a resource," he continued. "They can build a big house and throw resources around, or they can try to bring something back with that resource. We are people who wanted to bring something back. And we wanted to do something that would make a difference in the land, the community and the people."
The cows have won a wall full of trophies and ribbons that are proudly displayed in the sumptuous conference room inside the spacious, state-of-the-art milk barn. Arethusa made history in 2004 when two of its cows, Victoria and Melanie, were named Grand Champion Jersey and Grand Champion Holstein at the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin. The efforts to develop the best herd of home-bred cattle in North American has established Arethusa as a premier diary breeding farm, both nationally and internationally.
And then there is the milk and all it creates.
Malkemus just wanted milk that tasted good, the kind he remembered from his childhood in Texas. As a seasoned fashion magnate in a company in which quality trumps quantity, he knew that meant taking time when it came to producing Arethusa milk, marketed as "milk like it used to taste."
"We use vat processing," he said explaining how using small batch, low-temperature, long-duration, slow heat and quick cool processes that preserve the flavor of milk rather than stripping it away. Such processing also means days rather than weeks when it comes to shelf life, the two explain. The more common pasteurizing methods are most cost-effective and quicker, but kill good bacteria and take away flavor, they maintain.
"You drink our milk, you don't put it in the refrigerator for a month," said Yurgaitis.
All the milk comes from about 80 cows from the Arethusa herd, a group of "ladies" Yurgaitis, Malkemus and their expert staff hold in high esteem.
Enter the milking parlor and the first thing you see is an oversized sign stating "Every cow in this barn is a lady, please treat her as such."
The herd enjoys spotless stalls, top-quality Canadian hay and personalized protein-rich grain mixtures from a computerized feeding system, with diets dovetailing with lactation cycles and special needs. They are treated to daily vacuuming and weekly baths in a spa-like shower room, including a conditioning treatment to keep their tails white.
2012年9月9日星期日
2012年9月6日星期四
Africa to give away shoes
As a volunteer with the nonprofit organization Soles 4 Souls, Steward was one of a group of 15 to 20 American volunteers who traveled to India in August 2011 and another group that went to Tanzania in Africa to distribute shoes this summer, mainly to children.
“I really don’t want the spotlight for what I’m doing. I just enjoy it. It ties in with my religious beliefs and helping to serve others,” Steward said.
The volunteers get a chance to play with kids, measure and wash their feet and fit them with a new pair of shoes, often their first pair of shoes. The shoes, which are similar to Crocs, are purchased in the country where they are to be distributed, to help the economy there, Steward said.
Without shoes, children and adults go barefoot or use pieces of old tires, plastic bags and cardboard to protect their feet, Steward said. About 500 to 1,000 pairs of shoes were distributed per trip.
“People told me, once you go to Africa you will fall in love with it. Within 24 hours, it felt like home, because the people are so warm and giving of the few possessions they have,” Steward said.
The donated shoes are used for distribution domestically.
Volunteers also take digital photos of the children and learn their names, which is important to the children, Steward said.
“It fuels the fire even more to see another part of the world, culture. It’s eye-opening how they live, their culture,” Steward said.
Steward was born in Hagerstown, where he lived until third-grade, when his family moved to Greencastle.
He graduated from Greencastle-Antrim High School in 2005 and worked for E.L.M. Shoes while in high school.
He left briefly for college, then moved to Nashville, where his sister and brother-in-law live, for several years. Steward continued in the shoe business, working for New Balance.
When Steward returned to Greencastle in 2008, he got his job back at E.L.M.
Steward said his family vacationed mainly in the New England area when he and his older sister were growing up. It was his first overseas trip to France, Spain and Italy with a school group right after high school graduation that sparked his desire for international travel.
After college, Steward traveled to Ireland. When he learned of the India trip, he started saving for it.
“I definitely prefer travel when I can help others, when there’s a purpose for the trip,” said Steward, who set aside time for touring, not just work.
While in India, Steward got to go “up into the mountains” and hiking. The Africa trip included a visit to River Gambia National Park for chimpanzee tracking and boat rides.
Immersion in different cultures has changed Steward, who said he returned from both trips wanting to purge his material possessions. He has seen how much happier people with so much less are.
“We live totally differently. We live with so much excess. Society-wise, we’re driven by money, possessions. They’re people just like us and deal with the same issues,” Steward said.
The 1 1/2- to two-week trips usually include an interpreter, in case no one in the community they’re visiting speaks English.
For his next trip, Steward, the son of Greg and Gay Steward, has applied to travel to the Ukraine with Eastern European Missions and is waiting to hear whether he’s been accepted to go. This will be a mission trip distributing Bibles and teaching, he said.
“I really don’t want the spotlight for what I’m doing. I just enjoy it. It ties in with my religious beliefs and helping to serve others,” Steward said.
The volunteers get a chance to play with kids, measure and wash their feet and fit them with a new pair of shoes, often their first pair of shoes. The shoes, which are similar to Crocs, are purchased in the country where they are to be distributed, to help the economy there, Steward said.
Without shoes, children and adults go barefoot or use pieces of old tires, plastic bags and cardboard to protect their feet, Steward said. About 500 to 1,000 pairs of shoes were distributed per trip.
“People told me, once you go to Africa you will fall in love with it. Within 24 hours, it felt like home, because the people are so warm and giving of the few possessions they have,” Steward said.
The donated shoes are used for distribution domestically.
Volunteers also take digital photos of the children and learn their names, which is important to the children, Steward said.
“It fuels the fire even more to see another part of the world, culture. It’s eye-opening how they live, their culture,” Steward said.
Steward was born in Hagerstown, where he lived until third-grade, when his family moved to Greencastle.
He graduated from Greencastle-Antrim High School in 2005 and worked for E.L.M. Shoes while in high school.
He left briefly for college, then moved to Nashville, where his sister and brother-in-law live, for several years. Steward continued in the shoe business, working for New Balance.
When Steward returned to Greencastle in 2008, he got his job back at E.L.M.
Steward said his family vacationed mainly in the New England area when he and his older sister were growing up. It was his first overseas trip to France, Spain and Italy with a school group right after high school graduation that sparked his desire for international travel.
After college, Steward traveled to Ireland. When he learned of the India trip, he started saving for it.
“I definitely prefer travel when I can help others, when there’s a purpose for the trip,” said Steward, who set aside time for touring, not just work.
While in India, Steward got to go “up into the mountains” and hiking. The Africa trip included a visit to River Gambia National Park for chimpanzee tracking and boat rides.
Immersion in different cultures has changed Steward, who said he returned from both trips wanting to purge his material possessions. He has seen how much happier people with so much less are.
“We live totally differently. We live with so much excess. Society-wise, we’re driven by money, possessions. They’re people just like us and deal with the same issues,” Steward said.
The 1 1/2- to two-week trips usually include an interpreter, in case no one in the community they’re visiting speaks English.
For his next trip, Steward, the son of Greg and Gay Steward, has applied to travel to the Ukraine with Eastern European Missions and is waiting to hear whether he’s been accepted to go. This will be a mission trip distributing Bibles and teaching, he said.
2012年9月5日星期三
Comfy shoes are the shoo-in for DNC streets
Something’s happening outside the EpiCenter. Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” just came outside to join the masses. And to my surprise, she’s not wearing high heels. But cute little flats.
I’m with ya, Mika. I’m footloose in a Croc flip-flop this week. On the sticky streets of Charlotte it comes down to comfort. And if it rains, I’ll be in a rubber sandal that floats all the way down to the Transit Center.
Which gets me studying the other sidewalk foot soldiers for the Democratic convention. Lots of flats and flops. Sneakers, Tevas, and Keens. I ask two gals in flats what they’re wearing:
“I wanted comfort AND style. Ferragamo.”
And her friend?
“Me too. Target.”
Touche. I’ve walked a mile in her shoes, I can tell you that.
Most went practical for a day of walking and gawking – an easy choice for most.
“I picked the ugliest shoes I could find in my closet because they’re the most comfortable,” asserts a visitor. “And if I get mugged in downtown Charlotte, no one will want to steal them.”
Can’t say the same of the girl in the J. Crew 3-inch heel.
“They’re last season,” she apologizes.
Honey, you don’t have to defend that shoe to me. These Crocs are so many seasons past, they’re vintage.
“I have flip-flops in my bag if my feet hurt. Then I change back into these if I see someone important.”
Speaking of changes, the crowd starts buzzing Wednesday morning. Obama’s speech is being moved from the stadium to the arena. I wait for the other shoe to drop. My community credential is suddenly void.
“Well, whatever shoes I was going to wear, they were going to get wet and ruined,” a woman sighs. “But I was willing to sacrifice my shoes for Obama.”
Bless her sweet sole.
But some care more about Joe. A girl at the MSNBC set wears a red wedge sandal to match her red Liverpool soccer jersey – Joe Scarborough’s favorite soccer team. She’s a shoo-in for a picture with him. Joe even gets a network photographer to take it.
And for her friend, it’s all about height. Donning a black wedge, she puts 3 extra inches on her 5-foot, 2-inch frame. But excusing herself as she pushes through the crowd, she hears the words, “No prob, short stuff.”
I’m with ya, Mika. I’m footloose in a Croc flip-flop this week. On the sticky streets of Charlotte it comes down to comfort. And if it rains, I’ll be in a rubber sandal that floats all the way down to the Transit Center.
Which gets me studying the other sidewalk foot soldiers for the Democratic convention. Lots of flats and flops. Sneakers, Tevas, and Keens. I ask two gals in flats what they’re wearing:
“I wanted comfort AND style. Ferragamo.”
And her friend?
“Me too. Target.”
Touche. I’ve walked a mile in her shoes, I can tell you that.
Most went practical for a day of walking and gawking – an easy choice for most.
“I picked the ugliest shoes I could find in my closet because they’re the most comfortable,” asserts a visitor. “And if I get mugged in downtown Charlotte, no one will want to steal them.”
Can’t say the same of the girl in the J. Crew 3-inch heel.
“They’re last season,” she apologizes.
Honey, you don’t have to defend that shoe to me. These Crocs are so many seasons past, they’re vintage.
“I have flip-flops in my bag if my feet hurt. Then I change back into these if I see someone important.”
Speaking of changes, the crowd starts buzzing Wednesday morning. Obama’s speech is being moved from the stadium to the arena. I wait for the other shoe to drop. My community credential is suddenly void.
“Well, whatever shoes I was going to wear, they were going to get wet and ruined,” a woman sighs. “But I was willing to sacrifice my shoes for Obama.”
Bless her sweet sole.
But some care more about Joe. A girl at the MSNBC set wears a red wedge sandal to match her red Liverpool soccer jersey – Joe Scarborough’s favorite soccer team. She’s a shoo-in for a picture with him. Joe even gets a network photographer to take it.
And for her friend, it’s all about height. Donning a black wedge, she puts 3 extra inches on her 5-foot, 2-inch frame. But excusing herself as she pushes through the crowd, she hears the words, “No prob, short stuff.”
2012年9月4日星期二
The Classiest Feet in Tennis
The other day at the U.S. Open, I ran into Stan Smith without my Stan Smiths. This sounds meaningless but you have to understand: This is like bumping into Ralph Lauren while wearing a fanny pack and flip-flops. It's as bad as prowling around a Brooks Brothers in your Spider-Man pajama bottoms. It's a high crime against tennis fashion. Let me backtrack and explain.
I wear Stan Smiths all of the time. You've seen these shoes before: They're made by Adidas, and they're utterly basic—all-leather, with three subtle rows of tiny holes substituting for the brand's famous three stripes. The main characteristic of Stan Smiths is that they're bright white—immaculately so, like the teeth of a morning-TV news anchor. I will fistfight or thumb wrestle or at least mildly scowl at anyone who doesn't agree that the Stan Smith is among the most timeless sneakers ever made, a list that I believe also includes the Rod Laver, the Jack Purcell, the Chuck Taylor and perhaps the Air Force One. The reason they endure is their simple dignity. Sneakers are a hard trick to pull off in fashion—if you're not careful, you will look like Paul Simon on his way to a cookout in 1987. But you can respectably wear Stans with shorts and jeans, with cheap suits and good ones, to meetings, parties, dinners, hospitals, pet hospitals and I believe a wedding, as long as it's during the day and your pants are cotton. I have purchased so many pairs that Stan Smith should cook me dinner. If you are lucky enough to play clay-court tennis in them—and you should, not all the time, but just once, just to say you did—you will notice that the bottoms of their soles leave pretty little ribbons of circles, a recognizable footprint to any advanced sneakerologist.
So the other day, I was walking in through the front gate of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center when through a doorway, there he was: Stan the man himself, who won this NYC tennis clambake in 1971, took Wimbledon in 1972 and played the first Open night match in 1975. He was lean and tan, and at 65, he looked as if he could knock out five sets without a tiebreaker. I couldn't let the opportunity slide. I had to ask him about his sneakers.
As soon as I introduced myself, Smith looked me square in the eye and glanced down to see what I had on my feet.
"A knockoff," he said, unimpressed.
It was mortifying. He was right. I had the Stans on the night before at the Open, but I'd switched to something else for this trip. There's no need to go into what brand it was, but on my feet were a lightweight canvas pair of sneakers made by a different manufacturer, a pair that owed more than a small stylistic debt to Stan Smiths. You may as well have called them Stan Myths.
But Stan was cool about it. His whole partnership with the shoe has been a serendipitous twist—back in the mid-1960s, it was introduced as a partnership with the French player Robert Haillet, but Adidas was eager to move into the U.S. market, and turned to the Southern California-raised Smith. "For three years, both of our names were on the shoe," Smith said. "His name was on the side, my name was on the tongue…the original salesmen selling that shoe in the U.S. referred to it as a 'Haillet shoe.'"
He lifted a foot, revealing an all-black version of the Stan. "It was the high tech shoe of its time," he said. Had it changed much? "Almost exactly the same."
Smith said he seldom saw people play tennis in Stans anymore. Today they are far better known as an off-court shoe, a staple of casual-wear, frequently cited in fashion magazines. "The…Platonic ideal of a leather low-top pair of sneakers," is how GQ senior editor Will Welch described them to me in an email.
Smith, who said he recently signed a new contract with Adidas, was well aware of the shoe's fashion durability.
"The shoe has developed its own aura," he said. "The shoe freaks, it's amazing. They come up to me and tell me what it means to them and all this stuff—it's pretty wild. Then you got guys like Usher and Jay-Z and Marc Jacobs who think it's the greatest shoe ever."
"Most of the kids who wear it now have no idea who I am," Smith said. "It's just become a shoe—people call it the Stan Smith shoe. They have no idea who Stan Smith is."
The former U.S. Open champ said this with no trace of frustration. His strange second life only seemed to amuse him. "It's just one of those fluky things," Smith said. "I happened to be in the right place at the right time, with the right ranking, and the right shoe."
I wear Stan Smiths all of the time. You've seen these shoes before: They're made by Adidas, and they're utterly basic—all-leather, with three subtle rows of tiny holes substituting for the brand's famous three stripes. The main characteristic of Stan Smiths is that they're bright white—immaculately so, like the teeth of a morning-TV news anchor. I will fistfight or thumb wrestle or at least mildly scowl at anyone who doesn't agree that the Stan Smith is among the most timeless sneakers ever made, a list that I believe also includes the Rod Laver, the Jack Purcell, the Chuck Taylor and perhaps the Air Force One. The reason they endure is their simple dignity. Sneakers are a hard trick to pull off in fashion—if you're not careful, you will look like Paul Simon on his way to a cookout in 1987. But you can respectably wear Stans with shorts and jeans, with cheap suits and good ones, to meetings, parties, dinners, hospitals, pet hospitals and I believe a wedding, as long as it's during the day and your pants are cotton. I have purchased so many pairs that Stan Smith should cook me dinner. If you are lucky enough to play clay-court tennis in them—and you should, not all the time, but just once, just to say you did—you will notice that the bottoms of their soles leave pretty little ribbons of circles, a recognizable footprint to any advanced sneakerologist.
So the other day, I was walking in through the front gate of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center when through a doorway, there he was: Stan the man himself, who won this NYC tennis clambake in 1971, took Wimbledon in 1972 and played the first Open night match in 1975. He was lean and tan, and at 65, he looked as if he could knock out five sets without a tiebreaker. I couldn't let the opportunity slide. I had to ask him about his sneakers.
As soon as I introduced myself, Smith looked me square in the eye and glanced down to see what I had on my feet.
"A knockoff," he said, unimpressed.
It was mortifying. He was right. I had the Stans on the night before at the Open, but I'd switched to something else for this trip. There's no need to go into what brand it was, but on my feet were a lightweight canvas pair of sneakers made by a different manufacturer, a pair that owed more than a small stylistic debt to Stan Smiths. You may as well have called them Stan Myths.
But Stan was cool about it. His whole partnership with the shoe has been a serendipitous twist—back in the mid-1960s, it was introduced as a partnership with the French player Robert Haillet, but Adidas was eager to move into the U.S. market, and turned to the Southern California-raised Smith. "For three years, both of our names were on the shoe," Smith said. "His name was on the side, my name was on the tongue…the original salesmen selling that shoe in the U.S. referred to it as a 'Haillet shoe.'"
He lifted a foot, revealing an all-black version of the Stan. "It was the high tech shoe of its time," he said. Had it changed much? "Almost exactly the same."
Smith said he seldom saw people play tennis in Stans anymore. Today they are far better known as an off-court shoe, a staple of casual-wear, frequently cited in fashion magazines. "The…Platonic ideal of a leather low-top pair of sneakers," is how GQ senior editor Will Welch described them to me in an email.
Smith, who said he recently signed a new contract with Adidas, was well aware of the shoe's fashion durability.
"The shoe has developed its own aura," he said. "The shoe freaks, it's amazing. They come up to me and tell me what it means to them and all this stuff—it's pretty wild. Then you got guys like Usher and Jay-Z and Marc Jacobs who think it's the greatest shoe ever."
"Most of the kids who wear it now have no idea who I am," Smith said. "It's just become a shoe—people call it the Stan Smith shoe. They have no idea who Stan Smith is."
The former U.S. Open champ said this with no trace of frustration. His strange second life only seemed to amuse him. "It's just one of those fluky things," Smith said. "I happened to be in the right place at the right time, with the right ranking, and the right shoe."
2012年9月3日星期一
Venus Williams switched to a raw vegan diet last year
An expanding list of celebrity vegans is transforming the popular image of the "no meat, no dairy" lifestyle that has often been seen as the choice of holier-than-thou tree-huggers in plastic shoes.
Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin, Demi Moore, Ben Stiller, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia De Rossi, Tobey Maguire, Betty White, Joaquin Phoenix, Pamela Anderson, Mike Tyson, Ted Danson, Venus Williams, Woody Harrelson, Rosie O'Donnell, Robin Williams, KD Lang, Russell Brand, Alicia Silverstone, Carl Lewis, Casey Affleck, Erykah Badu, James Cromwell, Alanis Morissette, Russell Simmons, Fiona Apple, Sandra Oh, Bryan Adams, Jessica Chastain, Moby, Carrie Underwood, Ed Begley Jr, Daryl Hannah, Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Abbie Cornish, Erik Roberts, Andre 3000 (Outkast), Chrissie Hynde, Grace Slick, Daniel Johns (Silverchair) ... the list of TV and movie stars, musicians, politicians and athletes who have stopped eating meat and dairy products continues to grow.
The latest celebrity to make the switch to a vegan diet is US talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell, who suffered a potentially fatal heart attack on August 14.
O'Donnell also spoke to Dr Caldwell Esselstyn, author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, in which the former surgeon and Olympic rowing champion argues that a vegan diet can reverse cardiovascular disease.
Former US president Bill Clinton read Esselstyn's book before switching to a plant-based diet following his quadruple bypass surgery.
"I had been playing Russian roulette," says Clinton, who now consumes no meat, no dairy and no eggs.
"I like the vegetables, the fruits, the beans, the stuff I eat now," Clinton told CNN. "All my blood tests are good, my vital signs are good and I also have, believe it or not, more energy."
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface, Dangerous Liaisons) recently stopped eating meat and dairy products after reading the same book.
Seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion Venus Williams switched to a raw vegan diet last year after being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome – an autoimmune disease which left her with fatigue so overwhelming that "sitting in a chair was a huge effort." Williams told CBS, " I've made huge improvements since I was first diagnosed ... changing my diet has made a big difference."
Comedian Russell Brand, a longtime vegetarian, became a vegan last year after watching Forks over Knives - a documentary about the health effects of eating animal-based and processed foods.
One of the more unlikely converts to veganism is former world heavyweight boxing champion, "Iron" Mike Tyson - notorious for biting off part of the ear of rival Evander Holyfield during a 1997 title fight. Tyson turned vegan in 2009 and last year told Fox News that he feels "awesome, incredible."
"When you find out about all the garbage you've been eating ... no wonder I was crazy all those years," he says. "The drugs didn't help either," Tyson jokes.
Others including actor Robin Williams and musician Ozzy Osbourne also switched to a vegan diet because of health concerns, but many celebrities cite moral and ethical grounds for their veganism.
"Around 450 billion animals are factory farmed on our planet every year," says talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. "Dairy cows are kept constantly pregnant to produce milk, while their calves, considered by-products, are put to death almost instantly.
"Animal farming is the number one cause of climate change in the world and has a 40 per cent larger carbon footprint than all global transportation – every car, truck, bus, train and plane combined," says DeGeneres.
Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea, Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin, Demi Moore, Ben Stiller, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia De Rossi, Tobey Maguire, Betty White, Joaquin Phoenix, Pamela Anderson, Mike Tyson, Ted Danson, Venus Williams, Woody Harrelson, Rosie O'Donnell, Robin Williams, KD Lang, Russell Brand, Alicia Silverstone, Carl Lewis, Casey Affleck, Erykah Badu, James Cromwell, Alanis Morissette, Russell Simmons, Fiona Apple, Sandra Oh, Bryan Adams, Jessica Chastain, Moby, Carrie Underwood, Ed Begley Jr, Daryl Hannah, Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Abbie Cornish, Erik Roberts, Andre 3000 (Outkast), Chrissie Hynde, Grace Slick, Daniel Johns (Silverchair) ... the list of TV and movie stars, musicians, politicians and athletes who have stopped eating meat and dairy products continues to grow.
The latest celebrity to make the switch to a vegan diet is US talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell, who suffered a potentially fatal heart attack on August 14.
O'Donnell also spoke to Dr Caldwell Esselstyn, author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, in which the former surgeon and Olympic rowing champion argues that a vegan diet can reverse cardiovascular disease.
Former US president Bill Clinton read Esselstyn's book before switching to a plant-based diet following his quadruple bypass surgery.
"I had been playing Russian roulette," says Clinton, who now consumes no meat, no dairy and no eggs.
"I like the vegetables, the fruits, the beans, the stuff I eat now," Clinton told CNN. "All my blood tests are good, my vital signs are good and I also have, believe it or not, more energy."
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer (Scarface, Dangerous Liaisons) recently stopped eating meat and dairy products after reading the same book.
Seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion Venus Williams switched to a raw vegan diet last year after being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome – an autoimmune disease which left her with fatigue so overwhelming that "sitting in a chair was a huge effort." Williams told CBS, " I've made huge improvements since I was first diagnosed ... changing my diet has made a big difference."
Comedian Russell Brand, a longtime vegetarian, became a vegan last year after watching Forks over Knives - a documentary about the health effects of eating animal-based and processed foods.
One of the more unlikely converts to veganism is former world heavyweight boxing champion, "Iron" Mike Tyson - notorious for biting off part of the ear of rival Evander Holyfield during a 1997 title fight. Tyson turned vegan in 2009 and last year told Fox News that he feels "awesome, incredible."
"When you find out about all the garbage you've been eating ... no wonder I was crazy all those years," he says. "The drugs didn't help either," Tyson jokes.
Others including actor Robin Williams and musician Ozzy Osbourne also switched to a vegan diet because of health concerns, but many celebrities cite moral and ethical grounds for their veganism.
"Around 450 billion animals are factory farmed on our planet every year," says talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. "Dairy cows are kept constantly pregnant to produce milk, while their calves, considered by-products, are put to death almost instantly.
"Animal farming is the number one cause of climate change in the world and has a 40 per cent larger carbon footprint than all global transportation – every car, truck, bus, train and plane combined," says DeGeneres.
2012年9月2日星期日
Suspect facing second murder trial
Rick Reeves vividly remembers the day he learned that his colleague and close friend Jeffrey Labord had been shot to death.
“Devastating; that’s the best word I can use,” Reeves said.
It was equally troubling to learn that the man accused in Labord’s death, Seth Rouzan, 26, was released on probation because of a hung jury. Now Rouzan is facing another charge of murder after a homicide last week on First Street.
Labord “was a real good friend of mine, and this guy walked,” said Carl Collins, another of Labord’s former co-workers at the Richmond County Department of Traf-fic Engineering. “Now he’s charged with taking somebody else’s life.”
Rouzan was arrested on charges of armed robbery and murder in the Aug. 21 shooting death of 64-year-old Joseph Williams Jr. A 15-year-old boy is also charged with murder in the case.
Richmond County sheriff’s investigators found Williams shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 400 block of First Street. He died at Medical College of Georgia Hospital about 6:30 p.m.
Attempts to reach the families of Rouzan and Williams were unsuccessful.
Six years ago, Labord was found dead by a newspaper carrier at Doublegate Court, a cul-de-sac off Walden Drive.
“Originally I thought he was drunk and swerved around him in order not to hit him,” the carrier, Joshua Paulsakos, said at Rouzan’s trial in December 2007. “As I pulled back around, my headlights pretty much settled on him where I could see him … and
realized he wasn’t breathing.”
Paulsakos drove to the Daniel Village sheriff’s substation to report the death.
Residents of Doublegate Court said they heard two shots and a car peeling out but could not see anything in the darkness.
Collins said he heard about the homicide while driving to work. When he arrived at the public works shop off Mike Padgett High-way, everyone was wondering why Labord was not at work. Labord was identified as the victim about 10 a.m.
“It was like a ball of fire just came through me,” Collins said. “We had just talked to him 12 hours prior.”
THE RICHMOND County Sheriff’s Office collected strong circumstantial evidence pointing to Rouzan. Several of his friends testified that he told them he had killed a man the night before. They also said that the morning after the homicide, Rouzan was driving Labord’s car, which was loaded with a TV, liquor bottles and other items stolen from Labord’s house. During his drive around the East Boun-dary area, he stopped at a friend’s house and posed for cellphone pictures with a .380-caliber pistol – the same caliber bullet that killed Labord.
A drop of Labord’s blood was found on a pair of shoes hidden under Rouzan’s bed.
Under oath, Rouzan adamantly denied having any role in Labord’s death. He said he was in bed sleeping all night, though there was no evidence to substantiate this claim.
“Are you aware of any reason why your best friend would come in here and say that you admitted to him that you had committed murder?” Assistant District Attorney Rex Myers asked.
“No, sir,” Rouzan said.
The jury was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt. According to the trial transcript, Superior Court Judge Michael Annis talked with the jury after about three hours of deliberations.
“They said that they’ve been hung up since early in the deliberations and that everybody seems to be pretty much dug in,” Annis told Myers and Rouzan’s attorney, Willie Saunders.
“Devastating; that’s the best word I can use,” Reeves said.
It was equally troubling to learn that the man accused in Labord’s death, Seth Rouzan, 26, was released on probation because of a hung jury. Now Rouzan is facing another charge of murder after a homicide last week on First Street.
Labord “was a real good friend of mine, and this guy walked,” said Carl Collins, another of Labord’s former co-workers at the Richmond County Department of Traf-fic Engineering. “Now he’s charged with taking somebody else’s life.”
Rouzan was arrested on charges of armed robbery and murder in the Aug. 21 shooting death of 64-year-old Joseph Williams Jr. A 15-year-old boy is also charged with murder in the case.
Richmond County sheriff’s investigators found Williams shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 400 block of First Street. He died at Medical College of Georgia Hospital about 6:30 p.m.
Attempts to reach the families of Rouzan and Williams were unsuccessful.
Six years ago, Labord was found dead by a newspaper carrier at Doublegate Court, a cul-de-sac off Walden Drive.
“Originally I thought he was drunk and swerved around him in order not to hit him,” the carrier, Joshua Paulsakos, said at Rouzan’s trial in December 2007. “As I pulled back around, my headlights pretty much settled on him where I could see him … and
realized he wasn’t breathing.”
Paulsakos drove to the Daniel Village sheriff’s substation to report the death.
Residents of Doublegate Court said they heard two shots and a car peeling out but could not see anything in the darkness.
Collins said he heard about the homicide while driving to work. When he arrived at the public works shop off Mike Padgett High-way, everyone was wondering why Labord was not at work. Labord was identified as the victim about 10 a.m.
“It was like a ball of fire just came through me,” Collins said. “We had just talked to him 12 hours prior.”
THE RICHMOND County Sheriff’s Office collected strong circumstantial evidence pointing to Rouzan. Several of his friends testified that he told them he had killed a man the night before. They also said that the morning after the homicide, Rouzan was driving Labord’s car, which was loaded with a TV, liquor bottles and other items stolen from Labord’s house. During his drive around the East Boun-dary area, he stopped at a friend’s house and posed for cellphone pictures with a .380-caliber pistol – the same caliber bullet that killed Labord.
A drop of Labord’s blood was found on a pair of shoes hidden under Rouzan’s bed.
Under oath, Rouzan adamantly denied having any role in Labord’s death. He said he was in bed sleeping all night, though there was no evidence to substantiate this claim.
“Are you aware of any reason why your best friend would come in here and say that you admitted to him that you had committed murder?” Assistant District Attorney Rex Myers asked.
“No, sir,” Rouzan said.
The jury was not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt. According to the trial transcript, Superior Court Judge Michael Annis talked with the jury after about three hours of deliberations.
“They said that they’ve been hung up since early in the deliberations and that everybody seems to be pretty much dug in,” Annis told Myers and Rouzan’s attorney, Willie Saunders.
2012年8月30日星期四
When folks inquire about whether their dog
We rarely tap into the fullness of a dog’s mental capacity during his or her lifetime. And, as with humans, it’s beneficial to start learning early and continue perfecting new skills throughout life.
My own dog, Stuart, a 6-year-old bull terrier, does some very entertaining behaviors and tricks. He does them so well, in fact, that it’s tempting to just keep doing the same ones over and over. Sometimes, it feels like he tries to communicate, “We’ve done that, now what?”
Stuart occasionally initiates new behaviors on his own. Months ago, he started bringing me shoes and magazines. I hadn’t taught him to do this, but I enjoyed it, so I’d exchange a treat for the offered shoe or magazine. I gave these objects names: “shoes” and “magazine.” Now he brings them to me when I ask for them by name. I’m now expanding his vocabulary by adding and naming new objects.
When folks inquire about whether their dog is too old or too young for one of our classes, I’m sometimes surprised at their perception of age. We encourage owners to enroll puppies in Head Start Puppy Class when they’re as young as 8 weeks old. Remember, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”
The oldest dog we’ve enrolled in our basic Family Dog Training class was a 13-year-old Australian shepherd named Charlotte. Charlotte stayed at home when her owner, Heather, went to college. After college and marriage, Heather wanted to reconnect with Charlotte.
Charlotte seemed distant and not as interested in life as she used to be. With training, Charlotte’s demeanor brightened noticeably. She was more engaged with her family and lived a good many more active years.
Training is bonding and stimulates the brain. Charlotte was the star of her class.
We’d surely have trouble finding homes for many shelter dogs if adolescent or adult dogs (approximately 5 months to 2 years old) couldn’t learn new things. Teaching a dog to be part of a family requires ongoing training.
Trick training usually begins with “sit,” “down,” “come here” or “stay.” These are “foundation” behaviors, formerly called “commands.” As with all of our training, we use lots of positive reinforcement, including treats.
Our emotional state of mind changes when we’re teaching tricks. We’re not so serious. We think it’s more fun. Consequently, it’s more fun for our dog. Training is a lifelong process that keeps strengthening our relationship with our family dog. Don’t let your relationship grow stale — keep it fresh.
My own dog, Stuart, a 6-year-old bull terrier, does some very entertaining behaviors and tricks. He does them so well, in fact, that it’s tempting to just keep doing the same ones over and over. Sometimes, it feels like he tries to communicate, “We’ve done that, now what?”
Stuart occasionally initiates new behaviors on his own. Months ago, he started bringing me shoes and magazines. I hadn’t taught him to do this, but I enjoyed it, so I’d exchange a treat for the offered shoe or magazine. I gave these objects names: “shoes” and “magazine.” Now he brings them to me when I ask for them by name. I’m now expanding his vocabulary by adding and naming new objects.
When folks inquire about whether their dog is too old or too young for one of our classes, I’m sometimes surprised at their perception of age. We encourage owners to enroll puppies in Head Start Puppy Class when they’re as young as 8 weeks old. Remember, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.”
The oldest dog we’ve enrolled in our basic Family Dog Training class was a 13-year-old Australian shepherd named Charlotte. Charlotte stayed at home when her owner, Heather, went to college. After college and marriage, Heather wanted to reconnect with Charlotte.
Charlotte seemed distant and not as interested in life as she used to be. With training, Charlotte’s demeanor brightened noticeably. She was more engaged with her family and lived a good many more active years.
Training is bonding and stimulates the brain. Charlotte was the star of her class.
We’d surely have trouble finding homes for many shelter dogs if adolescent or adult dogs (approximately 5 months to 2 years old) couldn’t learn new things. Teaching a dog to be part of a family requires ongoing training.
Trick training usually begins with “sit,” “down,” “come here” or “stay.” These are “foundation” behaviors, formerly called “commands.” As with all of our training, we use lots of positive reinforcement, including treats.
Our emotional state of mind changes when we’re teaching tricks. We’re not so serious. We think it’s more fun. Consequently, it’s more fun for our dog. Training is a lifelong process that keeps strengthening our relationship with our family dog. Don’t let your relationship grow stale — keep it fresh.
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