We don’t need to be vegan 🥗
This edition: meat and climate change, filtered accents, and doing less
Vegan schmegan: meat can have its place in a greener world if we do it right
This isn’t a case against veganism, but rather, the case against using veganism as a way to minimize our impact on climate change. The article is an excellent exploration of a complex topic, presenting the nuances and 2nd, 3rd, 4th order consequences of three variances: keeping our current consumption habits of meat, reduction, and elimination.
In exploring the case for eliminating meat globally (e.g., going vegetarian or vegan), we would need ⅓ more cropland to feed the world’s population. Because in reality, cows and other livestock can eat by-products from food processes that would otherwise go to waste, like wheat germ and food scraps. What we need is less meat consumption per person, which is a pretty big hurdle given that regulations would be difficult to enforce at a global level.
To top it off, the amount of cow-produced methane might not be as bad as we think. Methane, unlike CO2, does eventually break down after a decade or so, though it produces 80x more warming than CO2 in the short-term.
So what’s the moral of the story here? We should absolutely try to reduce our meat consumption where feasible, do our research, and opt for meat that’s been sustainably raised. Living sustainably is a challenge, and it’s not always going to be easy, but we should do our best to “vote” with our dollars if we have the means.
Un-fun autotune: this startup filters out accents in real-time
I am…not sure how to feel about this one. My visceral reaction is, “wow, that’s a weird premise for a startup”. But when I think about people’s experiences with support calls, trying to get the service representative to give them answers other than those highly prescriptive call scripts, I could easily imagine why an accent might trigger frustration.
Not to say that being frustrated is the right reaction to have, but it’s a matter of pattern recognition with “bad data” that then builds into a bias. It’s a very human reaction.
Do I like or value what the startup is doing? No, but it’s a bandage for a deeper issue—that the individuals involved in these calls, both workers and customers alike, lack empathy for one another. To me, that’s really what it comes down to.
Super interesting article that got my brain churning.
For realsies: doing less can transform your life
Yesterday, I announced that I’m indefinitely pausing all Twitch livestreams going forward—at least, as far as my regularly scheduled programming goes. And a big part of that was from the fact that I recognized I was doing too much, overloading myself with too many projects.
Zenhabits had a great article on this very topic. I needed to remind myself that doing less was okay. Dropping things that no longer serve me is okay; I’d have more time to spend on the other facets of my life, thus improving quality everywhere else.
Fun finds
Have a golden afternoon with this golden focaccia. I made this over the weekend and it’s worth every minute of proofing. Highly recommended for your next potluck or feast!
I’d be licking this off my lips all day. Applebee’s, a classic American fast-casual restaurant chain, partnered with Winky Lux to debut wings-flavored lip gloss. Might as well just slather some hot sauce on your lips and call it a day.
Cute woodcock family goes hunting together. These birds are already adorable with their movements, but the babies are extra adorable!