User talk:Jeremyblevins40

'''Recently, I realized that I’ve been living around vegans for too long. I used to regularly attend events where corpses and cheese-laden dishes were the norm and many people thought “veganism” was a type of rash. Several years ago, when I was still in college, you couldn’t stop me from talking to people about factory farming, how milk causes osteoporosis, and why vegans rarely have heart attacks—if it had to do with why people shouldn’t eat animals, I wanted to talk about it. Now, I rarely talk to people who aren’t already vegan, and when I do, it can be rather frustrating. I get a little exasperated when I hear “But I need protein” or “I just love steak,” and I would rather roll my eyes than engage them in conversation. Obviously, this sort of attitude isn’t good for helping animals, so I try to muster a smile and politely explain that I eat all sorts of wonderful foods and, as you can see from my hips, I clearly don’t starve. The unfortunate reality is that after a while, it can get draining to have to explain why you don’t eat rotting flesh (as if this should require an explanation), to keep a sunny face while someone makes a disgusted frown and sniffs at your perfectly delicious tofu dish at a church potluck, and to be the best advocate for animals that you can be. What are some of your favorite responses to those inquiring, meat-eating minds?'''

(jeremy blevins 17:13, 14 July 2009 (UTC))

If i dont see you tomorrow
If I knew it would be the last time That I'd see you fall asleep, I would kiss you all over. and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice, I would record each word, so I could play it back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute to stop and say "I love you," instead of thinking you would KNOW IT

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, Well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.

For sure there's always tomorrow to make up for the time, and we always get a second chance to make everything just right,

But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope you never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one close.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret this day,

That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your love once close today, and whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry," "Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay." And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today. (jeremy blevins 21:40, 14 July 2009 (UTC))

in the meat you eat
Did you know that approximately 70 percent of all antibiotics and related drugs produced in the United States are given to livestock and poultry? These drugs are used for nontherapeutic purposes such as accelerating growth and preventing the diseases caused by overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on "factory farms." Unfortunately, this practice results in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can cause difficult-to-treat diseases in humans.

You can help stop this problem by making smart meat purchases. Meat from animals raised without antibiotics is available but shoppers need to look carefully at product labels. There are a number of labels meant to appeal to discriminating consumers, but they do not all mean the same thing or carry the same weight. Here's what you need to know the next time you see the following labels at the supermarket.

Certified Organic: Meat that bears this label is raised without the use of antibiotics or related drugs and meets other rigorous standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). When organically raised animals become sick, they are treated with antibiotics but do not receive the organic label. A third party certifies these standards.

No Antibiotics Added/Raised Without Antibiotics: This label indicates that the animals have not been fed antibiotics at any point in their lives. Meat from sick animals treated with antibiotics cannot be sold under this label claim. Although the USDA approved the use of this claim, compliance is not certified by a third party.

Natural/All-Natural: The USDA defines a "natural" meat product as one that "contain[s] no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed." Meat labeled "natural" may or may not have been treated with antibiotics.

Free-Range/Free-Roaming: These labels have been approved by the USDA for poultry that have been allowed access to the outdoors (though they may never actually go outdoors) but the claim implies nothing about the antibiotic use practices of the producer.

In addition, nonprofit organizations such as the American Humane Association, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the Food Alliance offer certifications for meat producers who adhere to a specific set of standards and administer antibiotics for therapeutic uses only. You may also want to investigate whether there are organizations in your area (including state agencies) that inspect local farms and offer their own certifications. Ideally, shop at local farmers' markets whenever possible and ask the farmers how their meat is raised. Supporting farmers who don't give antibiotics to their animals helps make the meat production system more sustainable. (18:20, 15 July 2009 (UTC))

in the meat you eat
Did you know that approximately 70 percent of all antibiotics and related drugs produced in the United States are given to livestock and poultry? These drugs are used for nontherapeutic purposes such as accelerating growth and preventing the diseases caused by overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on "factory farms." Unfortunately, this practice results in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can cause difficult-to-treat diseases in humans.

You can help stop this problem by making smart meat purchases. Meat from animals raised without antibiotics is available but shoppers need to look carefully at product labels. There are a number of labels meant to appeal to discriminating consumers, but they do not all mean the same thing or carry the same weight. Here's what you need to know the next time you see the following labels at the supermarket.

Certified Organic: Meat that bears this label is raised without the use of antibiotics or related drugs and meets other rigorous standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). When organically raised animals become sick, they are treated with antibiotics but do not receive the organic label. A third party certifies these standards.

No Antibiotics Added/Raised Without Antibiotics: This label indicates that the animals have not been fed antibiotics at any point in their lives. Meat from sick animals treated with antibiotics cannot be sold under this label claim. Although the USDA approved the use of this claim, compliance is not certified by a third party.

Natural/All-Natural: The USDA defines a "natural" meat product as one that "contain[s] no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed." Meat labeled "natural" may or may not have been treated with antibiotics.

Free-Range/Free-Roaming: These labels have been approved by the USDA for poultry that have been allowed access to the outdoors (though they may never actually go outdoors) but the claim implies nothing about the antibiotic use practices of the producer.

In addition, nonprofit organizations such as the American Humane Association, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the Food Alliance offer certifications for meat producers who adhere to a specific set of standards and administer antibiotics for therapeutic uses only. You may also want to investigate whether there are organizations in your area (including state agencies) that inspect local farms and offer their own certifications. Ideally, shop at local farmers' markets whenever possible and ask the farmers how their meat is raised. Supporting farmers who don't give antibiotics to their animals helps make the meat production system more sustainable. (18:20, 15 July 2009 (UTC))