Post Your Random Thoughts Thread!

[pkay]

American adverts piss me off at how cheap fast food is for US heads. $1 for a double cheeseburger, fuck a £1.49 for a UK double cheeseburger.

likely because we're the leading producer of beef in the world. We produce about 60% more beef than the entire EU combined.

Same with poultry. Leading producer, about twice as much as EU.


People complain about food prices here but we really don't have it that bad.

[knell]

dont forget the massive government subsidies and resources that go into food, to the point that ~40% of american food is wasted (considering the entire process), by some estimates: http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf

imo a 40% waste of food (most of which is on the consumer's end) is a pretty drastic sign that food here is too cheap and poorly distributed, but that's just my jaded extrapolation

[Terpit]

I read somewhere that us Brits waste an awful amount of bread, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17353707 more recently than this, cant find the article.
Its a shame really.

[garethom]

I just really want 3 double cheeseburgers for the cost of 1 in the UK. My life would be pretty sorted then tbh.

[pkay]

dont forget the massive government subsidies and resources that go into food, to the point that ~40% of american food is wasted (considering the entire process), by some estimates: http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf

imo a 40% waste of food (most of which is on the consumer's end) is a pretty drastic sign that food here is too cheap and poorly distributed, but that's just my jaded extrapolation

the majority of that has to do with how we buy food. Most americans go shopping once a week, stock up for 1-2 weeks

A lot of countries I've visited may buy 2-3 days worth of food on items like meet, vegetables, dairy, etc

The emergence of walmart and massive supermarkets, and bulk buying places like Sams and Costco only exaggerate all of that.

[Terpit]

dont forget the massive government subsidies and resources that go into food, to the point that ~40% of american food is wasted (considering the entire process), by some estimates: http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf

imo a 40% waste of food (most of which is on the consumer's end) is a pretty drastic sign that food here is too cheap and poorly distributed, but that's just my jaded extrapolation

the majority of that has to do with how we buy food. Most americans go shopping once a week, stock up for 1-2 weeks

A lot of countries I've visited may buy 2-3 days worth of food on items like meet, vegetables, dairy, etc

The emergence of walmart and massive supermarkets, and bulk buying places like Sams and Costco only exaggerate all of that.

Its cheaper that way.

Or is it?

The plot thickens.

[pkay]

[knell]

the majority of that has to do with how we buy food. Most americans go shopping once a week, stock up for 1-2 weeks

A lot of countries I've visited may buy 2-3 days worth of food on items like meet, vegetables, dairy, etc

The emergence of walmart and massive supermarkets, and bulk buying places like Sams and Costco only exaggerate all of that.

yes, this is included in the estimations, but it goes much deeper than that on all levels and certainly doesn't constitute a "majority" (unless you have another source for that?). it's a really thorough and fascinating read if you're interested in food waste and how to be pro-active about preventing it. http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf

[Terpit]

Knell, you come across as very eco-friendly, is this true?

[knell]

in spirit, definitely. in practice, i have room for improvement. it's tough to be 100% eco-friendly in the modern world. i drive a non-hybrid car and take trips that utilize air transport solely for leisure. one of my farms uses diesel fueled vehicles out of necessity. it feels like a constant battle between guilt and progress for me.

[Terpit]

Unfortunately 100% is almost impossible, I think anyway. Seems your miles ahead tho, Dubai (UAE) has one of the biggest ecological footprints in the world, very little can be done about it as an expat civilian.

[knell]

yeah, dubai isn't really known for its financial or ecological modesty

aren't they very family oriented over there though? i would start a conversation with someone who can impact policies by asking them what kind of world they want their children to live in. (i know, i know )

[Terpit]

Dont quote me on this, but hte impression i get from the religious folk out there is that the earth is our playground, when its done, well just get a new one.
they have an indoors ski slope ffs, imagine the power used to keep that cold? theres real snow in there...

[knell]

don't get me wrong, there's a part of me that is certainly hedonistic and loves the engineering and wonderment of something like that. heck, for all i know they could be correct and that life really is about becoming the best and most wasteful creature you possibly can, enjoying some sort of playground while you stew in leisure and luxury. the sun is, after all, going to consume our planet in its entirety, and the more humans you save, the more humans they make to continue to consume. i've been spat on my a homeless man while offering him fresh socks, i've been stung by a wasp i had just rescued from drowning in my parent's pool in SC (and those are only a couple of examples where i've felt like a misguided idiot). stuff to keep you lying awake at night

[Terpit]

Oh knell, you and your thought provoking antics, right before i try and get to bed aswell

[knell]

if it's any consolation... the way i deal with it is by thinking about the humans that have made me love so fiercely that all other concerns evaporate. my little primate brain can focus on those emotions and conservation wins out in my constant internal catch-22 thought battle. i like it that way.

[dickman69]

Dont quote me on this, but hte impression i get from the religious folk out there is that the earth is our playground, when its done, well just get a new one.

Pretty much same thought here among the right

[dickman69]

by 3am u could prob drill a hole in your temple and let your liqufied brain ooze out

[Johoosh]

"Brown & Gammon"?

Thought id heard some shite DJ names.

[Johnlenham]

Doors puts out some tunes