I need to buy a new couch, but I don't want to have to go couch shopping. Anyone want to do it for me?

It's...disturbing contrasting and comparing China and Burma. Melissa Block nearly lost it tonight on NPR, talking about being at the site of the school collapse, and they eventually got chased off. And yet the damage in Burma is equally unfathomable and no one there to tell it. Well, virtually no one. Few to agitate for sure. I had some really dark discussions with my brother this weekend about this stuff.

I have no bread. But I did have cheese. And more cheese. Brie-esque local creamy gooey cheese. I ate all that up. And some local cheddarjack kinda thing, which I ate half up. With crackers. Now I am full full full of cheeeeeeeese!

I realized the other day that giving up bread would not actually be that difficult for me at all. I hardly ever have bread on hand at home. But giving up carbs? Crackers? Granola? Noodles in my pho? Uh, no. Not happening.

I think I need to do with bread (and other things) what I've done with bacon and am attempting to do with other meats. Give up anything but the best. So, supermarket bacon - out. Crappy bread - out. The super thick, meaty, expensive bacon from the local farm - okay. Grass fed beef - okay. Homemade or other really good breads - okay. Free range eggs - okay.

I'm not going to eat those much, and when I do, I expect to enjoy them thoroughly. But this method cuts way down on my consumption day to day consumption without losing the stuff you really appreciate, and makes me put my money where my mouth is w/r/t sustainability and animal care. Need to investigate some things a little more, but I'm going to try pushing this a little bit further anyway.

(This is mostly for at home eating, but I need to do more of that too.)

I'll never give up bread or cheese. They are sacred.

I do not have bread. I have pie. rhubarb pie, that is all mine. Matt doesn't like it and even if he did he is in Portland for the next 10 days - so it would still be all mine

That's one of the things Michael Pollen stresses in his latest book: quality not quantity. If you use that mantra it generally helps you eat less and usually means you're supporting sustainability, etc.

ETA: I'm finally leaving to go put on some pants!

7.9 earthquake in China. Many dead.

Wallybee lived in Chengdu until she was 12.

Wallybee lived in Chengdu until she was 12.

Does she have family there, bt?

It's worrisome.

Ugh, I can't imagine how she's feeling.