No Whey - Whey is produced from Stomach of young calf (rennet)

Argh - Whey is not Vegetarian (If you are a lacto vegetarian)

Most Whey is made using rennet (the inner lining of stomach of young calves). Read here.
Another link pretty much reiterating the same thing:
A third link so it really registers -  Animal protein stays in Whey during cheese making
Beer and wines are not safe either:
http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj97jan/971wine.htm

If you are a lacto-vegetarian like me - watch out!
Most manufacturers hide animal based products under weird sounding chemical names and numbers (TRUE!), check this out...http://veganconnection.com/notvegan.html

USA only, Vegan beers, anyone? -  http://veganconnection.com/veganbeer.htm
USA only, Vegan Wines  - http://www.barnivore.com/wine

Zach Sobiech - R.I.P

A really really depressing day and week so far. I dont recall the click history - but I read about Zach and one click after another...it lead to a heart-breaking and uplifting story about Zach and hear of his passing a few days ago (May 20 2013).

This link gives a brief insight into Zach's life, diagnosis, suffering, family and his love - very touching!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NjKgV65fpo

We have heard this so many times - yet, when I heard Zach say "You dont have to find out you are dying to start living", it touched a chord deep down. Wisdom way beyond his years.

Zach's song, "Clouds" is an internet sensation, you can read the lyrics and watch the video here - http://lybio.net/tag/zach-sobiech-clouds-lyrics/
 

why today's youth are fools and why colleges across the country want them to stay that way

Long long ago, I graduated out of a medium tier college. Not that it opened many doors for me or things would have been different had I graduated from a top-tier college. Chances are, regardless, the station I am at is where I would have been had I taken the umpteen other paths. I am not speaking of Destiny (It is a she and she is a Miss). However, I hate to admit...tip of the hat, Ms Destiny.

I am guilty of a crime - of not understanding American culture. It just belies common-sense.

Why is it harder to imagine that kids CAN stay with their parents and go to a local college/university spending the LEAST amount of money that doesnt endanger the kid or the parent financially? Why? Why? Why?

Back in the day, only because it was prohibitively expensive, and reservation policies that didnt allow a meritirous student like me to pursue an electronics engineering course, I was FORCED to pick a school outside my city. I was home-sick everyday of the 4 years. All in all, I spent somewhere close to $2000 (adjusted for exchange rates in the 1990s) for a 4 year college degree. I was able to earn close to $2000 in the very first year of employment ( I was living with my parents then, no bills, no expenses...free cash flow!)

Let us apply the same to the USA - kids are independent, have other expenses that need to be supported when they do graduate. The starting salary for a fresh out of college is no more than $40-50k. In one statement, let me state emphatically - this salary is NOT SUSTAINABLE. Unless the freshly-minted graduate lives a misers existence paying off the debt before enjoying the first $ as a debt-free man!


Confession - the 4 year degree certificate DID open doors for me, not the college nor the course!

Confession - 2: I am no Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg, CTO ,whiz kid, genius, prodigy. But, just the above-average person any employer would love. If you are reading this, you shouldnt confuse yourself in thinking you are any better. 

See, the world is full of employees. The world is full of engineering graduates. Let us see if you make the connection!


What prompted me to write this article was this paragraph from the daily beast (How to Reinvent the college)

The hazy imprecision of this notion is a triumph of college marketing. Many colleges hope that whims and intangibles will guide student decisions. It’s simply not in their interest to encourage students to think closely about the economics of their choice.

 The economics of obtaining a college degree in the USA are far costlier than other parts of the world. It is hugely tilted in favor of the universities. It will be many times cheaper to get one in India (for example).

Online education may sound the death-knell for these greedy colleges which at this moment are acting like toll-bridges. Not for too long.

WHOLE FOODS Salad Fiasco - This is why Indian Vegetarians MUST never trust even Vegan offerings in Food Stores

I expect great things from Whole Foods. I have shopped there several times and am shocked to learn the latest goof-up.

As a matter of rule, I dont trust *anything*, absolutely anything sold by American food stores,  American/Chinese restaurants or chinese and indian cooks. I eat at only vegan restaurants where there is a little chance of animal/insect/seafood content contaminating the offerings (reminds me of something I am researching right now - POKA YOKE)

Check out this link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/whole-foods-error_n_3249651.html

What is an affront to my senses is the wording in this paragraph:

The Food and Drug Administration noted the vegan salad contains soy, and the curried chicken salad contains egg. It said people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy or eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the salads.


The company, based in Austin, Texas, said no illnesses have been reported

No - this is unacceptable. Some vegetarians (lacto) like me cannot and will not eat animal-contaminated food, for religious and cultural reasons. We are not Vegan by choice or fashion! We chose Vegan so there are no assumptions whatsoever (no lac, no honey, no milk and its by-products too).

This thinking is embedded in American culture. I see it wherever I go - While it is hygienic and ultimately animal flesh is food - getting mentally sick from accidentally consuming contaminated food is the same as physical sickness emanating from allergies. American cooks (Teenagers), chinese or for that matter Indian cooks (in Indian restaurants offering a mix of veg/non-veg) dont get it.

Example, pizza places - they use the same gloved hands to dip into beef/pork and generously dip it into veggies. The pizza cutters are not dedicated for veggie lovers.
"Subway" - another worst example. The contamination of veggies as the workers move from meat to veggies is appalling.

This is happening everyday in America...people are ok with eating tiny chunks of beef, pork and chicken as long as it doesnt make head line news. Argh!


But, for now, I will take whatever 100% vegan restaurants there are in the offering and may their type thrive.