Oxford "Word of the Year" Announced

[Ben]

And here it is (and interesting that locally raising or hunting and killing animals to eat isn't mentioned):

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http://michellemalkin.com/2007/11/12/oxford-word-of-the-year/

    The past year saw the popularization of a trend in using locally grown ingredients, taking advantage of seasonally available foodstuffs that can be bought and prepared without the need for extra preservatives.

    The locavore movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers markets or even to grow or pick their own food, arguing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. Locavores also shun supermarket offerings as an environmentally friendly measure, since shipping food over long distances often requires more fuel for transportation.

    The word locavore shows how food-lovers can enjoy what they eat while still appreciating the impact they have on the environment, said Ben Zimmer, editor for American dictionaries at Oxford University Press. Its significant in that it brings together eating and ecology in a new way.

    Locavore was coined two years ago by a group of four women in San Francisco who proposed that local residents should try to eat only food grown or produced within a 100-mile radius. Other regional movements have emerged since then, though some groups refer to themselves as localvores rather than locavores. However its spelled, its a word to watch.

[CAnnoneer]

I have coined the term "sanfrantwit". What do I win? 

[French G.]

Well the nice part is once the vegans think they have conquered the world we'll still have all the guns. What do you think grass finished human tastes like? I've got some local hippies, wouldn't want to waste bio-diesel importing them. 

[Fly320s]

That whole "eat what is produced within 100 miles" thing is fine, unless one lives in Iowa.  I hope you like corn.  I wonder what people in Las Vegas eat?

[wooderson]

How outrageous that some of these damn San Francisco homo liberals want to... support local small businesses and eat healthier! Why do they hate America?

[Marnoot]

How outrageous that some of these damn San Francisco homo liberals want to... support local small businesses and eat healthier! Why do they hate America?

I don't see anyone in this thread being offended by "locavores." It's just amusing, because most, were they to follow this ideology religiously, would most likely die of malnutrition.

[Ben]

support local small businesses and eat healthier!

If they wanted to eat healthier, they would have mentioned meat. Vegetables are what food eats.

[wooderson]

ignoring as an issue the wastefulness of meat production (and I eat plenty of it, so I'm not a vegan casting the first stone or anything):

What do you mean? Who are 'they' and how do you know they don't mention meat? I know some people having locavore Thanksgivings in California and Texas - they'll be eating regionally-sourced meat.

[Warren]

Great, so I would be limited to rice, walnuts and beef. Maybe a few fish. Some strawberries, honey, olives and pot. Plus what the Hmongs grow for themselves. Just zippy.

[Ben]

"They" are the locavore movement, which talks about growing and picking your food. I've never picked a spare rib. But at this point, I'm just having fun watching you pick fights with a humor post. Not everything needs to be a political discussion.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Great.

I'd be reduced to eating undocumented workers and Asian engineers.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[Regolith]

In my home town, we'd be reduced to eating sage if we were to follow that.  Maybe potatoes.   


It wouldn't be too bad where I am now, but it still wouldn't be that great....

[jeepmor]

I like the concept in regards to the local community supporting the local community.  Stores like New Seasons operate on this concept, and do well at it.  However, they also charge way too damn much too.  If the point is to save fuel resources and provide healthful products by means of organic crop production, why do I have to pay so much more for it?

But for me supporting the likes of New Seasons, it boils down to two things really.  One, they count my bottle returns for me like the old days.  And two, they carry a kick ass beer selection.

Ever notice these folks that come up with these concepts are drinking French wines and eating Russian Caviar types?  Maybe it's just me, but if California fell in the ocean now, my only hope would be that it doesn't take my beloved Oregon with it. 

[CAnnoneer]

Ever notice these folks that come up with these concepts are drinking French wines and eating Russian Caviar types? 

Yes, but the illegals that clean their palaces and raise their kids presumably stimulate the local agriculture by the increased demand. Or so the rationalization goes. It is a social form of "offsets", a.k.a. indulgences.

For one of the typical faces of today's liberal, watch "Spanglish".

[grampster]

Within a hundred miles?  I knew that someday living in Michigan would be primo.  We have a plethora of choices of virtually all foods (fruit, vegetable and critter) except tropical fruit, plus we have all the water.   Lots of wineries and breweries too.  Where is that thumbs your nose smiley?

[MechAg94]

Local stuff is fine as long as you are watching your nutrition or at least staying within reason.  My interpretation would be to buy local if there is a local option.  I know I wouldn't be lucky enough to have a Cheese-It factory within 100 miles.

Growing up, we ate a lot of local grass fed beef since my parents had a couple cows that ran on my Grandpa's land.  It is also nice to know the Blue Bell ice cream factory in Brenham, TX was less than 100 miles away.  So is the local Budweiser brewery in Houston. 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I'll become a locavore as soon as they start growing Oreos and single malt scotches in Indiana. 

I intend to enjoy the benefits of living in a modern, civilized society.  If those hippie idjits want to live like hunter gatherers, that's their loss.

[Halo is for Kids]

unless one lives in Iowa.  I hope you like corn.

I live in IA, and I likes me some corn.  I've lived in Texas and AZ too.  It's easy to be a locavore in TX and IA with all of the local grown and raised foods. 

Not so easy in Phoenix AZ.  The local agriculture (mostly roses) puts a strain on the available water supply.  I wouldnt be surprised if the local ag is out of Phoenix in the next 10 years, due to the growth in and around the city.

If you want to reduce waste, buy local veggies, and eat organic or free-range chicken.  Chicken has a high feed to pound of lean ratio.  Hatch to the table in about 6-8 weeks. 

Go to an average chicken farm a few times and you will start to taste the difference in the meat.  The litter is rarely changed, due to cost reduction, and the meat begins to taste like the farm smells.  Picture 50,000 birds sharing a 50,000 square foot chicken house with a new batch every 8 weeks.  Now put 6 of those houses on one plot of land.  Smells a bit, though some say that's the smell of money.

Kosher is good too.  Strict religious guidelines to from start to finish.

BTW Free-range, Organic, and Kosher are expensive, so just keep on going to wal-mart and buying the sams choice value packs.

[Scout26]

I wonder what people in Las Vegas eat?

Sand, money and tourists.......