Freelancing

I tried to set up an Elance profile but apparently their admissions test is down.

I also vaguely recall setting one up a couple of years ago, but I go through emails like a drunk man goes through peanuts.

So, this means I have to search and find it and update my profile from years ago.

Freelancing and then publishing my own book thats the plan.

I should probably create some book reviews at well as some point, but I've had little time to read.

And those of you that know me personally are probably rolling their eyes with disbelief. No time for reading? She practically breathes books!

Sad but true, no time, rush rush.

Though I am getting a lot more writing done. And I adore that my blog gives me an "excuse" to post as much as I want.

Also the more I post the more people visit, oh Google Analytics how I love thee.

So if anyone reading this has a freelance gig for me toss me a comment or email me at

marika@monolithicstudios.com

Ramblings 17: Starving with a full Plate

Why is it that people want better quality but are unwilling to pay for it?

I just read an article about organic food. One of the writers commented how it is hypocritical to demand more organic and healthier food and not be willing to pay for the difference.

He also included that for some people it is a big deal and they can't afford it.

But let's look at the big picture. If everyone started buying organic, natural foods the prices would be forced down due to competition.

Currently organics is not leading in the market I believe it is about 17% or less here in Finland. And everyone moans about the price and then buys the non-organic cheaper one.

But if we all bought it this would change. Yes it is more expensive to grow and make, and not as sure. But if the people demand the companies, governments, the world has the answer.

And those forward thinking people would set up companies to dive into the "new" organic food market. 

Competition, competition.

But if you aren't willing to pay, the prices will never go down and even more long term the quality of food will decrease to such a level in which you can practically starve even with full plates of food just because the nutrients have been removed, sucked out or made so synthetically your body treats them as trash.

Most of us suck at seeing the big picture, in realizing that we do have the power to cause change.

Imagine, starving when your fridge and plate are full of food.

What I'm Eatting

For the past two and a half months I have had little choice in what food I consumed.

My Choice:

Now since moving out I get to decide and make whatever I want, which isn't always the best, especially when you are tired from work.

Generally the Finnish diet is chicken, fish and ground beef. With heavy doses or potatoes or pasta.

Salads in Finland are often laughable in proportions. Which is understandable since produce is rather expensive.

But I decided to splorge, my fridge is filled with leafy greens, mangos, tomatoes, paprika, pears, peaches, yams and more. 

It is fantastic, no fried food, no greasy meat.

Oh, I do have cold cuts, but I use them for flavoring and not the central focus of my meal.

I have discovered a fantastic sandwich.

Rye bread with avocado in the place of butter, a smidge of onion, couple slices and paprika (pepper) and a pile of lettuce. And then 1-2 slices of a chicken or beef cold cut.

It is ridiculously good.

My brother has discovered for himself the Raw Fat diet.

Which I haven't quite moved onto, but I'm working on it.

And by diet I don't mean short term. This actual change in the long term in what you eat

You avoid all processed fats, which is rather difficult since most foods contain it. And if you want meat you generally cook it. But to counter this you have smaller portions of meat and fresh veggies and fruit.

Avoid cooking when you can.

This diet leaves you with so much energy it is almost ridiculous. However you have to eat more!

The leafy stuff doesn't have all that much energy. So instead of 3 meals a day you go for about 6. But they are slightly smaller in proportions.

There is a bit more to it, but I'm still working on this details.

Comment: Feeding Your Pet

Hi Lee Ryan,

I am no animal expert or health expert, let alone professional. 

I do not know what you normally feed your dog, or the type of dog you have.

But here is my response to your comment:

From my own experiences, through osmosis, from television, websites, books, magazines and research, I believe you didn't hurt your dog.

You just gave him a tasty treat, which probably was a lot healthier than most dog treats. 

You got the meat from a local farmer, and assuming he doesn't inject or feed his animals with excessive growth hormones or other drugs.

Generally, the more raw the food you eat the better it is for you, however with today's world you risk a variety of diseases since most of our immune systems have been damaged by pollution and other toxins and lack of contact with a variety of bacteria due to excessive sterility (cleanliness).

Here is what I go by when buying for myself, and any animal for that matter: The less ingredients the better. If you can't understand the label then that food probably isn't good for you. It is most likely synthetic and made from a lot of oil-based chemicals.

As long as you didn't pour on a ton of salt and sauces your good to go. One steak isn't going to harm your dog. And most likely it might be even healthier for your dog to eat that than his regular food.

Grilling the meat is a type of processing so your dog won't have gotten as much out of the steak as he could have, next time try a rare one if you didn't this time. You want to avoid fried fats, (any fat that has been heated up is processed and our bodies (not sure of dogs) aren't designed to process that)

A lot of owners cook for their pets, this can often be expensive, but might be healthier if you do your research and find out what your dog really needs in his diet.

I don't know this for a fact, but I don't think a dogs natural diet includes the amount of corn and wheat most pet foods contain.

I conclude with do your research, don't just read what the pet food manufacturer says, remember he makes a profit from you and will twist his words to make you believe in his product.

Remember when researching to check who funded the study, often you will find it is the pet food manufacturers in the background. Though research is supposed to be unbiased, pure and everthing good it is often higly influenced by who does the funding and can be heavily skewed or censored.

If there are any errors in this post feel free to contact me and I will correct them.

And once again I speak only from my experiences and studies and make NO CLAIM to be an expert, phD or doctor.

Feeding Your Pet

I recently read an article in a pet magazine that was about debunking classic pet animal myths.

One of them was that you shouldn't feed for pet "people" food.

It went on to say that it was okay as long as you don't feed too much and avoid highly processed foods and ones that contain preservatives and other chemical additives.

Okay so pretty much feed your pet natural food.

So it's not okay for your pet dog or cat to eat that MacDonald's burger, for example, but it is okay for you and your kids.

Because if you feed it to your dog or cat, they might get sick, they might get fat.

We apparently value our pets health more than our own. Or maybe in pets the effects are just that much more apparent, after all they barely live a fraction life times. (10-17 years)

Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this picture?

Ramblings 16: Drinking

I have been drinking and since I was on the metro I started thinking about the differences in my mind when I am drunk versus sober.

I have concluded that I am a surface thinker when not-sober. It has the feeling that I am only skimming the top of my thoughts and that their is a labyrinth beneath that I cannot access, blocked by a barrier created by alcohol.

It takes serious effort to get through the wall to even feel that I am getting even a semblance of my normal level of thinking.

It will be interesting to read this post when I am totally sober. Also I am more prone to spelling error or wrong word choice when I have been drinking. I am doing a lot of backspacing.

I guess people drink to get away from their thoughts, as my friend and I both believe it is to forget, to not think about their own lives that they drink.

Though I find some affects of alcohol enjoyable, I will never include it into my regular habits. Because frankly I have so much more fun sober, and sober fun stays clear and true in memory and saves you a freaking headache the next morning.