SageAgainstTheMachine

Of course dining is more than filling one's stomach. That's why this is going to be difficult. I use the term luxury only to mean "non-necessity". Chef, I'm not trying to denigrate the role of food in the shared human experience or the personal human experience...I'm attempting to understand it better. What becomes of the man who denies himself his most common form of joy? That's what I'm getting at. I won't begrudge you the opinion that I'm stupid. I've gotten quite a bit of that, understandably.

I'll take that challenge, good sir. The moment I cheat, I stop.

Off campus, yes. Alone, no.

Yes, but I don't see that happening all TOO much. Yes, that's partially the point. Ceasing to indulge on food, to see how I react differently to life's other indulgences

For those who didn't feel like reading the entirety of the original post, I'll quickly explain the gestalt of my experiment here... The utility of food is for survival. But for humans with means, it is a luxury...a beneficient shared experience of the human condition. Food fills something of a similar role in our culture to music, entertainment media, reading, etc. Something we indulge in. But what if we stopped indulging? What if food was nothing more than the means to an end, like it is for the rest of the living world? Would the remainder of our human experiences become that much more significant? Well, I plan to check that out.

To those who asked, there are no beverage restrictions. In fact, a pound of lentils each day only accounts for about 1,000 calories, so it will probably be necessary. Is it in the spirit of the experiment? Who knows? And yes, one concern is my social life, especially women. But I prefer those females who are a little bit...let's say...off, anyway haha.

Oh, it's most definitely a LAMP. But I figure, what's the point in pretending we're not all after attention? Of course, I'm trying this from the douchebaggy "Aren't I delightfully eccentric?" perspective.

That's right, nothing but lentils. For one year. Wish me luck. Here's the schpiel that I already posted on a facebook note..... Hello friends, family, acquaintances,strangers, and enemies I have some bizarre news. Starting at the beginning of 2011 on January 1, I will be embarking on a year-long journey, during which I will be eating nothing but plain medium green lentils. That's right...365 days of nothing but lentils. No recipes, no seasonings, nothing but plain prepared lentils (and a daily vitamin supplement to make sure I don't find myself dangerously low on any nutrient). Beginning tomorrow morning, I plan to eat nothing else until January 1, 2012. Originally, I planned on starting earlier than January 1, but for the sake of organization, why not bow to the Gregorian calendar as we always do? So what's prompting this? Well, it began when I interviewed Chris Voight of the Washington State Potato Commission several weeks ago for a segment called Weird News on a radio show that I co-host with my friend Kyle. Chris put himself on a potatoes-only diet for two months, for the purpose of proving the health value of potatoes. We performed a follow up interview the other day and Chris had some very interesting things to say about the experience, which he completed successfully and happily. So I thought to myself..."What if I tried this?". Now, unlike Mr. Voight, I have no particular association or relationship to lentils. Simply, they are the most suitable comestible for this type of experiment. Lentils contain an adequate amount of a number of specific nutrients, not to mention more complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fibers than I'd know what to do with. As I mentioned, I'll also be taking a supplement each morning to account for the nutrients the lentils lack. As for why I plan on doing this, the reasons are four... 1. I believe in testing the limits of our human experience. Now, this isn't to suggest that solitary consumption of a nutritious food is some sort of torture. I'm well in tune with the fact that a good portion of the world would kill for such a diet. However, having been raised and developed in a way that stressed dietary variety, I believe it will be more than a significant test of my will and spirit. 2. I want to develop a deeper appreciation for the simple joys in life. Too often, good-tasting foods act as something of a petty treat as a substitute for true visceral experiences. In a way, I will be enhancing all other experiences by denying myself the most readily available of them. By introducing a high degree of blandness into my dietary life, I must seek thrills elsewhere. Sights, sounds, smells will all become more profound...at least, that's the plan. 3. We, as a society, have lost complete touch with the notion that the primary motivation for eating ought to be survival. By limiting myself to one food, I hope to personally reattain this notion. 4. I believe that one ought to do something absurd like this at least once in one's life, and embrace one's eccentricities instead of shunning them. BONUS #5! 5. I'll save a ton of money. So why a year? Why not a week, 2 weeks, a month? Well, I think a year is a happy medium. I don't think that I intend for this to be a permanent change, but I also want to allow myself a long enough time-frame in order for this to become an inherent part of my life, and not just something inside the context of an experiment. A year should be long enough for that. Of course, there are many questions, concerns and doubts. What sorts of health risks do I pose here, being somebody not used to this type of diet? How will this affect me socially? What will the boredom do to me as I first grow accustomed to it? How bad will the cravings become? Well, stay tuned, I suppose... Tomorrow, I begin with the lentils. I fully expect the little buggers to simultaneously become my greatest friends and most bitter enemies. To those of you understandably wondering this...No, I have not gone off the reservation. I simply see this bizarre act as being potentially very beneficial to me. Cheers everybody, Alex Jay Sage .

I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I think that's a secret fear of all Bills fans, that we won't live to see the Superbowl, or that the team moves before they win one.

Umm...what? Ralph admitted that we've drafted poorly, but said we've got some diamonds in the rough that we can build on for next season. The man doesn't exactly have my faith, but this is raising the middle finger how?

Might not expect it per se, but you can bet they'd be more ready.

As we do in the later rounds and finding undrafted players. Kyle Williams - Round 5 Arthur Moats - Round 6 Steve Johnson - Round 7 David Nelson - Undrafted Fred Jackson - Undrafted Demetrius Bell - Round 7 We didn't draft Fitzpatrick, but we certainly seem like the only team that watned to give him a chance. Other names like Donald Jones and Mansfield Wrotto aren't yet established players, but they are vastly outplaying their status as undrafted rooks. To be fair, we have hit on at least a couple high draft picks. Poz, Wood, Levitre are good players. Whitner has had his best season to date in my opinion. Whoops, scratch what I said about Wrotto. Must have been confusing him with Howard. Still fits under the category of unlikely starter, though.

I disagree. Fitzpatrick is not going to singlehandedly lead a team to the playoffs, like some of the best QBs in the NFL can. But if the team around him is above average, he is certainly good enough to guide them to 10-6 or 11-5. I really believe that.

Gotta say, it was sweet watching the Bills drag the fish down to hell with them. Henne might have picked it up late in the game, but it was Fitzmagic casting a curse on Crapenter.

As one of the dozens of folks around here who were insisting that the team would go winless this season after starting 0-8? I don't remember any specific names, but I can't count the amount of times I saw, "Look at the schedule and tell me which game they're going to win". I, for one, am a proud fan of the 4-10 BUFFALO BILLS...I say bring on 2011. We'll be ready.

Shrader, fair enough. I agree.

You guys don't know what you're talking about, because in the context of Jackson's season 1,000 yards or more would be VERY impressive. He wasn't used as workhorse running back until Week 7. Up to that point, his highest number of carries in any given week was 12. I repeat, 1,000 yards for Jackson this year would be a feat.

I wouldn't normally think of somebody at the age of 67 living on borrowed time in this day and age...but man, is he ever.

I didn't even know it existed. Sorry if I'm missing something, but I don't see myself ever considering Transformers to be something worth caring about artistically.

After a very rough opening drive, the defense hosted a major goal line stand to uncharacteristically keep Hillis out of the end zone and force a field goal. From that point on, Hillis was held to average numbers (an improvement for our piss poor run defense) and their passing game was completely shut down. An overall solid effort, and most importantly we never let up. Forced a ton of fumbles too, even if we only capitalized on two of them. Yeah, it was bad weather. Yeah, it was Jake Delhomme. But holding any NFL team to fewer than 200 yards from scrimmage is impressive in my book.

Huh? I've been to a few dozen shows and never seen open booing.

Though I have to say, the defense as a whole is showing a ton more signs of life than they were earlier in the season. Gave up 14 points against an improved Detroit offense...absolutely shut down Cincy in the second half, despite a horrific first half...only 19 points against the Steelers, including a lengthy overtime.

Haha, it's my buddy's 21st tomorrow. Hoping to hit the Chapter House once the clock strikes midnight.

BILLS 41, STEELERS 10 LET'S GO BABY WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Hell, I'll raise ya. Nothing but plain lentils and water til we lose!