One's thoughts.

[sei_kun]

2 thoughts which have been occupying my mind lately.

1. A colleague at work is a vegan. We're talking about the full deal here, no animal products, doesn't eat milk or egg or anything that contains either, doesn't wear leather, etc, etc. And he treats his pets (cats) like his own kids, even asking another colleague while on the phone if she'd like to

Comments

[leemur]

Its my day off work, but the librarian in me compels me to answer. Plus I know the answers of the top of my head. Ah the joys of working at the reference desk.

1. Strictly speaking, cats cannot live on a vegan diet. They require an amino acid called taurine (which is also a stimulant; it's the stuff they put in Red Bull that makes it taste like arse, as well as being the reason for the name (Taurine sounds like Taurus, the bull)) found only in animal muscle or they go blind. It is possible to synthesize the stuff artificially to add to food, but that makes it more expensive.

2. Because the English language has no one in charge of it. Originally terrific would have meant the same as terrible, but it changed over time. The same thing happened with the word 'awful', which originally meant 'full of awe' but now means the opposite of 'awesome', even though at one point it was the same thing. The word 'wicked' is another. The language is full of them.

[sei_kun]

That's damn good answers, and thoroughly satisfied my curiousity. Will treat you to a cup of coffee or something the next time I see you.

I did ask the guy, 15min after posting this entry, and confirmed that his cats ate regular cat food.

P.S.: Still very much envy your job.