h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

i was wondering about the isinglass mentioned in one part of guess who's... tell me more as i enjoy beer and wine, as well as vegan's who are far more strict than i, and would like to not insult them with such.
Thanks
grey

So sorry not to have replied earlier - I don't check the page terribly often. Isinglass is a gelatinous clarifying agent made from the swim bladder of fish. If you look at the listing for vegan wines at the bottom of the article, you should find quite a few isinglass-free options. I think it's wonderful that you're prepared to go the extra mile on other peoples' behalf

I'm not very strict about myself, but know people who are.

I was wondering also if isinglass has anything to do with the product that is a clear plastic often used as windows on the removable tops of big yacht type boats? It doesn't really matter just an odd connection that i noticed.

Let me know if you find really outstanding vegan material!

I don't know about yachts, but it was used to make a "diamond cement", jelly, and glue used in the repair of pottery. Nowadays, I think that its main use is as a clarifier in alcohol, as synthetics have taken over other industrial uses.

As to outstanding vegan material, what kind do you mean? Cookbooks, websites, books on ethics, magazines, information on restaurants, etc.? Over the years, I've amassed a reasonable amount of information, though hardly encyclopaedic. I can provide you with information on resources I use on a regular basis if you'd like.

That would be great. thanks.

I often find myself trying to explain the reasons for veganism to people who happily eat meat. I wish I had some less offensive material. I always seem to bring it back to the treatment of the animals, and people usually don't want to hear it (especially while eating).

It is a little ironic because I was introduced to the vegan idea by some friends who were. I was at the time a happy meat eater (and about 50 pounds heavier), I was the one arguing that meat is good etc.

Anyway I like all the things you mentioned and would be interested in learning more. Stuff that plants a seed of interest and awareness in people instead of just aggrivating them would be good for me.

I am travelling back home today and my internet access will be somewhat limited, but I will be checking this site and look foward to hearing from ya!

Thanks again

It's about 4:30am where I am, so I hope this is reasonably coherent and reasonably helpful.

Vegan Information:

The Vegan Society
Provides accurate, detailed, highly readable information on all aspects of veganism. I described it elsewhere as "packed with properly cited studies on veganism, lays out all the issues clearly and non-threateningly, and has an aura of respectability about it which goes down well with non-vegans."

The United States Department of Agriculture's study on osteoporosis showing that vegans build bone significantly faster than omnivores. This is important, because the USDA's mandate is not to protect the public, but to further the interests of American food producers.

Vegan.com is a good site full of resources for vegans, including a vegan nutrition column by a professional nutritionist, Virginia Messina.

Vegan Outreach, a US organisation, has an excellent section on veganism and the environment.

Here are a great article on essential fatty acids in the vegetarian diet and a really good article on vegetarian athletes from Andrews University. The university is run by the 7th Day Adventists, who are usually vegetarian and have amassed quite a body of work on vegetarianism and health.

Live Journal's veganpeople community FAQ provides lots of information on a wide variety of topics, and so does their vegancooking community FAQ.

GetVegan.com is a lovely Californian site which explores the correlation between veganism, environmentalism, and living a mindful life.

Vegan Village provides all manner of information, including networking, pertaining to veganism in the UK.

Cookbooks and Cookery Websites:

Cookbooks (all US titles available in the UK):

'Vegan Vittles', 'The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook', 'The Vegan Deli' - Joanne Stepniak
'How It All Vegan', 'The Garden of Vegan' - Barnard and Kramer
'Authentic Chinese Cuisine: For the Contemporary Kitchen' - Bryanna Clark Grogan
'The Voluptuous Vegan' - Myra Kornfeld, et al
'The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen' - Donna Klein
'Veggie Works Vegan Cookbook' - Mark W. Rasmussen, Luther G. Brossa
'Real Vegetarian Thai' - Nancie McDermott
'Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure' - Lorna J. Sass (pressure cooker recipes)

Websites:

Low Fat Vegetarian Archive
The Vegan Chef (includes Q&A)
Kate's Vegan Cookery site
Cat-Tea Corner
Vegan Mania
"Keep in fridge for better crunchy"
The Post-Punk Kitchen
DIY Auction recipe collection

Oh dear. I was very tired. Well, the tags are bad, but the links themselves are fine.