First, I'd very much like to thank the estimable dwez, who mentioned my blog on his the other day. It led to a surge of traffic the likes of which I haven't before seen! Thankee, dwez! Second, I'll move to the titular problems. They might well be risible from your point of view, but not from mine! Earlier today I perambulated through town, and into a national chain, which will be unknown, I imagine, to my extra-territorial readership, W. H. Smith's. I fancied buying some synthetic bristles. Now, you fancy folks with your awareness of the highest standards of wargaming painting will know that sable is the very thing to buy. You are the Duchess of Cambridge to my Katie Price, because I'm not buying a darned thing that's been plucked out of an animal.
I was a-listening to Radio 2 earlier today, and Jeremy Vine was chatting to a couple of folk who had recently become vegetarian as a result of the recent exposure of the UK's Food Standards Agency's inability to inspect the standards of food (for anyone abroad the shot story is this: there is horse in the meat Britons eat, and this upsets them). They were remarking on a dread horror of burgers, whereas what alarms me right now is plywood. No, you did read that right. About a week ago I read on t'interweb that plywood (of all things!) might be inimical to me (not to mention the poor wee sods it is made out of!), so I mean to avoid it. I inherited my Dad's desk. He isn't dead, mind, and I am shorter than he, so I rest a "sub-desk" on the main-drawer. Dad's got a new desk downstairs, you nervy types! I had been resting a plywood piece there, but now I find myself resting a solidish lump of plasticard there (3 layers of 2mm plasticard).
In a word, I have knocked up a monstrosity from plasticard because the plywood is too horrifying to retain. Meanwhile, the substance which appals will be the base material for a few approaching projects - none of which will remain near me!
Explain the plywood thing?
ReplyDeleteA few years ago a homewares supplier was supplying Pastry Brushes with pigs hair. Not only is this an issue for Vegetarian's and Vegans but also Muslims and Jews. They had to recall the lot and bin them. Fairly basic issue that no one had thought about.
ReplyDeleteOh and I second the plywood question
Ian
Even after years of learning that people will put bits of animals into anything, I was still surprised by the plywood thing. Here's an explanation I've nabbed from PETA ( http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/animal-ingredients-list.aspx )
ReplyDelete"Blood.
From any slaughtered animal. Used as adhesive in plywood, also found in cheese-making, foam rubber, intravenous feedings, and medicines. Possibly in foods such as lecithin. Alternatives: synthetics, plant sources."
It really is a different world these days, isn't it, Ian? These days foods will explicitly say they are suitable for coeliac sufferers, that they're halal or kosher, and this sort of thing just didn't exist a couple of decades ago. I went to Canada as a teenager (vegetarian or vegan, I forget), and a very sweet lady kept trying to offer me beef gravy with my meal!
Wow. It had honestly never occured to me that something like plywood would be non-vegan. Although are PETA 100% reliable as a source? (Not a dig, just asking!)
ReplyDeleteOh, I think they can be trusted on something like this. There's another site with more info here ( http://www.networx.com/article/animal-ingredients-in-home-improvement-p ), which contains the vaguely pleasing news that the blood glue has been largely replaced. I might write to the DIY places and see if any of them can assure me I can buy their products with a clear conscience.
DeleteWho knew I could wield so much influence? Happy to help out another hobby blogger. Sadly I must reveal I actually bought my first sable [Citadel] brush. However, prior to this I've been getting along with Royal Langnickel's SVP1 [Super Value Pack] of Gold Taklon brushes - 10 for around £6. Alternatively the Daler Rowney Taklon Artist's set - 7 for £7 is slightly better.
ReplyDeleteCheers, dwez! I shall keep a look out for those next time I'm about. I have been picking up packets of brushes from Smith's, which tends to result in an accumulation of brushes too large for most painting, as the little and large ones get used for models or terrain, while the middle ones rest themselves. It's a bit of a reverse of The Three Bears. :-D
DeleteThere's plenty of big and chunky ones in those packs too, I use them for bases and buildings too http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41d3VAh5pbL._SY300_.jpg
DeleteOoh, that definitely looks promising!
Deleteis plastic vegan? As its made of oil, which is a hydrocarbon formed from organice matter and will certainly have included animals at some point?
ReplyDeleteI'm more concerned about cruelty to animals now than deaths by means unknown a few million years ago, Phil. ;-) I don't know of anyone who is a vegan and opposed to plastic, nor have I heard of anyone like that. Though in truth I don't know a lot of vegans. We're a small sect of vegetarians, who are already a minority.
Delete