I've always been curious about what happened to The Secret Life of Plants. When it was first published (1973) its impact was huge, then it seemed to have vanished. But then, that impact seemed to a large degree to be based on opinion, and perhaps even the concept of causing plants pain was too much for mankind to accept. (Or perhaps that, and science that was, in many cases, too much for science to accept.)

I envy you your level of commitment. The furthest I've managed to go is to refuse to eat anything mammalian. Unfortunately, my record is not good. While I've not deliberately eaten mammals since 1984, it was over a decade before I was told about gelatin. (Jello, capsules) And I suspect I may eat traces of mammal daily as a component of other products. I suspect avoiding fast food and its "one grease cooks all" mentality has helped avoid mammal. (And I was dosed once by a smart-ass waiter who assured me something wasn't mammellian. It was, and I was subjected to what felt much like a three day valium binge.)

And while a chicken is not a mammal, to say that birds are not capable of high levels of intelligence is simply wrong. I rationalize by choosing to eat nothing I feel to be capable of looking back at me with intelligence, or at least awareness (all the while knowing how foolish that intention is.)

Pam, I'd be curious as to your feeling on feeding meat to pets. But only if you interest is piqued, and you feel it's a wise use of your time. (Perhaps an additional article?)

Thank you for your time, and your obvious sense of curiosity. All in all, this was one of the more thought-provoking things I've read lately (and I read a lot.)