Vegetarianism and diet-again This article in Time gives mixed reviews to vegetarianism. It's not surprising that vegetarians have more problems with deficiencies since it takes more nutritional know-how when you avoid meat (and if you are vegan-animal related products). I notice that the article does hint at the almost religious fervor that some vegetarians bring to their ... discipline? (please note-I eat meat about once a week max-so I'm not someone who's drooling blood after dinner) Here is an interesting quote though that makes some common-sense points about the animal-rights arguments for vegetarianism:

The other reason for beef eating is, hold on, ethical—a matter of animal rights. The familiar argument for vegetarianism, articulated by Tom Regan, a philosophical founder of the modern animal-rights movement, is that it would save Babe the pig and Chicken Run's Ginger from execution. But what about Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse? asks Steven Davis, professor of animal science at Imbler State University, pointing to the number of field animals inadvertently killed during crop production and harvest. One study showed that simply mowing an alfalfa field caused a 50% reduction in the gray-tailed vole population. Mortality rates increase with each pass of the tractor to plow, plant and harvest. Rabbits, mice and pheasants, he says, are the indiscriminate "collateral damage" of row crops and the grain industry.

Don't let the facts get in the way though!