So in my new, ongoing effort to share some news and stuff about the environment, here are a few things that I stumbled upon.
Free-Range Jello: There was an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times titled "I'll Have the Free-range Jello" by Charlotte Allen. Cute title, but really pathetic and sad article. The author talks about the "greening of the Capitol." The cafeteria in the Longworth Office Building on the Hill has apparently changed up its menu to provide more eco-friendly fare. This seems to have provided much amusement and fodder for the author of the opinion piece. She indulges in the excessive use of scare quotes around such words as organic, cage-free, fair trade, and sustainable. Scare quotes are generally used for terms that are nonstandard or ironic. Apparently the author takes delight in thinking of these things as ironic, when in fact they are quite real. The Longworth cafeteria seems to offer healthier options for diners when traditionally they served old favorites like meatloaf, fried chicken, burgers, and mac and cheese. Now, anyone who knows me well knows that I love these foods too. Sometimes a girl wants a good, juicy cheeseburger every now and then. I'm not going to be a hypocrite here. But I would also recognize the benefits of the healthier options of the Longworth cafeteria that are good both for me and the planet. With rising obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, you think that this kind of cafeteria would be a good step in the right direction to solving a lot of connected problems. The author of the piece, though, seems to dismiss it as some kind of trend. After brushing off eco-friendly paper products and utensils, she goes on to make even more light of the recycling stations at the cafeteria. Because, recycling after all is a senseless waste of time. Yes, I'm being sarcastic. This woman is obviously a Republican given her repeated stabs at Democrats, and she closes her article by saying that the Democrats are merely a party of the elite and trendy. Elite? Sweetheart, have you looked at the Republican party lately? Are they not elite? Fortunately I read her article online. Had I received the actual newspaper, I would have to send her to recycling!
Six Degrees: There was a great documentary on the National Geographic Channel tonight called Six Degrees Could Change the World. It discussed the different effects of global warming and climate change and what would happen to the Earth if the average temperature rose by six degrees. It was an excellent show. However, I have some advice for the National Geographic Channel. If you're going to show a documentary about global warming and climate change, you might not want to keep running commercials for the new Hummer.
Current mood: relaxed
Current music: Beth Waters. Beth Waters
Current drink: milk. It does a body good...and it's organic!!
Showing posts with label Green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green. Show all posts
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
This and That
Work: It's still busy. You might send four books to press in one day, but don't think you can rest. You have three new books that you need to get started. Such is the publishing world.
Snow: I knew that it was going to snow this afternoon. The weather people have been talking about it. But I thought it was going to be a light snow. The snow started to fall right after 4:00, and it wasn't that bad. There were just a few swirling flurries. Before I had a chance to look up a second time, half of our department had already gone home to beat the storm. I stayed at the office until about 5:00 because I still had some things to do. By the time I left the office, there was already a good layer of heavy, wet snow on top of my car. By this time the snow was falling faster. It was really dark and gray and cloudy, and with the snow swirling around so much, visibility wasn't that great. The roads were wet and just starting to get bad. I was waiting at a stoplight about half a block away from my apartment. Our light turned green, and I was about ready to go, but someone completely blew through the intersection. I'm not sure if the other driver couldn't see the light or if he couldn't stop because the roads were too slick. Maybe he was just an idiot who ran a red light. But if I pulled into the intersection just a second sooner, the guy would have broadsided me. Fortunately when the weather is snowy and icy, I'm less likely to slam on the gas like I usually do. (Yes, I know that hitting the accelerator the instant when the light turns green is bad for my car, wastes gas, and hurts the environment. I'm trying to change this, honestly.) Thankfully I made it home in one piece.
Caffeine: With the weather being yucky this evening, I wasn't able to go to the grocery store like I intended. I'm out of root beer (among other things), and since I'm addicted to caffeine, I'm starting to go through withdrawal. Yes, I know caffeine is bad for you, and I'm trying to cut down, really. If you're confused, I drink Barq's Root Beer, and Barq's is the only root beer that has caffeine. So now I'm drinking coffee in lieu of root beer.
Green: I frequently lose myself in the internet on random blogs and other sites. It always surprises me that there are still people out there who are still in denial and don't believe that global warming and this whole climate crisis really exists. Some people out there who truly believe that this is simply some kind of frenzy spun and fanned by liberal wackjobs. (I'm liberal and often wacky.) However, the rest of the world knows that global warming is real and there is plenty of science that proves this. Yet, what is the harm in living a greener life? What's the harm in conserving energy? What's the harm in wasting less and recycling more? What's the harm in shopping for more natural and organic products? It might require some more effort and thought, but, quite frankly, more people in this population need to try thinking a little more.
Snow: I knew that it was going to snow this afternoon. The weather people have been talking about it. But I thought it was going to be a light snow. The snow started to fall right after 4:00, and it wasn't that bad. There were just a few swirling flurries. Before I had a chance to look up a second time, half of our department had already gone home to beat the storm. I stayed at the office until about 5:00 because I still had some things to do. By the time I left the office, there was already a good layer of heavy, wet snow on top of my car. By this time the snow was falling faster. It was really dark and gray and cloudy, and with the snow swirling around so much, visibility wasn't that great. The roads were wet and just starting to get bad. I was waiting at a stoplight about half a block away from my apartment. Our light turned green, and I was about ready to go, but someone completely blew through the intersection. I'm not sure if the other driver couldn't see the light or if he couldn't stop because the roads were too slick. Maybe he was just an idiot who ran a red light. But if I pulled into the intersection just a second sooner, the guy would have broadsided me. Fortunately when the weather is snowy and icy, I'm less likely to slam on the gas like I usually do. (Yes, I know that hitting the accelerator the instant when the light turns green is bad for my car, wastes gas, and hurts the environment. I'm trying to change this, honestly.) Thankfully I made it home in one piece.
Caffeine: With the weather being yucky this evening, I wasn't able to go to the grocery store like I intended. I'm out of root beer (among other things), and since I'm addicted to caffeine, I'm starting to go through withdrawal. Yes, I know caffeine is bad for you, and I'm trying to cut down, really. If you're confused, I drink Barq's Root Beer, and Barq's is the only root beer that has caffeine. So now I'm drinking coffee in lieu of root beer.
Green: I frequently lose myself in the internet on random blogs and other sites. It always surprises me that there are still people out there who are still in denial and don't believe that global warming and this whole climate crisis really exists. Some people out there who truly believe that this is simply some kind of frenzy spun and fanned by liberal wackjobs. (I'm liberal and often wacky.) However, the rest of the world knows that global warming is real and there is plenty of science that proves this. Yet, what is the harm in living a greener life? What's the harm in conserving energy? What's the harm in wasting less and recycling more? What's the harm in shopping for more natural and organic products? It might require some more effort and thought, but, quite frankly, more people in this population need to try thinking a little more.
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