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  I've been using Host Papa, who are powered with 100% green energy, for over a year now to host my professional website, and I've been very happy with them.

  On Umbra advises on web hosting posted 6 months, 2 weeks ago 13 Responses

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  I grew up in Gloucester, MA.  Although one of the larger (if not the largest?) commercial fishing towns on the East Coast, Gloucester in the 70's was still fished by primarily "small" boats: Dads and sons and cousins going out for 3 to 4 weeks at a time to fish off of George's Bank.  I know surprisingly little about their fishing methods, considering I spent my entire childhood there, but I do know that even back then the controversy raged over the depleting fish stocks in George's Bank, and none of the small fisherman wanted George's Bank closed to fishing, even though they knew that they fishing stocks were being depleted.

  We're talking about people's livelihood here; closing George's Bank would have put most of the town out of business, and even though the fishing was getting harder and harder, there seemed to be no good answer.  IMO, the "efficiency" of large-scale fishing operations (like large-scale CAFOs and large-scale ag) simply serves to drive down the cost of fish, thereby forcing the small fisherman to catch even more fish; stay out longer, take bigger risks, poach protected areas, etc., because it takes that much more to earn a living.

  Like everything else, fish-eaters are going to need to learn to adapt; either cut way down on fish, or figure out a way to sustainably raise farmed fish.  Although people still eat wild meat, we couldn't possibly support America's meat habit on wild game alone; farmed meat had to come along, or people would have had to cut way down on meat, or many species would have disappeared altogether.

  Although catch limits and protected areas may help some, they are simply too easy to get around.  A massive price increase may help to decrease the market for the bluefin tuna, but then again, may tempt more fisherman to break the rules for the big pay-off. 

  It's not easy.

   

   

  On Report: Mediterranean bluefin tuna on verge of collapse posted 6 months, 3 weeks ago 5 Responses

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  For delicious, single-source, coffee-with-a-conscience, check out www.littlefeetcoffee.com. Little Feet is a non-profit org that distributes soccer balls to children in need all over the world; while on a trip to Honduras to distribute balls, the LF founders ended up at a coffee collective high in the hills, and Little Feet Coffee was born. Part of the proceeds supports the collective's children's soccer team (gear, uniforms, actual soccer balls instead of rolled up coffee sacks) and the rest goes to pay higher-than-Fair-Trade prices to this collective that grows organic, rainforest certified, shade-grown coffee. I subscribed to a monthly shipment of LF coffee and it's one of the highlights of my month when it comes in the mail. Full disclosure: Trevor Slavick, one of the founders, is a friend of mine. But that doesn't make the coffee less delicious, nor the cause less worthy. Check it out!On Coffee: Have an Impact on the World, One Cup at a Time posted 6 months, 3 weeks ago 4 Responses

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  I grew up in Gloucester, MA, one of, if not the, biggest commercial fishing towns on the East Coast. Or at least it was in the 70's; I think they've turned to tourism now, as Georges Bank has been declining in fish population since those very 70's. It's a tough issue; I eat meat, and I'm very conscious that meat is a luxury - buy sustainable, humane, local, heritage meat - but if I had to go out and shoot my meat, I would likely eat much less. Farmed fish is a fairly recent thing, but I think we've known for 30 or 40 years now that the oceans simply can't support mankind's appetite for fish. Frankly, I can't stomach seafood of any variety (I know - sacrilege on Good Friday no less!); maybe it was all those tuna-fish-sandwich-lunch-and-haddock-dinner-Fridays when I was growing up. Maybe some part of my childish brain knew that my Grandmother was miserable working the assembly line at Gorton's for 50 years. I don't know - but I do know, people are going to have to eat less fish - or eat farmed fish. Otherwise, we will surely decimate wild populations and that may change the oceans forever. One local place I know of is Cabbage Hill Farm in Mount Kisco, NY. I believe they raise the (despised) tilapia. I've never had it, but the veggies they grow with the fish-pond water are delicious, and I know that they are conscious, sustainable, caring growers. Maybe Mr. Bittman should check them out.On Food writers and the state of the oceans posted 7 months ago 9 Responses

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  I grew up in Gloucester, MA, one of, if not the, biggest commercial fishing towns on the East Coast. Or at least it was in the 70's; I think they've turned to tourism now, as Georges Bank has been declining in fish population since those very 70's. It's a tough issue; I eat meat, and I'm very conscious that meat is a luxury - buy sustainable, humane, local, heritage meat - but if I had to go out and shoot my meat, I would likely eat much less. Farmed fish is a fairly recent thing, but I think we've known for 30 or 40 years now that the oceans simply can't support mankind's appetite for fish. Frankly, I can't stomach seafood of any variety (I know - sacrilege on Good Friday no less!); maybe it was all those tuna-fish-sandwich-lunch-and-haddock-dinner-Fridays when I was growing up. Maybe some part of my childish brain knew that my Grandmother was miserable working the assembly line at Gorton's for 50 years. I don't know - but I do know, people are going to have to eat less fish - or eat farmed fish. Otherwise, we will surely decimate wild populations and that may change the oceans forever. One local place I know of is Cabbage Hill Farm in Mount Kisco, NY. I believe they raise the (despised) tilapia. I've never had it, but the veggies they grow with the fish-pond water are delicious, and I know that they are conscious, sustainable, caring growers. Maybe Mr. Bittman should check them out.On Food writers and the state of the oceans posted 7 months ago 9 Responses