karenpj’s Recent Comments

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Other positions at USDA

  I noticed in one of the posts a list of USDA's Food & Nutrition Service positions that are political appointees where some pressure now might be called for.  For the record, the regional administrators are not political appointees.  They are career feds, though as members of the Senior Executive Service, they can be moved around at will.On Brushing aside pressure, Obama taps a big-ag man as USDA chief posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago 16 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Oh Please!

  "I wish influential figures like Pollan and Waters would quit pushing to make industrial food more expensive"

  Tom - give us, and Pollan and Waters, a little credit. These two people are not "pushing to make industrial food more expensive" and you know it.  They were commenting, in the face of rising prices for industrial food, that there may be a silver lining if that makes whole, local, organic or sustainable food more competitive or appealing.  As one of the other commenters said, "We know who the bad guys are..."  and Pollan and Waters are not them.On Why Michael Pollan and Alice Waters should quit celebrating food-price hikes posted 1 year, 7 months ago 27 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Better 3/5 than none!

  Although I understand the frustration behind the comment, I disagree.  This is what's known as "the tragedy of the commons".  In other words, "if everybody else is going to overuse our shared resource, I should too, or else they will profit more than me".  It's just an excuse to keep overgrazing, or polluting, or using more than your share.  Wouldn't it be better if 3/5 of the world DID do the right thing, even if we can't make the other 2/5 do it?  And wouldn't we stand a better chance of getting their cooperation if we were doing the right thing, and could speak from a position of authority and set an example, instead of taking a "no - YOU go first" attitude?On Bush rehashes same ol' environmental ideas in final State of the Union speech posted 1 year, 9 months ago 21 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  The Problem with Christmas

  My family is trying something new instead of buying gifts for the usual gifty occasions.  We've started the "Family Celebration Account".  For every birthday, Mothers' Day, anniversary, etc., the giver can choose to make a contribution to the account in the reciever's honor.  So I would send a card to my sister, saying, "Happy Birthday!  A donation has been made to the Family Celebration Account in your Honor."  The amount is a secret. Each gives according to his/her own budget and ability.  On the occasion of my parents 50th anniversary, in 2010, we'll see what it adds up to and plan a family event.  If it's a lot, we'll take a trip.  If it's not so much, we'll go for dinner and a family portrait.  Everybody likes the lack of pressure, both in terms of the amount of money involved, and eliminating the need to find the "perfect" gift three or four times a year!On Are you brave enough to say no to a high-stress holiday? posted 1 year, 11 months ago 51 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Canned pumpkin?

  I can't wait to try the recipe, but after just reading Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" I am keenly aware this harvest season that pumpkins do not grow in cans!  Did you happen to try any variations with real live pumpkin?On A recipe for no-boil pumpkin lasagna posted 1 year, 11 months ago 10 Responses