Comments redambrosia99 has made
Meteorology...
...is not Climatology :POn Inhofe's resident media agitator leaving to start a new climate-skeptic website posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago 9 Responses
Religion
One could argue that Religion has proved itself to be equally unfit for authority. In fact, the Church has given us nearly two thousand years worth of awesomely bad policy and management to back up that argument.
But you're right, science can only be part of a policy building tool. What we really need (imo) is for people to be taught the scientific way of thinking, as way for considering problems especially. For analyzing problems and coming up with solutions science is great.
What science isn't good at is morals and ethics (as Hume discovered when he applied empirical analysis to philosophy [sorry, I just got done reading about Hume and it's stuck in my head lol]). So to a certain extent we need something like religion to go hand in hand with science to apply some ethics and morals to it.On A look at the non-experts speaking at Heartland Institute's denialist sideshow posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago 23 Responses
Oh Em Gee
The World Bank finally put some money into a good cause! Quick someone pinch me!
Lol, of course that's assuming they don't have awful conditions attached to the loan and that Brazil doesn't blow the money on something that's more green-washing than green.On World Bank approves $1.3 billion for Brazilian eco-projects posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago 1 Response
gee thanks >.>
...for reminding me how old I am! lol I'm almost 30! Crap!
As for my generation and the vote, part of the problem is that we're totally turned off by the adversarial politics that go on in Washington. I tend to vote democratic, but sometimes I just really do not like the way the dems operate. I certainly don't see myself how repubs tend to characterize dems (you know, people who just want to blow all their money by giving it away to "the poor" or a socialist who thinks no one should be rich). Since I turned 18 I've voted in every election I could, including the small local ones.
You may classify Obama as being a boomer, but the way a lot of us see him is as more part of the younger generations. He's not some old, privileged guy who was giving his place in life by his family, as was our last president and the repub candidate. Why did so many of us vote for him? Partly cause he is younger, partly cause he's tech savy and forward looking, and partly cause he's a lot like us. He put himself through college using hard work and paying with loans, he only recently paid off the last of his loans, he's had to work his way up based on his own merits, rather than be handed the golden key because he was the son of the aristocracy.
Assuming more of the younger generations keep voting (genX and (uhg) the millenials) politicians will finally have to pay attention to what it is we want from our country, where we want the country to go. Which includes a fair amount of what this article was saying, though I don't consider the generational bias to be accurate.
Also, I hate that stoopid name, Millenials! Couldn't they come up with something better?!On The aging of the Boomers means it's time for new priorities posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago 11 Responses
Thoreau
The story goes that Thoreau refused to pay his taxes in protest of the war with Mexico. His friends (Emerson, et al) paid them for him, but when Emerson visited him in jail they had the above exchange, only it was Emerson asking Thoreau why he was behind bars.
Emerson talked big, but never stuck to his stated philosophy. Thoreau was one those extremely rare people who did what he said.
Those getting arrested today have my respect and admiration.On Why I'm joining 2,000 people for a global warming mass arrest on Monday posted 9 months ago 3 Responses
Fabric
Now, this may not matter to people who don't care about fabric and clothes and such, but bamboo fabric is an excellent replacement for traditional rayon fabrics. Rayon, acetate, and tencel are all cellulosic fibers with are usually made from trees. So replacing those with bamboo rayon (not to mention replacing wooden spoons and cutting boards and floors with bamboo) is a great step in the right direction.
Here's why rayon is a good type of fabric: it is very soft, has good drape and hand, and is much less expensive than silk. bamboofabricstore.com has a great selection of bamboo fabric by the yard which is Oeko-Tek certified. This fabric is basically made using the tencel process, which uses much less chemicals than the traditional rayon and acetate processes.On Umbra on bamboo origins posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 15 Responses
what?
"Under Bush, the Science and Energy Intelligence Quotient was at an all time high."
lol, what? Do you define science as something different from the rest of the world? Or maybe you were asleep.
Bush's administration was one of the most anti-science, anti-intellectual administrations we've seen. Recall all the reports on bullying from the White House from EPA scientists, etc? Maybe you and yours chalk those up to whiney scientists or something.
On Obama administration puts halt to Bush-era oil and gas policies posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 11 Responseseating meat
I wasn't saying our industrial food complex was not a huge problem. It is, it need definite improvement and people certainly need to eat less meat. But the fact of people eating meat is not cause for hysteria, as some seem to think. If eating meat was an unnatural horror there would not be lions and sharks and polar bears. But in fact eating meat is part of a natural ecosystem. Of course, humanities' activities have gotten so far off track from natural systems that the way we do things now is definitely a horror. But when (being optimistic here) we get back on track, our managed ecosystems will have to incorporate animals in them, which we will have to slaughter and eat to control their population.On Cheap-chicken ad from KFC hides true cost of food; here's a tastier, low-cost alternative posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 17 Responses
animals
Animals are a part of a natural ecosystem (ya, stating the obvious, but it sets up for my next line which is:), so animals should be part of our managed ecosystems, i.e. farms. Chickens are great on farms, you let them lose after the harvest and they eat bugs in the field, poop all over it, scratch around and mix their poop in with the soil, and generally do helpful things (eating bugs and their eggs = pesticide; poop = fertilizer).
There are much worse things happening on our planet than some people eating meat. Yes, our food system is a mess of nasty suffering and poop, but that can be changed. On Cheap-chicken ad from KFC hides true cost of food; here's a tastier, low-cost alternative posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 17 Responses
local chickens
In the previous article related to KFC advertising, the author specified a locally raise, free-range, organic type chicken. I would assume he meant the same here. Even though they are more expensive, such chickens are still cheaper when you buy them whole and cut them up yourself.
As for salmonella exposure, it is not a problem if you follow proper food safety rules. I've been cutting up chickens for dinner since I was a teenager, and not once has anyone in my family every gotten sick from salmonella. You use a clean cutting board and knife, wash your hands and tools when you're done, and its no problem.
Also, that recipe sounds delicious.On Cheap-chicken ad from KFC hides true cost of food; here's a tastier, low-cost alternative posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 17 Responses
choices
Well now, should I get my Obama-chia in Happy "colour" (as it says on amazon.com) or in determined. For these times determined might be the more appropriate colour. Then again, determined looks much more like inspired, and happy looks more a Cheny-smile (evil and malevolent). But the determined colour looks more like Obama.On From Chia to Chard posted 9 months, 4 weeks ago 2 Responses
Bones
I saved the carcass of my turkey this year (froze it) to make a soup. After boiling it for a while, not only was I able to get a whole lot of little bits of meat off it that I hadn't before, but it made a wonderful rich broth. It was a great soup. :)On Take the chill off the bad economy with a frugal, delicious vegetable soup posted 10 months ago 14 Responses
Sensitive nose
I'd love to use a cloth handkerchief, but they're just too rough on my nose. So far, the only tissues I've found that help are the Puffs Plus with lotion in them. If I use anything else, within a few uses my nose is red and raw-feeling; if i have to use them longer, my nose literally gets raw (it's very uncomfortable).
Unfortunately I have yet to find a washable hankie that has a smooth enough weave to be kind to my nose (silk isn't all that washable).On A nosy review of recycled facial tissue posted 10 months ago 10 Responses
Sensitive nose
I'd love to use a cloth handkerchief, but they're just too rough on my nose. So far, the only tissues I've found that help are the Puffs Plus with lotion in them. If I use anything else, within a few uses my nose is red and raw-feeling; if i have to use them longer, my nose literally gets raw (it's very uncomfortable).
Unfortunately I have yet to find a washable hankie that has a smooth enough weave to be kind to my nose (silk isn't all that washable).On A nosy review of recycled facial tissue posted 10 months ago 12 Responses
"Other" bank
Check to see if there is an "other" bank (toilet paper, shampoo, soap, feminine supplies, etc) or a "baby" bank (diapers and formula) in your area and spend the gift-card on that. There's plenty in need who would be grateful for your generosity.On Umbra on gift cards posted 10 months, 1 week ago 10 Responses
Lily of the Dessert
My favorite balm is Lily of the desert. It's not too waxy and not too light. Plus it has aloe and sunscreen in it, something my pale skin needs.
And needing lip balms does not make us suckers :POn A review of natural and organic lip balms posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago 17 Responses
re: dairy and eggs
Yes, the industrial dairy industry does as much damage as industrial meat, and the egg industry is an inhumane blot human history.
But organically/sustainably raised cows and chickens are generally much better. If you're unsure and want to assure yourself, call the farmers you get your eggs and dairy from and ask for a tour. Many small farmers are happy to meet their customers and show them around.
And yes, margarine is not nearly as good for baking as butter, and fake eggs are just... fake.On Umbra on homegrown meat posted 11 months, 2 weeks ago 33 Responses
WTF!!!
Just, WTF is wrong with these people!?!?!
Next report: Cyanide isn't as bad for you as we thought it was, go ahead and have a tablespoon per day!
#(#&$#((%&#(&# MORONS!!!On FDA draft report downplays mercury risk from fish posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 1 Response
text books
I think electronic books would be great for textbooks. The textbook industry wastes tons of paper on books that students use for a quarter then try to sell off. Making it worse, the textbook publishers often modify the books year to year so that students have to buy the book new (and they usually only change one or two pages... cool profs will give you photocopies of those changes, but not all profs are cool).
If the books were digital though they wouldn't have to worry about students selling books back and students wouldn't have to pay $100 for books they'll only use for 9 months or less.On Umbra on e-books posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 9 Responses
wrap
"Or dude, don't wrap. Are those three seconds of anticipation really worth it?"
Yes. And it's not just 3 seconds. It's the fun of wrapping up a package and making it look pretty. It's how pretty they look under the tree. It's the testing, gentle shaking, weighing, and such of them (not to really guess what they are... just for fun).
Presents are fun.On How to green your giving posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 5 Responses
obvious...
...solutions are against the law.On Canadian oil sands projects polluting aquifers, report says posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 3 Responses
go gov!
Truly, Schwarzenegger is a good model for where the republican party should go. He understands that times are changing and that government needs to change too. Can't do business the old way, we need to change to survive.On Schwarzenegger: Green laws can help save planet and economy posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 1 Response
duh!
Voluntary plans never work :P
Just like voluntary self regulations never work :POn Scientists call for cleanup of Chesapeake Bay posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 1 Response
Cheap Organics
"We wouldn't be able to afford to eat organic otherwise. Eating organic should be a right for everyone and not just a social statement of wealthy white folks in urban areas"
Here, here!
If there's a Safeway in your area, their store brand (O Organics) is pretty darn good. I mostly go for canned foods (like beans and tomatoes) and noodles, though their blue corn tortilla chips are awesome! :D
So while USDA organic may be a "farce" it's better than not and the best some of us can do.On Umbra on store-brand organics posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 8 Responses
roses smell like... grass?
So, even before I found out how ridiculous the cut flower industry is, I didn't like cut flowers, because I've real roses.
I used to keep a couple rose bushes, and those roses made the most HEAVENLY scent. That smell, drifting in my window in the summer was just wonderful.
Whereas the roses at the store smell like... grass? Or nothing at all.
"Sweetheart, get me another potted plant for Valentines, no cut flowers, plzkthxbai!"On The not-so-fragrant side of fresh-cut flowers posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 6 Responses
judge
But you know the Supreme Court says it's alright for us to make loud noises in the ocean, cause you know, we're way more important than animals. And you know, there's just soooo many Commy subs out there waiting to blow us up!
/rolls eyesOn Human-caused noises in oceans messing with wildlife, experts say posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 2 Responses
blocks
I'm pretty sure wooden blocks don't have any of those things (the unpainted kind anyway). Those were always my favorites... especially the noise it made when you knocked your tower over.On One in three toys tested has worrisome levels of toxic chemicals, group says posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 2 Responses
but but but
HE SHAVED OFF HIS BREAD!!!!
end of the worldOn Obama nominates N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson to head Commerce Department posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 1 Response
jobs and cars
Two articles I read today on time or cnn, don't remember which.
The first was about the various plans the big (idiot) three have for making their companies better. In it's report Ford talks about how dependent the american economy is on car manufacturers for jobs and whatnot, and how if one of them went down it would hurt the others.
The second (definitely on cnn) was about how there's plenty of people hiring out there, just for jobs that require special training (like mechanical jobs and technician jobs).
So here's MY bailout plan. Take the (now) $34 billion for the auto bailout and use it to retrain all those workers in these jobs that have severe people shortages.
You know why that wouldn't work? Cause the government would be helping PEOPLE instead of corporations... and when they do that it's called welfare :POn Top scientist dismayed at spending imbalance on climate, poverty posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 4 Responses
not gonna happen
"Once the dust settles and we know the direction the world is going to move in, I think there will be a very deep and major reappraisal of the way we've been growing economically," said Pachauri.
Sorry for the cynicism, but I don't think that's very likely.
Take, for example, genocide. CNN is having this big hoopla over the signing of the anti-genocide laws 60 years ago. But time and again, we've proven that we don't care. Time and again we've proven that we don't want to get involved, don't want to face the reality of the atrocities, we find excuses not to face it.
Now, that may be due to media or politics, but there seems to be a strong current in our society as whole to not want to face reality and make the necessary changes. So when someone says we're all gonna reappraise how we do things and like, actually change, I tend to scoff and say "Ya, right... cause we've totally done THAT before."On Top scientist dismayed at spending imbalance on climate, poverty posted 12 months ago 4 Responses
"all-natural"
You should also note that "all-natural" doesn't actually mean anything. A company can put the "all-natural" label on a product derived entirely from petroleum if they really wanted to. "Natural" flavorings on the ingredients list just means they derived the chemicals from an apple (or w/e) instead of another chemical... the result is the same: highly processed "food" seasoned with chemicals.
"No food! Just ingredients!"On A taste test of seven 'natural' frozen dinners posted 12 months ago 9 Responses
Greenpeace BS
I stopped taking Greenpeace seriously when they said that HP's plan to make their computers recyclable, etc, was better than what Apple has been doing for a while.
Apple has already made huge advancements in making their machines recyclable, reducing their use of toxic chemicals, completely phasing out CRT monitors waaay ahead of other companies, and significantly reducing their packaging waste.
It's not perfect, but Apple is DOING what other companies are still only promising to do... and Greenpeace puts them in the red. Whatever :POn Nokia is greenest electronics company, says Greenpeace posted 1 year ago 1 Response
mmmmm!
That looks like a good recipe... 'cept the pork sausage >.>
I wonder, how many families do their "thankfuls"? In my family, we start with the youngest, and go around saying what we're thankful for that year.
Do other's practice this tradition as well?On Reclaiming the beauty of Thanksgiving posted 1 year ago 2 Responses
duh!
Of course we're gonna use less energy if they keep raising prices! Something's gotta go, and if we can't afford food over heating, put on more sweaters.On Big drop in U.S. electricity consumption confounds utilities posted 1 year ago 14 Responses
symbolic
They meet, and they sign things, and they shake hands, but they rarely do anything.
We've moved past the time for symbolism! We need action and we need it NOW!On Schwarzenegger's conclave ends with pledge to cut emissions posted 1 year ago 1 Response
pie pans
For myself, I use either my dad's pie pans (which are older than me) or my glass and ceramic pie pans. I've found that ceramic pie pans make a better crust on pie >.>bOn Thanksgiving can reconnect families and revive traditions -- like sweet potato rolls posted 1 year ago 15 Responses
it looks....
...like a plungers >.>
Sorry, couldn't help it... that was my first thought on seeing the keeper lolOn A review of eco-minded feminine products, part two posted 1 year ago 22 Responses
Towels, Part 2
Further research into bamboo cloth confirms what I posted above.
Go here to find out more.On How to green your bathroom posted 1 year ago 7 Responses
towels
I'm not really sure of the eco-viability of bamboo. Sure, bamboo itself is a VERY renewable product, but from what I understand of the textile product, it's produced in much the same way as rayon. acetate, and viscose (i.e. it's a cellulosic fiber). A complex (and icky) chemical process is used to take (usually) wood and turn it into a fiber. But I'm not really sure, I haven't been able to find much information out there on the process of turning bamboo into textiles. I only found something that made mention of using a cellulosic process, which can be very un-green.
So, as with other things, bamboo is only as green as the process that makes it.On How to green your bathroom posted 1 year ago 7 Responses
An attempt to clarify Omnivores
"The argument that veg-ism is ok for some people, but that it's an individual's "right" to eat meat is, in my opinion as a vegan, not only tired, but about as defensible an argument as "I accept your choice to try and reduce your negative impact on the planet by driving a hybrid, but you should respect my choice to drive a 9-mpg SUV because I like the way it looks." Or I'd go so far as to say it's analogous to arguing that "I respect your pacifism, but you should respect my choice to brutally beat someone I disagree with." Or maybe even "although you believe in equality for all people, you should respect my right to own slaves because they make my life easier" "
So... let me see if I have this straight... choosing to buy organic, local, free-range, humanely-raised chicken still puts a person in the category of slave-owner, bully, and SUV owner?
Seriously? Are you kidding me? That is so out of proportion as to be ridiculous. Your analogies fail the reality test.
Personally, I had my epiphany about 7 years ago, after reading some article about the way laying chickens were treated. Then to top it off, I read Fast Food Nation. At that point I started buying less meat, and buying non-industrial meat where I could. I had already stopped eating everything but poultry, so it was fairly easy. The biggest problem, as with all things organic, etc is the cost of it.
But I don't have a problem with the fact that I'm an animal which subsists off other animals. I do my best to make sure that the animals I eat are treated well before the eating, but I have no squeamishness about that.On Smaller breasts are better, and other advice for holiday-bird quandaries posted 1 year ago 28 Responses
A little respect...
I have run against this problem a lot. People who have gone vegan think it is their holy right to preach down to those of us who still like the taste of meat. I'm sorry, but no. Your choice is your choice, and while you may disagree with my choice, that doesn't give you the right to pass judgement on it. Veganism and vegetarianism is great for those people that it works for. But it doesn't work for everyone. Expecting everyone to "see the light" and go vegan is ridiculous and unrealistic. Social dietary changes take generations to change, unless catastrophic changes intervene.
Give us a break, please. We're not evil people for having some meat now and then.
And Tofukey is pretty gross in my opinion.On Smaller breasts are better, and other advice for holiday-bird quandaries posted 1 year ago 28 Responses
important factor
One important factor they left out of this is Cost (yes, the all important Cost). As with most things, I would like to be able to afford switching to a more eco friendly alternative, but these things cost too much. Until eco-friendly products get rid of the premium they're going to stay the option of well off people, rather than the option of everyone.
When referring to cost, I am of course, referring to the disposable options here. Gladrags, etc don't work for me.On A review of eco-minded feminine products posted 1 year ago 46 Responses
WA I-985
This initiative was basically put forth by people who want to drive in the carpool lanes all the time. It failed in the legislator so they brought it to us.
The problem with it is that it would clog up the carpool lanes most of the time, preventing busses from getting through. Really, that's the best use of those lanes, for buses. They allow them to get to their destinations on time.
This is one of those initiatives that plays to people's lazy, greedy sides. Seriously, if you want to drive in those lanes, just a get a passenger. You only need 2 people in a car for it.On A guide to 2008 environmental ballot measures posted 1 year ago 6 Responses
home cookin'
When I was little my mom and dad taught me how to cook. Not by sitting me down for "lessons", but by letter me watch and help them in the kitchen (ah... the joys of peeling potatoes...). Eventually I took over cooking duties, and then grocery buying duties.
I see this commercial and laugh. I can make so many delicious meals for less than $10. Plus, you know, their "chicken" is disgusting.On How I beat KFC's 'family meal' challenge posted 1 year ago 46 Responses
change the building codes
I got to talk to a couple who built a very unusual house in the South Puget Sound area. It wasn't straw bale, but it was built using traditional japanese temple building techniques. The whole thing was built of wood.
Anyway, in order to get their house approved by the building code folks they had to jump through all kinds of hoops. At first they wouldn't let them build it. But they were persistent and eventually they got to talk with the director and he approved it.
The point being, building codes are only a problem if you let them be. If you're polite and persistent, and share your excitement over your unusual house, you may just change the building codes.On Umbra on straw-bale homes posted 1 year, 1 month ago 11 Responses
magazine
Oh, don't buy her magazine... it's really not all that worth it. Most of the stuff in there you can get from her website and not waste all that super glossy paper to boot.On TV queen shows 10 million viewers the dark side of Chicken McNuggets posted 1 year, 1 month ago 6 Responses
Cast Iron
I have two cast iron pans (well, one is a griddle). The actual pan I got from my dad, and is older than I am. I'll probably be able to hand it down to my kids and so forth (or they may have to pry it out of my cold dead hands.. so to speak). The griddle is a more recent purchase, due to wanting to cook more than one pancake at a time.
The lovely thing about cast iron pans (imo) is the way they radiate heat. A good pan will spread the heat out evenly, cooking your food perfectly (this is especially important for pancakes). I don't get the same even temperature out of my wok pan or my stew pots (respectively made of non-stick aluminum and steel).
As other mentioned, seasoning them isn't that big of a deal. Don't was with soap, and especially don't use detergent on it, and your pan won't need to be seasoned very often.
But the biggest thing is to get pans that will last a good long time. After all the first R is reduce.On Umbra on green cookware posted 1 year, 1 month ago 12 Responses
on mccain
Well, if anyone has any doubts about McCain, they should read the Rolling Stones article titled "Make Believe Maverick". I don't think that guy has any of America's best interests at heart.On Weighing Obama's and McCain's stances on food and farm policyMcCain: Food Maverick? posted 1 year, 1 month ago 5 Responses
tiny particles
Also consider that anything in it's aerosol state is very dangerous to your lungs. The most healthy things can become deadly toxins once they become so tiny. They get in your lungs and just rip them to shreds. So always be sure to wear a good face mask and eye protection when dealing with anything that's been aerosol'd.On Umbra on aerosols posted 1 year, 1 month ago 9 Responses
arr
Welcome! to the environment wars.... coming soon to a body of water near you.On Overfishing drove Somali fishers to piracy posted 1 year, 1 month ago 2 Responses
shots
You're gonna be totally wasted...On A Palin/Biden bingo game to help you veep score during the debate posted 1 year, 1 month ago 5 Responses
seriously
That is seriously cool! I want one! lol ever since I was a little girl I've wanted to live in the side of a hill (or under a tree or in a tree... Winnie-the-Pooh). Seriously, what an awesome idea/structure/plan/future.On Living off-grid in a reclaimed gravel pit posted 1 year, 1 month ago 3 Responses
redhead
Our Umbra is a redhead :^)
Cute video and great start. I look forward to more.On Umbra Fisk on commuting by bike posted 1 year, 1 month ago 5 Responses
bad link
Unable to read all of the Warren Buffet article... it says log in or subscribe. On Snippets from the news posted 1 year, 2 months ago 1 Response
Poorly built apartments
One thing to consider with apartments is that they usually are not built with energy efficiency in mind. If anything, I'd have to say that they were built purely with profit in mind. I've lived in numerous apartments throughout my life and even the more expensive ones what been poorly built. Poor insulation, windows that don't fit properly, non-functional fireplaces; these have all been the standard. My feeling is that the builders cut corners trying to save money (seriously, try finding a stud in that... well nigh impossible sometimes).
There's very little we can do to improve this, but there is one rather pleasant solution to poor insulation. Bookshelves. I don't know how many of you feel about that, but bookshelves crammed with books (and other things) makes for a great sound and heat barrier. Just a thought.On Umbra on being an energy-efficient renter posted 1 year, 2 months ago 15 Responses
drought?
It rained on the 4th in Olympia, WA. >.>On Drought hampering Fourth of July celebrations posted 1 year, 4 months ago 1 Response
agreed...
I'd have to agree with wiscidea here:
1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3. a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.The actions of these folks falls under number 1. They burned a building to send a political message.
@ spaceshaper:
I don't know about you, but if someone torched my life's work I would be pretty terrorized. It's not just a property issue. It's a work issue. Meaning, humans identify very strongly with the work they do, even if they don't like it (which is why it's so depressing to be fired even if you didn't like your job). So when someone comes up and destroys your life's work, work that is very important to you, work that you devote yourself to, well, that's shattering.
@ Wolverine
Technology is good. It saves us much back-breaking, life shortening labor. Don't knock it till you've had to to bear 13 kids, wash all their laundry by hand, cook all their food over a fire, not had a refrigerator to store fresh foods in, and had to keep a house clean amid all that.
I repeat, technology is good.On Convicted eco-vandal sentenced to six years in prison posted 1 year, 5 months ago 57 Responses
no argument
on the right bag for the job. I've always thought the right tool in the kitchen makes the cake that much better (a fork really doesn't work as well as a wisk for beating eggs).
So I'm not gonna argue about the right bag... I am gonna point out that fabrics made of recycled platic have the same chemicals in them as the original plastic did. So if we're so worried about getting our kids near the originals, why shouldn't we be worried about putting that fabric up against their skin (which absorbs stuff in a sponge-like manner)?
I like natural fiber-fabrics, organic where I can aford it.On Eco-diaper bag has good cause, lousy price posted 1 year, 5 months ago 9 Responses
gore-blore
WTF is with all the fetishes about Gore? I mean, he released a pretty good book and movie that got people finally thinking and talking about the whole climate thing. Other than that he's just an old hypocritical fuddy-duddy.
tehe, "fuddy-duddy"On Ragin' Cajun for Gore posted 1 year, 5 months ago 9 Responses
Also agree, but..
I was pretty sure they were referring to those people who think that global apocalypse would be just fine. Or maybe those people who sit there being all smug saying "well, I grow all my own food, wash my laundry by hand, weave my own cloth, walk everywhere I go, etc etc, so therefore I am better then you". Those people are just annoying.On Protests erupt worldwide over fuel prices posted 1 year, 5 months ago 25 Responses
sweet
thanks ^.^ <3On Umbra on biking with kids posted 1 year, 5 months ago 6 Responses
lol
awesome!On Maybe there's hope after all posted 1 year, 5 months ago 1 Response
patriot
I think that's quoted in The True Patriot too. Good book.On Words of wisdom from 40 years ago posted 1 year, 5 months ago 1 Response
mmm mutton...
I like the friendly mutton chops!
I wonder why they call them mutton chops though... someone playing with raw meat back in the day? >.>On Give to Grist and make my face go away posted 1 year, 5 months ago 6 Responses
umm...
aren't there organic cotton canvas bags out there for waaaaay cheaper? Why does everything need to be so trendy? >.>On Eco-diaper bag has good cause, lousy price posted 1 year, 5 months ago 9 Responses
nice picture there
Ya, its pretty apocalyptic.On Protests erupt worldwide over fuel prices posted 1 year, 5 months ago 25 Responses
sooper dooper
Well, to me anyway, you sound like a pretty cool mom. Playing with worms and picking wildflowers sound way better than the humiliation that come with pre-school if you aren't "just right".On A car-free mom gets her muscles -- and mind -- in shape for summer posted 1 year, 5 months ago 5 Responses
oh umbra...
we never get tired of you gushing about bikes. We're all bike nerds too ^.^
What brand is the tandem bike pictured at the top, with the kid in the front? I've never seen those before.On Umbra on biking with kids posted 1 year, 5 months ago 6 Responses
boing
Tomatoes shouldn't bounce when you drop them... they should splat.On Tomato salmonella scare hits the big time posted 1 year, 5 months ago 13 Responses
this is where alternates come in
Best non-stick pan ever: well cared for cast iron pan (mine is older than me! "stole" it from my dad >.>)
Well, I dunno about oil or stain resistant things... I just tend to take care of things and be careful... and you know, if it gets a huge ugly stain, you can always cut it up for patchwork. What's sexier than patchwork jeans, eh?On Replacement for nasty chemical may be no less nasty, says EWG posted 1 year, 5 months ago 1 Response
free market?
Exactly what do you mean when you say "free market"?
As I understand the term it means "trade" without regulations. As in, I can outsource my paper mill to bagladesh where labor is cheap and the government doesn't require me to control my waste.
In which case the free market most certainly has screwed over most of the "developing" world.On Gus Speth chats about his new book and increasingly radical green views posted 1 year, 5 months ago 28 Responses
you'd do well...
... to read your history then. Start with A People's History of the United States, and go from there. That Tea Party people make such a fuss over? Caused by taxes which uhrt primarily well-off people and business people. Our first president? The richest man in the country at the time. The rest of those people? Also rich power players.
All that talk of libery? A tool, used to get the popular support of "the People" (i.e. poor folk) who would actually fight the war.
I'm not saying that its all empty and that all those people were just greedy bastards though. But their primary motivation for starting their own country was so that they didn't have to pay taxes to the England. They could then use all their money and power to further their own interests.
But they left us (i.e. the poor folk, again) a great set of tools to continually wrest power from them and challenge them. Their mistake. ;^)On Gus Speth chats about his new book and increasingly radical green views posted 1 year, 5 months ago 28 Responses
oh, capitalism, how I loath thee...
...let me count the ways... But let me also count the ways you have vastly improved my life, so as not to be hypocritical. For one thing, I don't have to spend most of my time cleaning. Can you imagine spending 16 hours a day cleaning and cooking? No wonder women had such short life expectancies. Not to mention all the babies they were supposed to produce.
Oh, and while we're on the topic of women and such, how I do love my wonderful education! Golly, where would I be without it? Probably barefoot and pregnant.
So, we've got a decreased labor load, less babies, longer life expectancy, a very nice education... And before everyone starts saying "Democracy!", it just so happens that our little democracy here in the good ol' US was put in place to protect capitalists.
So, while we've got all these problems caused by capitalism (eco-destruction, social inequity, reasource depleation, rampant greed, etc.) we also have some significant gains.
I would say that the biggest challenge the environmental movement has right now is keeping all those gains while getting rid of the bad things. It's very well for neo-hippies to want everyone to live in communes where we wash our laundry by hand, but, well, have you ever washed thick wool by hand? I mean, ouch! We'd prefer it if we could keep our gains, so we can continue using our brains and not just being mules, but still have clean laundry.On Gus Speth chats about his new book and increasingly radical green views posted 1 year, 5 months ago 28 Responses
awesome!
Love this article. Minus the ice cream making (I gotta get me one of those...) that's pretty much how I spent my summers as a kid: outside, playing or gardening. It was pretty awesome.
/sniff... nostalgia...On One mother's tips for managing summer eco-dilemmas posted 1 year, 5 months ago 7 Responses
no, you see..
...Mother Nature forgot to switch her calendar, so she still thinks it April. Someone get a memo to her... I want the sun!On An acknowledge-and-do-nothing strategy is little better than denialism posted 1 year, 5 months ago 11 Responses
zomg
Umbra is talking to herself!
Ya, I was gonna suggest the galvanized aluminium tub too... but right now, here in Western Washington, wading pools aren't really needed... seeing as how Mother Nature seems to have confused June for April -.-On Umbra on kiddie pools posted 1 year, 5 months ago 11 Responses
meat or veges?
@ ajazzfan
First off, growing vegetables requires much less energy than growing meat. If you want to talk about the way its done now, you could look at it this way:
To grow your typical cow, first you gotta grow several fields of corn and/or other grains. then you gotta keep regrowing all those fields cause the cow will eat it. And since the cow it eating it, the cow will be pooping, so you gotta figure out a way to get rid of that (or you could just leave it there and let the cow stand its own poop they way a lot of feedlots like to do). So you're taking a whole bunch of grain products, feeding them to a cow, and getting a relatively small amount of meat for the use of your grain.
And it pretty much works that way for whatever sort of farm grown meat you're getting.
So, it's much less energy intensive to just go ahead and eat the grain (or other vegetable) as is.
Of course, it's a whole different matter if you're talking about growing cows the old-fashioned way: letting them wander around eating grass. But then you have take things like over-grazing and erosion into account. You also have to consider than beef would be much more expensive and not nearly so common if they did it the old fashioned way, because there's simply not enough room to let the number of animals we have cramped into feedlots wander around being real cows.
Once again, the same goes for pigs and chickens and such.
There is enough land in the world to provide everyone who's here now with a good diet... made of vegetables. (and assuming the food and land was distributed equitably and such). But there isn't enough to feed everyone the kind of diet that cow eating people in America seem to think is their god given right.
And let's face it, cows just don't taste that good. MooooOn Umbra on the impacts of biking posted 1 year, 5 months ago 21 Responses
good start
Well, based on the EPA calculator, I'm using 14,117 lbs per year. But there's nothing for buses and walking everywhere so based on the Travel Matters calculator I'm using 403 lbs per month. Which brings me up to 18,953 per year.
This is where it would be nice to be able to afford to either buy my own house or live in a eco-friendly joint. Affordable housing generally doesn't do much in the way of eco-friendly-ness, which sucks, cause it would be way more affordable with a lower energy bill.On Umbra on carbon calculators posted 1 year, 5 months ago 11 Responses
oh noes!
Somebody save me from the private things people do in their bedrooms!!! Never mind the rising oceans and the terrible weather, we must protect each ourselves from the horrible, naughty, kinky (does the human body really bend that way...?), interesting things people do in their own privacy!
-.-On Conservative Christian group outraged that Congress is distracted by climate change posted 1 year, 5 months ago 12 Responses
zomg
ZOMG YOU MUST BE A RIGHT-WING-ANTI-ENVIRONMENT-BEEF-EATING-GUN-TOTING-BIBLE-BEATING-CREATIONALIST-FANATIC!!!!!!!
oops... got stuck on caps lock >.>
Well, I got your point anyway. People who make policies are scared to admit they might have been wrong, they're even scared to admit that the people who made policies 200 years ago might have been wrong.
not that, you know, there's anything wrong with right-wing-anti-environment-beef-eating-gun-toting-bible-beating-creationalist-fanatics... except the anti-environment part... and the bible beating... and the beef eating... and the guns..... the fanatic part is a lil scarey too, especially when you add the guns <.<On The challenges of reconciling science and policy posted 1 year, 5 months ago 32 Responses
workers
While its nice that GM is turning to small cars and such, I wonder what they're going to do for the workers that staffed their 4 manufacturing plants. I would think they could use those factories to build the smaller cars, so that all those workers could keep their jobs. :^/On GM considers selling Hummer brand posted 1 year, 5 months ago 5 Responses
chicken
And now it turns out that TYson chickens have come down with Avian flu! So glad I stopped buying Tyson about 6 years ago when I found out how their treat their poor birds.On Snippets from the news posted 1 year, 5 months ago 2 Responses
international forests
I definately agree that we need to protect and restore our forests in the states. But it would be foolish to ignore the forests of other countries, particularly the tropical forests, which contain vast quantities of carbon and shelter millions of species of life.
When we have multi-national corporations that operate and pollute all over the world, why should we not require them to clean up their acts all over the world? Almost all the goods we buy come from other nations, most of the wood products we purchase come from other nations. It makes sense to protect forests in other nations, rather than stripping its people of yet another natural resource, and to do so in a manner that does not deprive them of a source of income.
Yes, we have to be careful of scams, but that can be solved with transparancey (something all too lacking whenever you mention corporations and government).
My point is, we got into this mess by abusing the resources of nations around the world, and we aren't gonna get out of it by focusing on just our country. We have to fix what we messed in other places. And yes, we did mess it up... what nation on earth has consumed as much per capita as we have in the last fifty years? It's our responsibility to clean up our mess.On Climate bills would save world's forests posted 1 year, 5 months ago 4 Responses
stuff
Dude, Bill Nye! I always watched his show when I was younger! That show might just be worth reconnecting the cable :^oOn Discovery's new green network launches tomorrow posted 1 year, 5 months ago 3 Responses
meat is overrated anyway
If you increase the ammount of plant foods you eat rather that meats, you'll still be using less reasources than you did when you ate less food. "Growing" meat is much more reasource intensive than growing plants, so, the vegans are right in that respect. Plant based diets have a smaller carbon footprint. (though, I think forgoing honey and yeast is just a little silly.)On Umbra on the impacts of biking posted 1 year, 5 months ago 21 Responses
boo
Wait, if the American way of life involves horses I've been cheated! I've never had a horse (or even a pony). BOOOOOOO!!! Hisssss! Gimme pony!On Nice way of life. Shame if something happened to it. posted 1 year, 5 months ago 7 Responses
shwa...
What? I'm confused D:On Global warming is no Mickey Mouse posted 1 year, 5 months ago 2 Responses
gore-y
Can we please stop with all the silly inconvient truth things? The movie was good and the book was good, that's more than enough ffs! This is about when instead of being a serious thing to get people aware of things and change, it because a cultural joke, like vanilla ice or the IQ of our current president.On From Libretto to Liquor posted 1 year, 6 months ago 2 Responses
progress
Good ol' World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Even their officials admitt that the policies they force on so called developing nations don't do the people any good, and in fact just harm them more. But they don't care... they're getting rich!
After all, who cares about poor people :POn Displaced by development, squatters await justice in Argentina posted 1 year, 6 months ago 2 Responses
awesome
I love their interpretation of grammer! So classy.On Junk emails go green posted 1 year, 6 months ago 1 Response
no way!
Any good bike shop worth it's rep will have chain guards that they can at least special order for you. If they're worth it (and they want you to come back) they'll install it for you too. I've found many bikes on sale in the U.S. that have chain guards. They're not just for ladys either, my brother is always getting his pants ripped by his chain, when he doesn't remember to rubber band his pants.On Umbra on biking in a skirt posted 1 year, 6 months ago 22 Responses
More basics
Don't forget:
Vinegar! (you can get vinegar by the gallon at costco, it lasts forever (seriously, they found some on the seafloor of the mediterranian in an 4 thousand year old ship wreck!))
Castille Soap! Go Dr Bronner! woo!
Elbow grease! As my mom liked to say, Put your back into it! Anything will come off with a good scrub brush and some effort, and you get a work out to boot!On How to clean your house without hurting the planet posted 1 year, 6 months ago 25 Responses
Blind
You're all totally blind!! I saw the paragraph on bicycling to work!
Of course, that might have been the lack of early morning tea making me hallucinate...
Umbra has some good bike articles though :DOn How to green your commute posted 1 year, 6 months ago 20 Responses
grr
I voted for this when it came up to vote... maybe we should dump this crap in Bush's ranch and see how he feels about that.On Feds can dump more waste at Wash. Superfund site, says court posted 1 year, 6 months ago 2 Responses
centralization is lame
The survey, like the media, also ignores the importance of decentralizing our power supply. They touch on it only in a very indirect way, when they mention "transmission constraints". Well, it would be a lot more efficent if we had solar panels on rooftops and little wind generators and even mirco-hydro and geothermal generators spread out across our landscape. We wouldn't lose most of the power while it was send to us, and the grid would equalize the power flow.
But, then the big power companies would be all obsolete, which scares the poop outta them, which is why no one ever talks about it.
It seriously is our best bet though.On Deloitte survey of consumers and utility regulators posted 1 year, 6 months ago 3 Responses
boredom
Duh, of course we're bored! As you say, we aren't living real life. And perhaps some of us actually recognize this and want to change this. To think that the only place you can find real life any more is in the South is pretty silly... I find pleny of real life around my home town; with the small farmers and crafts people who choose that work because its real life for them.
People in the South would probably be just as appalled by your attitude as they would by the trendy let's-be-all-survivalist-cause-it-cool attitude. I mean, they want the kind of security that we have. The knowing that the next day isn't going to be a struggle just to survive, being able to take amoment to breath and not worry and just be happy to be alive.
We're at opposite ends of the spectrum here. They don't have any free time while we have way too much. We need to both get into the middle, where we all have good meaningful work but also time to relax and enjoy it. That's real life.On Coming to terms with the reality of a world of refugees posted 1 year, 6 months ago 12 Responses
umbra
Umbra has an execellent article (somewhere in her archives) about the most eco-friendly razor for men... and the electric razor fails by the way, simply because of how much goes into its manufacture. Small electronics generally just fail.On A dozen men's shaving creams get put to the blade posted 1 year, 6 months ago 13 Responses
hardly cruelty
The geese who produce fois gras are probably some of the best treated farm animals in esistance (baring special pets). The simple reason for this is that if the animal gets distressed in anyway, the fois gras taste like crap.
People hear the term "force-feed" and they go all indignant. Even a little preliminary research will show that this "force feeding" is actually pretty gentle and only intended to make the goose fatter and tenderer than it would be otherwise if it only ate what it wanted to.
Fois gras is nothing along the lines of veal for inhumane treatment. They're you're torturing a poor little cow for some blobby taste meat.
And for the record, I think fois gras is nasty anyway :^POn Chicago overturns 2-year old ordinance banning foie gras posted 1 year, 6 months ago 14 Responses
moderation
As with all things, be careful when foraging, and make sure you don't take too much. While weeds may provide a seemingly endless supply of yummies, we need to be extra careful in forests. Make sure you don't forage too often in the same spot, don't forage where others seem to have been (some foragers I know leave markers letting others know they've been there), and never take too much.
Try looking for local foraging groups or start your own. It can be a great way to get food, but we need to be sure we don't over harvest and also leave plenty for the animals to dine as well.On Got weeds? Reach for the food processor, not the lawnmower posted 1 year, 6 months ago 8 Responses
1337
I dunno, I think everyone is entitled to a moment of pompousity now and then... just so long as they don't keep being a pompous *. Besides, they're both elitist and pompous... they're running for president ffs!
My problem with Hillary is that she keeps acting all smug... she has women (I'm a woman, but I don't support her), she has white voters (also white), she has hard working middle class Americans (that's me again), she has blue collar workers, and old voters, and this this and this, as if we don't all want and need the same things, as if things like age and skin colour and what kind of job we have make us that different from each other. She's dividing us up into little boxes, rather than being all like "this is what we all want and believe, so lets all work together", and while that may tend on the corny side, I don't think we should all be so jaded that its not a good idea that we should work towards.On Race mattered in the W.Va. primary, but will it keep mattering? posted 1 year, 6 months ago 9 Responses
nemo
I like to call them "delay fish"... just cause.On The delayers' paradox posted 1 year, 6 months ago 13 Responses
linked
But the drilling for oil in the acrtic is linked to the global warming... they just want to continue the same ol' same ol'energy game, rather then start seriously switching to alternatives. If they stopped all the dumb drilling, maybe our polar bears would stop being "threatened".On Polar bears threatened, but drilling in their habitat still OK, says Interior posted 1 year, 6 months ago 13 Responses
bah!
What's a girl to do to get a good light weight water bottle!? Behold the evil little 7 on the bottom of my water bottle! humbug!On Umbra on plastic bottles and BPA posted 1 year, 6 months ago 13 Responses
mirco power
How about mirco power? Smaller is better in this case, and with everyone making their own power we won't need huge power towers, which might as well have a big red target sign painted on it for potential enemies. So we have plenty of energy and better security.
I suggest reading the latest Mother Jones magazine on the issue of energy sercurity... it's really interesting. :^)On McCain to unveil new climate plan posted 1 year, 6 months ago 4 Responses
depends...
... on your definition of feminism I suppose :P
In my definition feminism is about being able to choose whether you want to go out and work or whether you want a family. It also about giving men the same option.
What Mr Jack Cashill fails to see is that it is increasingly impossible for women not to stay home... as in they can't afford to. So, in that light its not feminism that's bad, its the greed that sends good paying jobs over seas, lowers real income, and raises prices.
And if he really wants to spin it that way, why don't men stay home and watch after the babies while the women go earn the daily bread?On An eco-friendly gift guide for Mother's Day posted 1 year, 6 months ago 4 Responses
well...
They did suggest going commando... so you really wouldn't need to buy anything more for that.
I agree with Kevin's post above. It would be great if my undies were made from cotton that was eco-friendly, but I don't have the money to buy that stuff. Just like it would be great to be able to buy only organic foodies, but I don't have money to buy that stuff.
I'm afraid green undies will come in pretty low on the priority list of things to "green" for me.On How to green your underwear drawer posted 1 year, 6 months ago 7 Responses
bacteria killin'
The thing with cleaners that kill bacteria is that they kill all of them, starting with the weak ones, ending (maybe) with the strong ones. If you use bleach or alcohol you're going to kill all of them. If you use those "anti-bactial" dishsoaps, etc, you're going to kill the weak ones and make the strong ones even more resistant.
The best choice is plain old fashioned soap. Real soap simply knocks the bacteria off the surface and washes it down the drain, where is dies in a timely fashion. It has the added benefit of being biodegradable and not too bad for you if you happen to eat it.
Also, go for an untreated wooden cutting board. The natural tanins in the wood kill off bacteria. Plastic cutting boards just collect little bacteria colonies in the groves you creat with your knife. I don't know about bamboo cutting boards though.On A test of eight green bathroom-cleaning products posted 1 year, 6 months ago 23 Responses
testing
What about animal testing? I know that Proctor and Gamble (makers of cover girl) test their products on animals, but what about the other brands?On A five-fingered review of less-toxic nail polishes posted 1 year, 6 months ago 12 Responses
on hankies
Trust me, I tried hankies. Tried em made from all sorts of different fibers (the softer the better). They all ended with me having a very sore, painful nose. I am resigned to having to use Puffs tissues, since those are the only tissues I can use without getting that sore, painful nose.
For some people, hankies are just not an option. :^/On Umbra on mini-dilemmas posted 1 year, 6 months ago 14 Responses
poor puppies...
Why, if you don't want these chemicals attacking you, would you want to give them to your pets??? On Umbra on toxic yoga mats posted 1 year, 6 months ago 19 Responses