Comments redboat has made

large high schools

-And for large suburban/urban districts I think the time of the large high school where 80% of the students drive to school is over. We should return to community based K-12 schools where most of the students walk to school.On More school districts consider four-day week posted 1 year, 4 months ago 4 Responses

time to give up our dogs

I would have to say that for environmental reasons, it is time for the human race to give up its dogs. I think Edward Abbey in "Desert Solitaire" had more than a few disparaging remarks about dogs.

I am one of those single dog owners whose dog is home all day. Hey, if single people shouldn't have dogs who should? Most dog behaviorists will tell you that dogs really have no sense of how much time they are at home alone and that their owners (through their own behavior) train them to be ecstatic up on returning home. Some people leave the house for five minutes and their dogs go nuts when they come back in. But, I have to admit that once my 16 year old dog is gone, I will never get another one. A dog does deserve a dog's life.

I love your comments about the Costa Rican dogs. I have seen these dogs. Like the wonderful people of Costa Rica, their free-roaming dogs are incredibly happy. But as Jeff points out, these "off-leash" dogs have an impact all their own.

eddy out, redboat

SIERRA magazine

to answer your question: yes!

eddy out, redboat

from now on, just go here:

http://eddyoutblog.blogspot.com/2005/09/bush-science.html

http://eddyoutblog.blogspot.com/2005/09/bush-science.html

eddy out, redboat

Example #1

Oh my god, there are so many examples of times that the Bush administration has quashed real scientific work. For an excellent summary of what is being done people should read Robert Kennedy Jr.'s book "Crimes Against Nature". Chapter 5, "Science Fiction" describes what is happeing in science. I will start watching for NEW examples and post them here.

From the latest issue of "Sierra" magazine:

Fishy Science - Why bother learning anything new if you've already made up your mind? That seems to be the philosophy of Dale Hall, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Southwest regional director, who in January directed staff biologists charged with protecting endangered species not to use any new genetic data discovered since a species was first listed. Critics of the decision include 163 scientists who called on Hall to rescind the policy. In July, President Bush announced he was nominating Hall to head the agency.

eddy out, redboat

sheep mowers

Hooray for Umbra!

This column has finally inspired me to purchase a reel mower, something I have been meaning to do for a few years.

Also, I have recently read about a service that has started up in a few American cities. There are businesses that will bring over a couple of sheep to your yard. The sheep will very effectively give your lawn a "natural mowing" for a couple of hours rent. Apparently,  even Mt. Vernon was kept well manicured by having plenty of sheep around!

Unfortunately, I did not clip the articles at the time I read them. If any of you know about any articles about this, let me know!
On Umbra on lawn mowers posted 4 years, 4 months ago 12 Responses

environmental groups

I would always highly recommend the Sierra Club. They are active at local, state, and  national levels. In terms of providing resources for local activists, no national agency even comes close to the job that they do. They are very professional and any arguments or cases they make are always based upon the facts. Their magazine "Sierra" does some very good investigative enviro-journalism.

I would also join the National Audubon Society. Their magazine "AUDUBON" is the best around.On Umbra on joining your first environmental organization posted 4 years, 5 months ago 6 Responses

proselytizing??

I would say don't say too much. It is always best to lead by example. Sophie answered her own question. With friends, it is best to be non-self-righteous, non-painfully-earnest, and have a just-the-right-touch-of-humor approach. If someone proselytizes to friends about anything, they risk losing those friends. But, if someone is hanging around people who drive thirty miles for takeout latte, maybe they need some new friends.

I would also avoid proselytizing at work. It creates unprofessional tension where it doesn't belong. Your right to preach ends at your work space (your cubicle boundaries??). Again, it is best to quietly lead by example. Let people come to you with questions.

"Why do you ride your bike to work?"
"What's with that fair-trade coffee you drink."
"What's THAT magazine?"
"You're doing WHAT this weekend?"
"Who are you voting for?"

When they do, be prepared to answer. It works.

An evangelical approach with people you know does not work. I have a friend at work who constantly pushes his political views on people. Nobody enjoys listening to or talking to him about anything. He hurts his own cause. It's not that people disagree with him; they just don't like things constantly being shoved in their faces by a co-worker.

However, there is a place for proselytizing in the progressive movement. It is called door-to-door election time canvassing!! -taking our message to total strangers on the streets. It works. For a great article about how to convince the masses, (not your friends), see "How To Turn Your Red State Blue" at http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2034/

"birdboy" is right. Those friends with huge SUVs are especially annoying. Nothing you can say to them can make a difference. But guess what? There is some good news on that front. America's love affair with the SUV may finally be over. If you own one, dump it while you can!! Check out:
http://rakkasan.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/15/133249/312On Umbra on talking about environmentalism without being preachy posted 4 years, 8 months ago 8 Responses

print mags

May I second "YES" magazine, third "Sierra", and strongly recommend, especially for teenagers, "E Magazine", at http://www.emagazine.com/

eddy out, rich