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Sarah Palin at the Tea Party
Monday, February 8, 2010 4:33:20 PM PST
In case you missed it, here is Sarah Palin at the Tea Party convention, where only 600 individuals could afford to pay the $350 to take part, while Sarah was paid $100,000 for speaking about her convictions to her loyalist followers. Not sure why the give her the title 'Governor' when she couldn't even finish her first term?
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
CBS standards in question
Monday, February 8, 2010 4:24:21 PM PST
I really enjoyed watching yesterdays Super Bowl game and want to congratulate New Orleans and the Saints. However, I think it was pathetic that CBS barred the playing of an ad about gay dating, while allowing a plethora of the most inane and sexist ads I've ever seen during a Super Bowl. Doesn't CBS get it, that being gay is pretty much mainstream these days?
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Po Bronson interviewed on Raising Children
Saturday, February 6, 2010 4:12:22 PM PST
If you have children, definitely listen to this interview with Po Broson on TechNation on his new book NurtureShock, which addresses what the science and data are showing us about our children's development and the cost of cultural mis-perceptions and assumptions.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Daily Eco-Tip: Use that crock pot instead of the oven
Saturday, February 6, 2010 2:22:00 PM PST
Crock pots are very energy efficient in comparison with a conventional oven when you are slow cooking. The crock pot cycles energy use since it is intended for slow and low temp cooking. The area that it is heating is far smaller than an oven, so the end result is the amount of energy required per minute is reduced. It is not necessarily a good idea to leave a crock pot on all day, but for the recommended amount of time the crockpot uses less energy than an oven.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Kids learn where food comes from
Friday, February 5, 2010 7:04:19 PM PST
The New York Times reports on Learning What Food Looks Like Before It Goes Into the Package. Kids are exposed to the origins of what's in the cafeteria in Brooklyn.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Where are the 100+ year olds?
Friday, February 5, 2010 5:42:30 PM PST
This is an interesting graph. Shows population for the centenarians (those over 100 years old), which is a predictor of where we'll see greater longevity. It seems surprising that Australia has so few by comparison with UK, but it could be that general population is a factor there.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Daily Eco-Tip: Replace that film camera with a digital
Friday, February 5, 2010 4:01:26 PM PST
If you're still shooting your pictures with a film camera, please consider the switch to digital. The environmental cost of creating, shipping and processing film is immense. The digital cameras available these days are of excellent quality with a model to meet every need and price point. If you know someone who is still using a film camera, consider purchasing a digital for them as a gift. David Pogue of the New York Times has a great video on selecting a sub $300 camera.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
John Stewart and Bill O'Reilly Interview
Friday, February 5, 2010 8:53:09 AM PST
Bill O'Reilly interviews John Stewart and it's worth watching. It shows what's underlying the thinking of a conservative at this point in history and a progressive.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Daily Eco-Tip: Make your own toothpaste
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 6:41:24 PM PST
Making your own toothpaste is easy, green and saves money. You'd be surprised at the quality of toothpaste which you can make at home in minutes. In this just posted article on Making Your Own Toothpaste at Home we have the recipe and steps involved.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Frontline: Digital Distration
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 9:06:03 AM PST
Last night my wife and I watched this excellent Frontline episode on the cultural impact of digital distraction and the impact on our lives. I think for many of us it's important to find ways to have a balance in our lives between the draw and utility of the range of digital tools and the impact of multi-tasking.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Recycled Shipping Pallet Furnishings
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 3:54:18 PM PST
This is a great idea. Recycle shipping pallets into furniture. Looks cool, inexpensive and functional.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Colbert Report interviews Sylvia Earle
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 3:37:27 PM PST
This is a great segment from the Colbert Report with Sylvia Earle (a National Geographic Research Fellow) who has written a book on the human toll on the oceans. As usual Colbert makes it entertaining while very informative. Please pass it on.
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Sylvia Earle | ||||
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Daily Eco-Tip: Watch the video 'No Impact Man'
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 2:20:07 PM PST
If you have not yet seen the documentary 'No Impact Man' you should. Colin Beaven documents his year of trying to make as little environmental impact as possible and entertains everyone along the way. Watching this video will change your thinking and hopefully result in less impact for our environment. It's available in video stores, on Netflix or can be watched via Amazon
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Solar & Off-Grid Guide Editor
Tuesday, February 2, 2010 9:20:01 AM PST
We're looking for someone who is passionate about solar and off-grid living to contribute to our Off-Grid & Solar Guide. If you are already blogging or writing about solar and would like an opportunity to drive the direction for our guide, this could be a great opportunity. You'll be able to evaluate and recommend products, help consumers get started with off-grid and solar energy systems. Have a look at our off-grid guide and you'll see what is involved.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Daily Eco-Tip: When out and about begin using a portable re-usable cups
Monday, February 1, 2010 4:57:36 PM PST
If you frequent cafes, drive-through restaurants and coffee shops, consider keeping a re-usable mug or cup in your car, so that you can reduce your landfill footprint and help others to consider that there is an alternative. Here are some data points to keep in mind:
If you were to use a paper cup every day for a year it would add up to around 20lbs of waste.
Around 18% of garbage created is for disposable containers.
Never use a styrofoam cup, since they take for ever to biodegrade.
If you frequent a cafe or coffee shop which does not sell an affordable travel mug, suggest that they do so to reduce waste and lower their costs.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Two big pushes for green and the economy
Friday, January 29, 2010 4:37:25 PM PST
This week the Obama administration made announcements which are both environmentally positive and should create new jobs. The first is the announcement of infrastructure investments in high-speed rail for multiple corridors around the US. The federal government will invest $8 billion dollars for upgrades to 13 major corridors, resulting in investments to initiate multiple high-speed railways and create an expected 13,000 new jobs.
The second announcement is a big push for nuclear power. I think this is an important step and one that is critical in attempting to address the out of control growth of global warming. While Japan, Germany, France and Canada have already made major investments in clean nuclear energy, the US is still very much a gas and coal energy economy. We must start moving to clean energy sources and nuclear is available now. The federal government will make loans of $54 billion to get projects underway as well as create a panel to research disposal methods through the Department of Energy.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
President takes Republicans on
Friday, January 29, 2010 2:42:57 PM PST
Today President Obama challenged and joined members of the Republican house in a public debate on health care (read complete story on NYTimes.com). This speaks to the character and confidence of our president. He's willing to walk into the lions den and question the thinking and substance of the Republican lawmakers while simultaneously showing the public that he can go head to head with the Republicans on this important legislation.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
New information on stroke detection and treatment
Friday, January 29, 2010 11:12:16 AM PST
Here is some important information about stroke that we would like to promote virally. Please read it and then pass on.
Blood Clots/Stroke - They Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue
If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks..
Seriously..
STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
It only takes a minute to read this...
A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters....S.T.R.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today.)
R*Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediatelyand describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue
NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue... If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other,that is also an indication of a stroke.
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.
I have done my part Will you?
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Daily Eco-Tip: Switch to green laundry detergent
Friday, January 29, 2010 8:35:56 AM PST
Switching laundry detergent is a way that you can lower your environmental impact without a big cost or change in your lifestyle. The most popular laundry detergents contain phosphates, bleach, perfumes and anti-caking ingredients, which pollute when they are part of waste water. The loss of natural habitat potential from a liquid laundry detergent used to wash an average load of laundry is about 0.5 square metres (5.4 sq ft) based on primary production correlations.
Additionally, the plastic container used to package laundry detergent and the corresponding shipping and manufacturing leave a carbon and landfill footprint.
The alternative is to consider using a biodegradable detergent made from organic ingredients which won't have a negative impact on the environment. Ideally you will find a concentrated detergent which will require less packaging and have a far lower carbon footprint to find its way to your home. Also, concentrates cost less over time.
Growandmake carries the BioKleen line of laundry detergents which we have thoroughly tested and endorse.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston
Literary Giants Legacies
Thursday, January 28, 2010 9:57:12 PM PST
Two Literary Giants passed this week... I wanted to reminisce and give thanks to the contributions they made to my life.
I can remember in eighth grade when my Hemingwayesque teacher Mr. PC recommended I read JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. He did so with a suggestion that it might be something I would really enjoy and in my foggy memory he seemed to have a twinkle in his eye as he handed it to me. It was not the first 'adult' book I read, but it was the first that helped me reach a new place in my appreciation of literature. The novel spoke to me in a way that no other had and was a great introduction to adolescent angst.
Thank you JD.
A few years later a professor in college recommended that I read the Peoples History of the United States by Howard Zinn. Mr. Zinn was a native of Santa Cruz, where I was living at the time, so I felt some kinship before I started reading. As I read from chapter to chapter I had my first appreciation for class struggle and was provided with a perspective of American history that I had not received in my college courses or textbooks. Zinn was truly an every man's scholar and one who believed in the common good.
Thank you Howard.
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Posted in Sustainable Living & Lifestyle
By Will Johnston