by Catherine Haug, September 29, 2011; updated Oct 7, 2011 to add upgraded video of slideshow
(clip art from PlanetPals.com)
We were a small but enthusiastic audience for the Repurposing-2011 event, with good discussion. None of our presenters were able to come in person, but eight different projects were represented in the slideshow.
You can view a NEW video version on You Tube (see video screen below) with upgraded slide quality and a new soundtrack! (more…)
by Catherine Haug, August 30, 2011
I am deeply dismayed that so many people are ignorant of the threat posed by GMO foods, not only to human health, but also to the health of our environment and planet. Typical misunderstandings:
Even if the GMO-nature of the food did not pose problems for humans and the planet, the fact that most GMO foods are far more heavily treated with herbicides and pesticides should send up a red flag. While YOU may not eat roundup-ready corn or soy, that beef steak you had last night likely came from a steer that did, so the steak likely contains GMO product, and now you have it too. (more…)
by Catherine Haug, August 8, 2011
Last June, my old 27″ CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TV died. So I went shopping for a new flat screen TV that would fit in my custom TV cabinet built to house the old CRT. Although a 26″ flat-screen would have fit, I came home with a 23″ because that was all they had in stock, and because it was an LCD-LED TV.
Why was the LED so important to me? Because of all the flat-screens (except rear-projection TVs), it is the most energy efficient, and because it is not lit by fluorescent lights that bother my eyes.
Screen size, type of light source and resolution affect power consumption. With some models, you can adjust light levels and resolution to make the TV more efficient.
Current TVs on the market, and their average energy consumption: (more…)
by Catherine Haug, June 3 ,2011; updated Sept 4, 2011
We are a drug-addicted nation. I’m not just talking about illegal drugs. I’m talking about prescription drugs, over the counter (OTC) drugs, and supplements. Somewhere along the way, we stopped being a nation of people who rarely take an aspirin, to one that consumes at least $330 Billion in legal drugs annually.
What are the health consequences of this choice? (more…)
by Catherine Haug, June 27, 2011
Sally recently sent me this article from Grist: Tearing down urban freeways to make room for a new bicycle economy, and it made me wonder: “Why aren’t they also putting in light rail?” And then, come to think of it, why aren’t passenger rail solutions being considered between cities and in rural areas too, as an alternative to cars and gasoline? (more…)
by Catherine Haug, June 18, 2011; updated August 4 & 28, 2011
ESP recently hosted a panel presentation at our August 2011 gathering, on the topic of lacto-fermentation (See Gathering Summary: Lacto-Fermentation, with Don Bates & Jeanette Cheney). But perhaps you’re not sure what that means, or why it is important for your health. If so, read on….