Saturday, April 26, 2008

Hot Music Video! Enur: Calabria

Great gift idea for Mother's Day

Check out this site called, "TasteBook.com" which allows you to custom create your own cookbook with your favorite recipes: http://www.tastebook.com/

I think I might make one just so I can have all my favorite dishes in one place...

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Video posted on Jack and Jill Politics

I know this is long but listen to the whole thing...I love the statement, "It is interesting to me that when white people criticize America, they're critical. When black people criticize America, they're haters of America."...and I love when he tells the reporter that Martin Luther King was more than the one-liner related to judging folks by the content of their character and not the color of their skin....I am less familiar with Louis Farrakhan so I don't know the accuracy of those statements. Nevertheless, I like how the minister challenges the reporter and presents a more nuanced argument about race and racism in America.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Walk the Walk

Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to our health, the environment, and our communities.

There are a lot of interesting little tidbits in this week's NYTimes magazine. It focuses on bold steps we can take to make our carbon footprint smaller. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20Act-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin There's a particularly compelling piece on choosing neighbors to live in with a high walk score -- that is, neighbors that you can live in with out a car.

Why Walking Matters*:
Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood1. Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15 - 45.

Reduction in greenhouse gas: Cars are a leading cause of global warming. Your feet are zero pollution transportation machines. More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car2!

Increased social capital: Walking increases social capital by promoting face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Studies have shown that for each 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10 percent3.

Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It's easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don't need to drive between destinations.

I compared the walk score of my previous house in Walden, NY to my current house in JP, MA-- it's 11 to 60. In Walden if you were without a car you were *@#! out of luck. A good walk score should be >70 (hey, I'm getting better!).

* Source: www.walkscore.com

Monday, April 14, 2008

Greenest Cars of 2008: Twelve vehicles with the lightest environmental impact.

If you want to drive the most environmentally friendly or "greenest" vehicle, you need to think small or think hybrid. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), one third of the top 12 vehicles that rank as the greenest of 2008 feature hybrid powertrains. These vehicles combine an internal-combustion engine with an electric motor for improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.
A nonprofit organization, the ACEEE is dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. Each year the ACEEE publishes the Green Book, listing the Green Scores and environmental information about vehicles available in the new model year, as well as a list of the 12 "greenest" vehicles available that year. Click HERE for the full article.

QuoD: Which of the 12 is YOUR favorite car and why?