Month: July 2019

Even those who love fossil fuels should cry about these oil spills

Call me cynical but I never quite believe claims spills will be limited in scope or cleaned promptly. Even if the use of fossil fuels were completely without adverse consequences, the harm caused by the production and transport process would be reason to move to alternative, renewable energy sources. Here are two more spills to … Continue reading Even those who love fossil fuels should cry about these oil spills →

Buying water in plastic bottles doesn’t become environmentally good if you refill them

Please, stop fooling yourself. Buying water in plastic bottles is something that should not be part of your life. Get a reusable bottle and a Brita pitcher (if you don't trust your tap water). The plastic not only lasts forever, but reusing it can cause you harm. https://www.aol.com/article/lifestyle/2019/07/30/this-is-why-you-should-never-refill-your-plastic-water-bottle/23782731/ This is why you should never refill … Continue reading Buying water in plastic bottles doesn’t become environmentally good if you refill them →

Extravagant praise for the latest Amazon Kindle Oasis — a gem for heavy readers

LATER: Everybody loves this new Oasis: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/technology/personaltech/amazon-kindle-oasis-review-e-reader.html ********** I have an Amazon Kindle Voyage and an Amazon Kindle Oasis. I read voraciously and find myself seeking out books that I can read on a Kindle. They're really amazing altho not suited to all printed material, e.g., maps, charts, colored items. I totally agree with this … Continue reading Extravagant praise for the latest Amazon Kindle Oasis — a gem for heavy readers →

We’ve already consumed more resources this year than the planet can regenerate

From now till end of year, planet will be consuming more than the nature can replenish. https://www.ecowatch.com/earth-overshoot-day-2019-2639438699.html? World Marks Earliest 'Earth Overshoot Day' Deutsche Welle Jul. 29, 2019 07:47AM EST Popular Starting Monday, humanity will consume more resources through the end of 2019 than the planet can sustainably regenerate for the year, according to the … Continue reading We’ve already consumed more resources this year than the planet can regenerate →

Read this and weep — updated list of environmental activity by Trump administration

I don't think this needs commentary. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/how-trump-is-changing-science-environment/ A running list of how President Trump is changing environmental policy The Trump administration has promised vast changes to U.S. science and environmental policy—and we’re tracking them here as they happen. 75 Minute Read By Michael Greshko, Laura Parker, Brian Clark Howard, Daniel Stone, Alejandra Borunda, and Sarah … Continue reading Read this and weep — updated list of environmental activity by Trump administration →

What can you do to offset the environmental impact of your air travel?

Yes, flying is one of the worst forms of transportation from an environmental impact side. But, if you must fly, here's one thing you can do to offset the impact of your flights. First, here's an article explaining why flying is so destructive to the worsening climate crisis: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/do-airplane-contrails-add-climate-change-yes-problem-about-get-ncna1034521 Second, since few people will stop … Continue reading What can you do to offset the environmental impact of your air travel? →

Movies you might have missed but that are definitely worth watching

Buzzfeed loves to load up its articles with GIFs and other space-filling media. This article lists 18 movies that you might have been tempted to skip, but that are actually pretty decent. I'm startled to say that I can vouch for their choices as I've seen all of them. Not a dud in the lot. … Continue reading Movies you might have missed but that are definitely worth watching →

Picking among the most available vanilla ice creams

Yes, you may prefer chocolate or even pistachio but but it's always handy to have vanilla ice cream for guests. https://www.southernliving.com/desserts/ice-cream/best-vanilla-ice-cream-taste-test We Tasted 8 Vanilla Ice Creams, and These Are Our Favorites You can never go wrong with the classics. By Zoe Denenberg   Zoe Denenberg In my humble opinion, vanilla is a highly underappreciated … Continue reading Picking among the most available vanilla ice creams →

The human body has limits to how much heat it can stand

  https://theconversation.com/heatwave-think-its-hot-in-europe-the-human-body-is-already-close-to-thermal-limits-elsewhere-121003 Heatwave: think it’s hot in Europe? The human body is already close to thermal limits elsewhere July 25, 2019 10.31am EDT Author Tom Matthews Lecturer in Climate Science, Loughborough University I am a scientist who researches climate hazards. This week I have published research on the potential for a catastrophic cyclone-heatwave combo in the … Continue reading The human body has limits to how much heat it can stand →

Remember the 12 years we had to fight climate change? It’s down to 18 months

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48964736 Climate change: 12 years to save the planet? Make that 18 months Matt McGrath Environment correspondent @mattmcgrathbbc on Twitter 24 July 2019 Do you remember the good old days when we had "12 years to save the planet"? Now it seems, there's a growing consensus that the next 18 months will be critical in … Continue reading Remember the 12 years we had to fight climate change? It’s down to 18 months →

If you’re in the NPR/NY Times book club “Now Read This”….

This month's selection for the NPR/NY Times book club Now Read This is "The House of Broken Angels" by Luis Alberto Urrea. Music plays a large role in the novel so this article gives you a soundtrack in the form of theme music for each major character. Enjoy. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/in-the-house-of-broken-angels-every-character-has-their-own-song