Sunday Examiner travel article about Busch Gardens Williamsburg behind the scenes here.
Apr 15, 2010
Rx drugs poisoning nature
The kind of well-researched, thorough report that mainstream media has been missing here. in a Yale pub.
Apr 14, 2010
Apr 12, 2010
Johns Hopkins goes meatless...
Johns Hopkins Hospital launched its Meatless Monday campaign today to encourage healthier eating - more grains, fruits and vegetables. “I’m looking forward to helping customers learn that they’re not sacrificing taste by eating vegetarian meals,” says Executive Chef Shawn Fields. One of Fields’ specialties is vegetarian chili. A poster quotes Chef Fields, “If you think chili needs meat, you don’t know beans.”
Apr 1, 2010
Mar 27, 2010
Key West: Pursuing passions
Robin's Sunday March 28 "Worth the Trip" feature in the Examiner newspapers. This is from the Washington DC edition.
Mar 18, 2010
Smiley faces and 14-step energy addiction program
Good article about nudging people to reduce waste and energy consumption in Scientific American here.
Mar 15, 2010
Mar 13, 2010
Mar 6, 2010
Feb 27, 2010
Feb 16, 2010
Feb 13, 2010
Feb 7, 2010
Feb 2, 2010
Gaone and Moses—Young heroes give hope
Inspiring young folks around the world, helping animals and confronting cruelty - read about them here.
Jan 31, 2010
Bedsledding? Teapot curling? Grand Lake's wild west winter games open to all
Robin's latest Worth the Trip travel feature in the Examiner newspapers. By the way, the photo featured in the article was taken by Robin, not the AP.
Jan 27, 2010
See the roots of human behavior - great book
Animal Welfare Institute "Roots of Human Behavior" is a vibrant photo documentation of the parallels between animal and human expressions, emotions and psychology. A prominent mind in the field of laboratory science, as well as a veterinarian and ethologist, Viktor Reinhardt's 280 candid photos of animals and humans reveal stunning resemblances between the species. The book is well worth having (and a bargain at $8), and you can get a free PDF version online.
Jan 26, 2010
Horse brutality funded by your tax dollars
In Defense of Animals:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to remove 550 “excess” wild horses beginning on February 14 (Happy Valentine's Day to land-grabbing ranchers and other money grubbers ... these are public lands!!). These cruel roundups using helicopters run horses for miles over rough ground leaving them lame and even dead. Just last Friday, IDA reported that as a result of a helicopter stampede and roundup underway in Nevada's Calico Mountains:
A small colt was run so hard and long that he was killed due to “multiple hoof sloughs from the capture.” A mare went down in the trailer transport truck after being stampeded by helicopter for miles. No help was available for the downed mare on the 4-5 hour drive between Calico and the holding facility. Care about other living, sentient beings? More info here:
Jan 19, 2010
Sharing paint
The wedding/art event of the new year: Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow tie the knot Feb. 5 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at their joint new works opening at Long View Gallery in DC. Details here.
Jan 17, 2010
Glider adventure: wings, no engine
Jan 12, 2010
Jan 11, 2010
Jan 6, 2010
Wasteful science spending
Weight Concerns Affect Responses to Weight Loss Spam E-mail: Young adults who believe they have a weight problem are more likely to receive, read, and respond to spam e-mail for weight loss products, reports a study in the January Southern Medical Journal. Southern Medical Journal, Jan-2010.
Duh.
Duh.
Jan 4, 2010
Dec 31, 2009
Good microbes
Bacteria, viruses and fungi are actually natural and healthful parts of the human microbiome. This article's about the unintended consequences of all-out assaults – which go beyond antibiotic resistance and hygiene hypotheses to destroying your body's ecological balance. Read the Scientific American Dec. article here.
Dec 29, 2009
Cow looking at photographer
"Wow, something new to look at! They make us stand here...forever." From NYTimes article on manure disposal that estimates each cow poops 150 pounds a day.
Dec 26, 2009
Food waste: what can be done
Around 40 percent of all food manufactured and put on sale in the United States is wasted, and studies show this trend is increasing. Food waste - including waste from farms, manufacturers, retailers and consumers - has risen 50 percent since 1974, reaching about 150 trillion calories per year in 2003. Current trends and what can be done – read this DW-World article.
Dec 23, 2009
Dec 21, 2009
Travel gift: BUILT's handy travel organizer
For under $25 at retailers such as Amazon.com, you can get BUILT's (www.builtny.com) new Cargo Travel Organizer. Cool colors and most important, soft, easy-packing protection in neoprene (the material used for surfer wetsuits) for small gadgets and accessories such as power cords, thumb drives, digital camera stuff.
Dec 12, 2009
Dec 7, 2009
Plastics: toss those marked 3, 6 and 7
Plastics: toss out containers/plastics marked 3, 6 and 7. Their endocrine-disrupting chems are linked with cancer. I wrote about this about a year ago; article didn't get published (gee, wonder why?). Supposedly “safer plastics” are marked 1, 2, 4, 5...or any marked “BPA-free. NY Times has details here.
Dec 6, 2009
Dec 5, 2009
Scottsdale Fashion Passion travel article
Dec 3, 2009
Can a Plant-Based Diet Cure Cancer?
Dr. T. Colin Campbell, professor emeritus of Cornell University and author of the groundbreaking The China Study, explains how nutrition influences cancer.... He says that at various times throughout our lives, we all have cancer cells that will pop up in our bodies, but what “feeds” the cancer and fortifies it is, among other things, animal protein. Why is that? Read on.
Nov 30, 2009
For conscious and discriminating diners
Veg dishes for Oprah, Ellen, veg eaters and true foodies: Chef Tal Ronnen's recipes and new book here. Learn to cook like the pros - watch the vids. Chef Ronnen created Oprah's 21-Day Cleanse menu shares recipes for meatless cuisine from his book The Conscious Cook. By applying traditional French culinary techniques to his dishes, he creates rich, full flavor that satisfies even carnivorous cravings.
Nov 25, 2009
Eating Animals - read esp if you do
Also read Eating Animals, excellent new book by Jonathan Saffran Foer. Especially if you eat animal-derived foods. LATimes review here
Nov 24, 2009
Dog songs CD benefits prison program
Holiday gift idea for folks with dogs – benefits a good program that positively engages people serving jail time. Check out Paws in Prison.
Nov 21, 2009
Columbia SC: Good story at every turn
Robin's "Worth the Trip" feature for the Examiner newspapers - this week, Columbia S.C. Here's the story.
Nov 17, 2009
Richard Pryor's widow rocks!
From the Animal Issues Bulletin during an appearance on the Leno show Chris Rock shocked everyone with insensitive slurs on pit bulls specifically and dog generally: “What the hell did Michael Vick do? Pit Bulls ain’t even real dogs! Dogs have never been good to black people!”
Unfortunately for Chris, he was hoping to get cast as Richard Pryor in an upcoming film on Pryor’s life. Pryor’s widow Jennifer shares her late husband’s love for animals, and she did not take Chris’ off-hand comment lightly. In an open letter to Rock, she said:
“For your information, Chris, what Michael Vick did was to torture, drown, electrocute and murder dogs all for fun and for profit! He went to prison for felony animal cruelty! That’s what he did! These types of comments only encourage abuse and misunderstanding of this breed, as well as actual dogfighting. Clearly this part of your latest stand-up routine would not make Richard laugh!”
So, Marlon Wayans is reported to be the one who will portray Richard Pryor in “Is It Something I Said?” which will be in theaters in 2011.
Unfortunately for Chris, he was hoping to get cast as Richard Pryor in an upcoming film on Pryor’s life. Pryor’s widow Jennifer shares her late husband’s love for animals, and she did not take Chris’ off-hand comment lightly. In an open letter to Rock, she said:
“For your information, Chris, what Michael Vick did was to torture, drown, electrocute and murder dogs all for fun and for profit! He went to prison for felony animal cruelty! That’s what he did! These types of comments only encourage abuse and misunderstanding of this breed, as well as actual dogfighting. Clearly this part of your latest stand-up routine would not make Richard laugh!”
So, Marlon Wayans is reported to be the one who will portray Richard Pryor in “Is It Something I Said?” which will be in theaters in 2011.
Nov 15, 2009
Thanksgiving with strangers - volunteering during beach vaca
Robin's new Ocean Beach, Cal. travel piece in the Examiner newspapers...Volunteering during Thanksgiving vacation. Here.
Nov 7, 2009
Nov 6, 2009
Good housekeeping beats insecticides...and rids allergens
Research shows good housekeeping is more effective than insecticides. When a building supervisor notified tenants in Brooklyn that one of the apartments had a bedbug infestation, Eddie Rosenthal feared that it was only a matter of time until they spread to his home. But it wasn't just the bugs that gave Rosenthal the creeps. So did the prospect of using pesticides. So Rosenthal decided to try a few tricks that might keep his home bug-free without spraying chemicals. He raised his bed off the ground, filled some cracks and applied some nontoxic powder to spaces between walls.
Now new research shows that such good housekeeping techniques not only minimize chemical use, but they are even more effective at controlling pests than hiring an exterminator to spray powerful, toxic pesticides. A single use of such techniques in 13 New York City apartment buildings eliminated substantially more cockroaches and mice than repeated professional applications of pesticides. Another plus: asthma-triggering allergens related to bugs were up to 70 percent lower in residences using preventive techniques than those using insecticides. Details here.
Now new research shows that such good housekeeping techniques not only minimize chemical use, but they are even more effective at controlling pests than hiring an exterminator to spray powerful, toxic pesticides. A single use of such techniques in 13 New York City apartment buildings eliminated substantially more cockroaches and mice than repeated professional applications of pesticides. Another plus: asthma-triggering allergens related to bugs were up to 70 percent lower in residences using preventive techniques than those using insecticides. Details here.
Nov 3, 2009
Animal cams: Inside the nest...out in wild
Nov 1, 2009
Meat industry creates half of all greenhouse gases
New study: meat creates half of all greenhouse gases. Read it in The Independent.
Oct 31, 2009
Environmental impact photography
Artful photographers documenting mankind's impact on the Earth and nature - Robin's article here.
Nature's good for kids...Pictured Rocks park
Robin's piece in the San Fran and DC Examiner newspapers. One edition here.
Bicycle thieving in Paris
80 percent of the initial 20,600 bicycles of the Paris bicycle rental system have been stolen or damaged...And along with the dent in the city-subsidized budget has been a blow to the Parisian psyche. “The symbol of a fixed-up, eco-friendly city has become a new source for criminality,” Le Monde mourned in an editorial over the summer. “The Vélib’ was aimed at civilizing city travel. It has increased incivilities.” Read on...
Oct 30, 2009
Today's reason for why we don't eat animals
Treatment of downed cows. Yeah, it matters. Article at
Video accessible here.
And: why many humans are absolutely the most inhumane, stupid and perverse creatures created by God. Enough to make me support the death penalty except for the commandment against killing. You want these people walking your streets or near your kids?
Video accessible here.
And: why many humans are absolutely the most inhumane, stupid and perverse creatures created by God. Enough to make me support the death penalty except for the commandment against killing. You want these people walking your streets or near your kids?
Oct 29, 2009
Chimp funeral
The November National Geographic Magazine features a moving photograph of chimpanzees watching the burial of one of their own. ... A maternal and beloved figure, Dorothy spent eight years at Cameroon's Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, which houses and rehabilitates chimps victimized by habitat loss and the illegal African bushmeat trade.... After a hunter killed her mother, Dorothy was sold as a "mascot" to an amusement park in Cameroon. For the next 25 years, she was tethered to the ground by a chain around her neck, taunted, teased, and taught to drink beer and smoke cigarettes for sport. In May 2000,
Read the story at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/the-story-behind-national_n_338120.htmlRead the story here. Worth the time.
Oct 28, 2009
Green chemistry: copying Nature
Robin's green chemistry piece in today's Examiner newspapers. One edition here. And with photo here.
Oct 22, 2009
Bacon, cheese, junk snacks create addictions
Mammalian brain chemistry altered by junk foods... Bacon, cheesecake and Ho Hos alter pleasure centers in rats' brain. Story here.
Santa Fe: Animals in Modern Art, and Food Spotting
http://prime.peta.org/2009/10/santa-fe-animal-friendly-art-vegan-friendly-cuisine
Oct 18, 2009
Eco-ethical shopping centers - beyond granola
Eco shopping centers? Cool places found in time for the holidays. Online and emerging in places from Santa Fe to San Francisco. Read Robin's Oct. 18 Eco Simple column in the Examiner newspapers. Here's the San Francisco edition.
Oct 17, 2009
Oct 15, 2009
Oct 14, 2009
Odor-prints
Everyone has a signature body odor – the chemical counterpart to fingerprints – and scientists are tracking down those odiferous arches, loops, and whorls in the “human odorprint” for purposes ranging from disease diagnosis to crime prevention. The current edition of Chemical & Engineering News notes that police long have used trained dogs to track criminals using scent prints (and dogs have successfully detected medical conditions and seizure pre-onset). Scientists now are developing technology to detect and classify smells. Each odorprint is influenced by such environmental factors as diet and cosmetics. Scientists have identified odors in human breath and skin associated with diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. Coming soon: tech that detects the “smell of deception” – chemical changes that occur with stress that could identify terrorists planning to detonate explosives.
Oct 12, 2009
Oct 10, 2009
Oct 6, 2009
One reason to not travel to Spain
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