Friday, September 26, 2008

cows=poopie=methane=global warming


OK, this is interesting. The UN has come out and said that meat production is responsible for about a fifth of the worlds greenhouse emissions. Greenhouse emissions, the gases that are necessary for keeping Earth a livable temperature- a good thing- have gotten out of control with high population and industrialization and as a result today we're faced with what I like to call G-dub, global warming that is- a bad thing.

Apparently methane is 23 times more effective as a global warming agent than carbon dioxide, and let's be real here, who's been on a farm or ranch and seen cows in full methane action? Thank you freshman year horse riding class for opening my eyes to the vulgarity of the cow, can you say poopie magoo? I mean bless their hearts, but their digestive systems must be like a garbage disposal permanently switched "on."

cows=poopie=methane=global warming

The more we eat meat and use animal derivatives the more we're playing a role in G-dub than we'd like to believe. That reminds me, I have been searching for a new pleather belt for ages now.

In June 2007 I took a trip to Tuvalu, the tiny Polynesian nation a few hundred miles north of Fiji. Look it up, it's a beautiful place with a rich culture, traditions worth researching, 9 islands, 10 sq miles and a rising sea level. The ocean has risen so much so quickly in fact, that Tuvalu may soon disappear, the direct consequence of an overload of greenhouse emissions created unfortunately by. . .us. I love that place, so enjoy these pictures of it and next time you pause in the grocery store for a cut of steak remember Tuvalu. Veggies anyone?





Thursday, September 25, 2008

Terabithian Wisdom


This evening I watched one of my faves "Bridge to Terabitha", the film based on Katherine Paterson's work of genius. Many of my friends know that I love the book and the nuggets of wisdom that K. Pat draws on; well the movie too is simple and beautiful and makes me cry a lot. There is a scene in the movie where the three main kids Leslie, Jess and May Belle are riding home from church in the back of a pickup, when they get to talking about Jesus and the Bible. May Belle says that we are all vile sinners and those who don't believe in the Bible are damned to hell. Leslie asks, "Do you think that's true?" and Jess responds that the Bible is crazy but you've got to believe in it unless you want to be damned, "it's crazy, isn't it?" Jess confesses. Now the part that I love is what Leslie Burke says in response to Jess. She says, "You have to believe it, but you hate it. I don't have to believe it, and I think it's beautiful."

All too often it takes the eyes of an outsider to see see something in a refreshingly new light.

It's not included in the book, but at the end of this scene Leslie goes on to conclude that "God won't damn anyone to hell, he's too busy taking care of this." The camera then zooms out and Leslie is shown pointing to the serene landscape surrounding them. Leslie Burke, I concur.

I too love and appreciate the Earth. I find it fascinating and want to see it all. Though I haven't been out in a while I did manage a visit to my friend Marni's blog the other day and was struck by a portion of a Biblical verse that she found in Job 12:8 "speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee..." This old world has a lot of secrets and mysteries, as well as a lot of answers. Why not strike up a little convo with Mother Earth?

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Boistrous Belly

My tummy is one turbulent tyrant. I don't know why but be it morning, noon or night I can guarantee one thing; that my bowels will surely bellow. Hungry, anxious, sour or not my innards are never inconsistent.

Is this problem common? Is this even a problem?