FREE SH*T

Today, July 11th, is National 7-11 Day!

I'm not sure if we even have these in NYC, but if you can find one, grab a free Slurpee, Hot Dogs or Big Bite Meal...

Australia

It's finally here!!! Today, I embark on my 2 week long vacation to Sydney, Australia and finally get to see E! I am so excited!

A quick rundown of our itinerary: I arrive on my birthday (July 8th,) and spend the next 4 days in Sydney. Some things I want to hit up are the Zoo, Aquarium, Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge, hiking and maybe a winery in Hunter Valley. Then we head to the Outback for 4 days where we will explore and hike Kings Canyon, visit Ayers Rock, ride a camel at Uluru and more hiking. Then back to Sydney for a few days and home.

I will try to post when I am away, but I'm not sure how many computers they have in the Bush... but I will get back to it on July 20th.

I'll miss you!!

Quote Sundays

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

-Dr. Seuss

Satunesday

"Laughing With"
Regina Spektor

Bobo and I ran into Regina Spektor at Carnegie Hall last year. We couldn't believe it was her, buying tickets and waiting in line like a normal person, because she is anything but normal. Regina is an artist. Her genius melodies blended with provocative story telling make for a brilliant new album, Far.

Far is a record worth putting on repeat. It feels simple on its surface, but the secrets and the fun lie just underneath. Enjoy!

Happy (almost) 4th of July!!!

Pre 4th Tips

There is a big holiday coming up (and no, I do not mean my birthday...) I'm talking about the fourth of July!!

We all know what the 4th is... but here we are, 233 years later, fighting a different kind of revolution; a sustainable future. While that wasn't the forefront of our ancestors goals in founding our country, we can still tackle this problem with the same passion, dedication and energy (and that's not coal powered energy.)

A few things you can do to fight the revolution this holiday.
1. Grilling: charcoal grills emit TONS of carbon, electric or clean burning propane are the way to go.

2. Eating: Buy organic a local products for your picnic. It causes less transportation pollution to the environment -- and your food will be super-fresh. Choose a variety of veggies for the grill and less meat (while I know that hot dogs and hamburgers are a necessity, the less the better)

3. Skip the plastic plates and cups. Go for anything recyclable or reusable, even bamboo!

4. Guest list: Invite a lot of your friends and encourage them to carpool or bike!

5. Have fun!

So this Friday, when you're lounging by the pool, at the beach or watching fireworks, Declare Your Independence!

Eco-Cities

Everyone is going green. Whether it's rebuilding or new construction, green cities are popping up all over the place. Check out these three futuristic city plans:

Tianjin

Located in Singapore, this city will utilize waste heat from a nearby power plant and emphasize green modes of transportation and water recycling.

Zira Zero Island

Designs for this sliver of land off the coast of Azerbaijan mimic the country's rugged peaks. Each mountain is a residential development lined with solar panels. Wind farms almost totally power the island.

Gwanggyo Power Center

The concert here in heavy populated South Korea is to build green space upward, imitating patterns of hills and valleys. Each tower would drip with lushly planted terraces.

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Update: House narrowly passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act

The American Clean Energy and Security Act passed the House on Friday. The legislation sets a limit on overall emissions of heat-trapping gases while allowing those emitters to trade pollution permits, or allowances, among themselves.

I explained it to one of my co-workers as a sort of Weight Watchers for environment. You have an allotted number of "points" in which you can bank for later use. However, the difference is, you can buy points from your peers. Will it work? Will you still loose weight? I think so. In addition, the cap will grow tighter over the years, hopefully upping the price of emissions and in turn, driving industry to find cleaner energy technology.

This is a commentary on how our current administration views the importance of climate change. In fact, according to the NYT, "the vote was the first time either house of Congress had approved a bill meant to curb the heat-trapping gases scientists have linked to climate change. The legislation, which passed despite deep divisions among Democrats, could lead to profound changes in many sectors of the economy, including electric power generation, agriculture, manufacturing and construction."

Obama said the House bill was a “comprehensive approach.” He understands and stated that it might not be the full answer, but it is an "extraordinary first step." And, the bill is not only about cap and trade, there are incentives for new energy efficiency measures, support for wind energy, solar energy as well as nuclear power and clean coal technology.

Hopefully the bill will pass the Senate, but since only eight Republicans voted for the bill, which runs to more than 1,300 pages, it might take a lot of earmarks.

The program is scheduled to begin in 2012 and could create a ton of green jobs.
Check back for more information!

Go Philly!!!

Roots and Shoots

Jane Goodall is an amazing woman. Ever since I was a kid, I've been infatuated with her work. And, thanks to the Garden Media Group's work with Costa Farms and O2 for You, I found out about her latest program, Roots & Shoots.

Founded by Jane, Roots and Shoots is a powerful, youth-driven, global network. Working with a network of more than 8,000 groups, mostly volunteers, Roots and Shoots works in almost 100 countries. These youth are taking action to improve our world through service learning projects that promote care and concern for animals, the environment and the human community.

And, in keeping with the Jane Goodall mission, the Roots and Shoots program is all about making positive change happen. Change in our community, for animals and for the environment.

This is something I can stand behind... here are ways to get involved.

Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem to be very weak, but to reach the light, they can break open brick walls. Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet. Hundreds of thousands of roots and shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. We CAN change the world.

-Dr. Jane

Quote Sundays

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Satunesday

"Wilco"
Wilco

Chicagoan Jeff Tweedy proves again that he IS indie rock on Wilco's seventh studio album- arriving in stores June 30th.

Tweedy, 41, has been compared to greats such as Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Neil Young. Check it out for yourself and hear streaming audio at www.wilcoworld.net

Edible Garden

I am a big fan of Alice Waters. From her push for a White House vegetable garden to her work educating children about where their food comes from, Alice is a true guru.

Alice's latest partnership, The Edible Garden, runs at the New York Botanical Garden from June 27-September 13. It is a summer-long celebration of growing, cooking and eating great food.

The exhibition will help people of all ages understand how plants provide the food and drink essential to maintaining life and enhancing wellness.

Events include two Festival Weekends- June 27/28 and September 12/13 that features celebrity chef demonstrations and lectures. There will also be seven Edible Evenings; and a Farmers Market every Wednesday and Saturday, education programs for families, weekly Home Gardening Center Demonstrations, cooking demonstrations at the Conservatory Kitchen, and daily Docent Tours.

Check the website for some of Alice's recipes!

White Roof

I like to think that I offer you the latest and greatest in climate change news... but this time, I think I've failed you. I mean, even my slumlord in my previous apartment was up on this one: painting your roof white...

The concept is simple and obvious, but the numbers are massive. If we make roofs and pavement more reflective, that could offset 44 billion tons of CO2, or the equivalent of taking all of the world's cars off the road for 11 years.

Last week, (ok, so I'm not THAT behind) Energy Secretary, Obama's "Green Guru" and Nobel Prize winner Steve Chu suggested this white roof idea to his peers.

Of course, the idea does not treat the root cause of climate change, which is heat-trapping pollution such as CO2 (thank you cars) and methane gas (thank you cows). But, white roofs do help with the primary symptom: heat. By reflecting light back into the atmosphere and not trapping it, white roofs could essentially keep the would cooler!!

Great idea, Steve!

Roof top gardens... cont

This isn't the first post about veggies on the roof and it probably wont be the last, because roof vegetable gardens are taking the country by storm.

In my recent post, the roof top garden was intended to supply a restaurant with fresh fruits and vegetables. But there are so many other reasons to start a garden on your roof, education, fresh food, saving space and cleaning the air- to name a few!!!

The NYT writes a great article about different types of Urban farms around the country.

Here in New York, we have a plethora of farms: One of them is the Brick City Urban Farm, it is a very significant urban agriculture project with 500 EarthBoxes on the ground and 500 on a commercial building rooftop.

In one of my favorite cities, Montreal, the Rooftop Garden Project is an award winning project and one of the most unique urban agriculture projects anywhere in the world.

More plants equal more oxygen and less carbon in our atmosphere. What's better than that? NOTHING!