An article in today's NYT helped me draw together the environmentally friendly movement with the research I do. The article discusses eco-mom's who attempt to improve their children's health and that of the earth by being environmentally conscious. Interestingly, this made me think about how turning off the TV (something I promote in my research) is also saving electricity and helping the environment. Also, living nearer to schools allows kids to walk to school (getting more physical activity) which also saves carbon emissions and gas.
Link to article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/us/16ecomoms.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th&adxnnlx=1203184285-OpRG%20c0NgCXUsV7LZ%20T5kw
On the issue of suburbia:
Here's another NYT article from earlier in the week that mentions several researchers I work with are mentioned in this article from the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/fashion/10suburbs.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1203109961-DI0CKu0vzgXnh3eOR+iZ4Q
The idea is that to improve the environment, huge stand alone houses on large lots with 3 car garages are not going to help. Living in such places means long commutes to work and school (cutting physical activity and consuming lots of gas).
Friday, February 15, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Superstar
Do you ever have the experience of hearing a song that you loooove at first listen and have no clue where you'll ever find it again or who sings it? I still remember a song my friend and I heard in hip hop dance class, I can still remember the tune on occasion and crave to know who sings it. But that was now years ago and the song is long lost...
Well, I had one of these experiences last week while shopping at Forever 21 with my friend. The lyrics and beat of the song weren't what were memorable at first. It was that, in the front of the store, a young father was holding his son and swaying to the song as he sang it to his little boy, probably as they were waiting for the mom to finish her shopping. It was the cutest thing and it clued me in to listen to what music was playing. Well, on this occasion I was lucky. Just tonight I heard the song on the radio on my drive home and, as rarely happens at least to me, they actually named the song right afterwards...Superstar. I ran home, logged on, opened iTunes and...found it after a short search (there are a lot of songs called Superstar). If you want to check it out the artist is Lupe Fiasco. It is fabulous. He actually has another good song, Daydreamin' with Jill Scott and Kick, Push. I haven't found a hip hop artist I've been excited about in awhile so I was glad to track him down.
Well, I had one of these experiences last week while shopping at Forever 21 with my friend. The lyrics and beat of the song weren't what were memorable at first. It was that, in the front of the store, a young father was holding his son and swaying to the song as he sang it to his little boy, probably as they were waiting for the mom to finish her shopping. It was the cutest thing and it clued me in to listen to what music was playing. Well, on this occasion I was lucky. Just tonight I heard the song on the radio on my drive home and, as rarely happens at least to me, they actually named the song right afterwards...Superstar. I ran home, logged on, opened iTunes and...found it after a short search (there are a lot of songs called Superstar). If you want to check it out the artist is Lupe Fiasco. It is fabulous. He actually has another good song, Daydreamin' with Jill Scott and Kick, Push. I haven't found a hip hop artist I've been excited about in awhile so I was glad to track him down.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Send Bushy A Message
This is so great I have to post it. Help Bush receive tons of condoms...
SEND GEORGE W. BUSH A SPECIAL VALENTINE
Support family planning efforts this Valentine's Day by making a donation to Planned Parenthood in President Bush's name. When you do, we will send the President a Planned Parenthood Condom on your behalf, reminding him that investing in preventative reproductive health care saves Americans hundreds of millions of dollars a year and improves our communities' quality of life. On this day of love and compassion, you can make a difference in Orange and San Bernardino Counties by making a donation in President Bush's name.
After all, you know that love isn't just about chocolate, flowers and candy.
XOXO,Planned Parenthood
http://plannedparenthoodosbc.org/support/love.asp
SEND GEORGE W. BUSH A SPECIAL VALENTINE
Support family planning efforts this Valentine's Day by making a donation to Planned Parenthood in President Bush's name. When you do, we will send the President a Planned Parenthood Condom on your behalf, reminding him that investing in preventative reproductive health care saves Americans hundreds of millions of dollars a year and improves our communities' quality of life. On this day of love and compassion, you can make a difference in Orange and San Bernardino Counties by making a donation in President Bush's name.
After all, you know that love isn't just about chocolate, flowers and candy.
XOXO,Planned Parenthood
http://plannedparenthoodosbc.org/support/love.asp
Thinking about the Environment
An article today in the NYT reminds me of how important it is to use our heads when it comes to many things, including the environment. There's been a surge to replace our regular fuel with biofuel. The article though discusses 2 studies that have shown that biofuel ends up destroying the environment just as much. Read the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/science/earth/08wbiofuels.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
What this article says to me is that the bottom line is that we need to be buying and using cars that consume less gas--hybrids, smart cars, electric cars--and not big SUVs and trucks that are the mainstay on the road these days (and often with only 1 person in them). Our obsession with gas guzzlers is sick. From the monstrous SUVs and trucks to the smaller cars that have large engines--we are gas mongerers. Think about what the point of a vehicle is--to get from point A to B (and maybe some places in between). Do we really need some larger than life souped up status symbol on wheels? Or can we focus on what we really NEED and help ensure that our environment is protected for a long long time. To me, it is way cooler to drive a simple Honda Civic that gets nearly 40 miles/gallon than a hummer, or should I say (as the slogan goes on a T-shirt I saw a Whole Foods), a bummer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/science/earth/08wbiofuels.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
What this article says to me is that the bottom line is that we need to be buying and using cars that consume less gas--hybrids, smart cars, electric cars--and not big SUVs and trucks that are the mainstay on the road these days (and often with only 1 person in them). Our obsession with gas guzzlers is sick. From the monstrous SUVs and trucks to the smaller cars that have large engines--we are gas mongerers. Think about what the point of a vehicle is--to get from point A to B (and maybe some places in between). Do we really need some larger than life souped up status symbol on wheels? Or can we focus on what we really NEED and help ensure that our environment is protected for a long long time. To me, it is way cooler to drive a simple Honda Civic that gets nearly 40 miles/gallon than a hummer, or should I say (as the slogan goes on a T-shirt I saw a Whole Foods), a bummer.
Music News You Can Use
So sad these days how so many musicians are really struggling to get their personal lives together, Brittany, Amy, and so on. The Grammy's actually sound really interesting this year because there are so many different singers and groups up for awards. In today's NYT, there's an article about how Amy Winehouse was denied a visa so she will not be making the flight overseas but instead will be satellited in for the show. Read more at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/arts/music/08gram.html?th&emc=th
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/arts/music/08gram.html?th&emc=th
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Health News
Huge health news today. A study examining tight control of blood sugars in patients with type 2 diabetes was stopped because more participants were dying of heart attacks. This shocked study researchers because it has been well accepted that better control over blood glucose levels decreases risk of the complications from type 2 diabetes including heart attack. Read more in the NYT today:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/health/07diabetes.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
I was at a meeting today with some top medical researchers here in SD and it was briefly discussed. One concern is the huge focus in our country on medical treatments, including medications and insulin, for controlling diabetes. This study, however, shows that results with medical treatment are not always as expected; and doctors do not know why. Thus, non-medical interventions such as being physically active could be that much healthier and can help decrease medication use as it lowers blood sugar levels.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/health/07diabetes.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
I was at a meeting today with some top medical researchers here in SD and it was briefly discussed. One concern is the huge focus in our country on medical treatments, including medications and insulin, for controlling diabetes. This study, however, shows that results with medical treatment are not always as expected; and doctors do not know why. Thus, non-medical interventions such as being physically active could be that much healthier and can help decrease medication use as it lowers blood sugar levels.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Several Strands
I'm not even going to go there--to Super Tuesday. Instead, time to refocus on several important things happening in places that are important to me.
1. Seattle, amazing, Seattle, hailed in the New York Times today for opening 2 new museums that focus on the role of minorities in the region. One of these museums, the Northwest African American Museum, is 2 minutes from my house and I have driven by the vacant school millions of times over the years. I'm so glad to hear it is finally turning into a sacred space. You can see a picture of it and read the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/us/06seattle.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
2. Another big issue today that I just heard about on These Days (KPBS) is that the Coastal Commission is meeting today about a proposal to extend a toll road from Orange Country to 1-5 north of San Diego that would go through a habitat preserve. Our governor is for it because he believes it would decrease traffic on I-5. This is so frustrating to me because it has been shown that when you build new roads traffic worsens because in actuality more people will then decide to drive (and of course these people will be single passenger vehicles). Then more roads need to be built and there is a vicious cycle. Instead, money should go to getting people who make such long commutes onto public transportation, like trains that go down the coast. This sends the message that we do not want more single occupancy vehicles on the road. Luckily the Commission is against the proposal but if they reject it, the proponents can appeal to the federal government because they own part of the land the road would go through. Unfortunately, if they do appeal I worry that with such a conservative government, these road building monsters would ultimately win their sordid battle. Read a UT article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20080117-9999-1m17toll.html
1. Seattle, amazing, Seattle, hailed in the New York Times today for opening 2 new museums that focus on the role of minorities in the region. One of these museums, the Northwest African American Museum, is 2 minutes from my house and I have driven by the vacant school millions of times over the years. I'm so glad to hear it is finally turning into a sacred space. You can see a picture of it and read the article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/us/06seattle.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
2. Another big issue today that I just heard about on These Days (KPBS) is that the Coastal Commission is meeting today about a proposal to extend a toll road from Orange Country to 1-5 north of San Diego that would go through a habitat preserve. Our governor is for it because he believes it would decrease traffic on I-5. This is so frustrating to me because it has been shown that when you build new roads traffic worsens because in actuality more people will then decide to drive (and of course these people will be single passenger vehicles). Then more roads need to be built and there is a vicious cycle. Instead, money should go to getting people who make such long commutes onto public transportation, like trains that go down the coast. This sends the message that we do not want more single occupancy vehicles on the road. Luckily the Commission is against the proposal but if they reject it, the proponents can appeal to the federal government because they own part of the land the road would go through. Unfortunately, if they do appeal I worry that with such a conservative government, these road building monsters would ultimately win their sordid battle. Read a UT article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20080117-9999-1m17toll.html
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