According to Green America Today, the top worst "green" corporations include:
Wal-Mart, ExxonMobile, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Monsanto, General Motors, Dominion, Citigroup, Shell Petroleum, McDonalds.
The following info on Wal-Mart and that of the other corporations can be found at Green America Today/Responsible Shopper:
• Wal-Mart operates over 6,500 discount stores throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico and sells products ranging from groceries to clothing to automotive and electronic equipment.
• Due to low wages and negligible benefits, thousands of Wal-Mart employees are dependent on public assistance to meet their basic needs, and American taxpayers eventually subsidize Wal-Mart's low prices.
• Wal-Mart hurts U.S. communities by undercutting local merchants and increasing urban sprawl, and its suppliers have been cited for labor and human rights violations.
• Wal-Mart has been repreatedly accused of union busting in the US and Canada, and of using a "Labor Relations Team" that stops Wal-Mart workers from unionizing.
• Wal-Mart's overseas suppliers have been repeatedly accused of using sweatshop labor.
• A recent investigation by the AFL-CIO affiliated Solidarity Center found that Wal-Mart is sourcing shrimp from plants in Thailand and Bangladesh where workers as young as 8 years old are subject to sweatshop conditions.
• Shop with Go Green and pressure Wal-Mart to reduce its environmental impact and respect its workers.
1.30.2010
GRAND KIDS
Last weekend, the grandkids stayed with us while mom and dad attended an out-of-town wedding. I had to work most of Saturday, so I took a few photos at breakfast. To say that mealtime with the kids is an adventure is an understatement.
But even the most adventuresome konk out eventually....
What a wonderful time we had!
1.20.2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"I believe that we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequence of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime."
~~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
~~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
1.19.2010
REMEMBERING MARTIN LUTHER KING
"A right delayed is a right denied."
"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence."
"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
1.18.2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"I like these cold, gray winter days. Days like these let you savor a bad mood."
~~Bill Watterson
~~Bill Watterson
1.15.2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"You look at your children, and you know that they're looking back at you, and they're saying, 'You're going to take care of me, aren't you?'
"That's our job, to keep them healthy and to keep them safe, and to let them dream as big as their dreams will take them."
~~President Barack Obama, 2/4/09
"That's our job, to keep them healthy and to keep them safe, and to let them dream as big as their dreams will take them."
~~President Barack Obama, 2/4/09
THE 11 BEST FOODS YOU AREN'T EATING
By TARA PARKER-POPE, The New York Times
(This post was originally published on June 30, 2008, and recently appeared on The New York Times’s list of most-viewed stories for 2009.)
Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores. I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.
Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it.
Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
Zztopdog notes: Sorry; can't do this one!
Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.
You can find more details and recipes on the Men’s Health Web site, which published the original version of the list last year.
(This post was originally published on June 30, 2008, and recently appeared on The New York Times’s list of most-viewed stories for 2009.)
Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores. I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.
Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.
Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.
How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.
Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.
How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.
Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.
How to eat: Just drink it.
Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.
How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.
Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.
Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.
How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.
Zztopdog notes: Sorry; can't do this one!
Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.
Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.
How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.
Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.
How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.
You can find more details and recipes on the Men’s Health Web site, which published the original version of the list last year.
1.14.2010
RELIEF FOR HAITI
The American Red Cross has updates on relief efforts. You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti.... Green960 has a list of additional help resources.
1.13.2010
SO GROWN UP
Emy lost her first tooth today, after wiggling it for about a week. She can't wait to see what the toothfairy brings!
1.10.2010
GOOD-BYE TO NETFLIX NEW RELEASE RENTAL
Thanks to Chris at Cynical-C:
"Today is sad day for Netflix customers. The online video rental supplier has just announced an agreement with Warner Bros. that will forever alter your online rental experience. Now should you wish to rent a Warner Bros. flick you’ll have to wait out a 28-day holding period after the film’s initial DVD release date.
"Of course the partnership rooted in money-making greed — Warner Bros. wants you to buy the DVD instead of rent it —was to be expected. But the new deal is a first of its kind, and we could soon see several other studios follow in Warner Bros. footsteps.
"Both companies would like you to know that the deal also guarantees that Warner Bros. will add more direct-to-video and streaming titles to the Netflix collection."
Zztopdog notes: Of course this change would occur just two weeks after we joined Netflix.
"Today is sad day for Netflix customers. The online video rental supplier has just announced an agreement with Warner Bros. that will forever alter your online rental experience. Now should you wish to rent a Warner Bros. flick you’ll have to wait out a 28-day holding period after the film’s initial DVD release date.
"Of course the partnership rooted in money-making greed — Warner Bros. wants you to buy the DVD instead of rent it —was to be expected. But the new deal is a first of its kind, and we could soon see several other studios follow in Warner Bros. footsteps.
"Both companies would like you to know that the deal also guarantees that Warner Bros. will add more direct-to-video and streaming titles to the Netflix collection."
Zztopdog notes: Of course this change would occur just two weeks after we joined Netflix.
1.09.2010
TWELVE BELOW
At 5:00 this morning, the temp was -12; that is not including wind chill. Zorro even came in fairly quickly. But by 11:00, when the temp had risen to 5, he wanted to stay outside. I let him stay out for about 5 minutes, and then, made him come in. He was not happy.
1.07.2010
AND THE SNOW KEEPS COMING
I realize that weather is relative. The Midwest does not get the quantity of snow that, say, Colorado does. The snow is still coming down here. I plowed a couple of passes on the driveway before hitting a chunk of ice. A long piece of metal shot out of the front of the blower, and that was the end of plowing today. I shoveled the rest by hand (thank goodness is was dry, fluffy snow).
Sorry, snow-lovers.I'm sick of snow already!
Sorry, snow-lovers.I'm sick of snow already!
1.06.2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Ah, the Midwest.... We finally get a day that is actually warmer than 3 degrees, and it comes with a winter storm warning:
From Weather.com:
"... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT CST THURSDAY NIGHT...
* SNOW WILL MOVE INTO EASTERN IOWA STARTING AROUND MID AFTERNOON... AND OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE AREA BY TONIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END FROM WEST TO EAST THURSDAY EVENING.
* WIDESPREAD SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA... WITH MOST OF THIS FALLING TONIGHT THROUGH MIDDAY THURSDAY."
From Weather.com:
"... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO MIDNIGHT CST THURSDAY NIGHT...
* SNOW WILL MOVE INTO EASTERN IOWA STARTING AROUND MID AFTERNOON... AND OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE AREA BY TONIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END FROM WEST TO EAST THURSDAY EVENING.
* WIDESPREAD SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA... WITH MOST OF THIS FALLING TONIGHT THROUGH MIDDAY THURSDAY."
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