I travel. A lot. Like Ed Norton's character in Fight Club, I refer to airports by their three digit codes. I know this isn't healthy, but I've reached the point of knowing why Rome's airport code is FCO.
I have noticed that airports are either named after their host city (DEN is "Denver International Airport") or a famous person (JFK is "John F. Kennedy International Airport"). In some cases, there is a combination effect of place and famous person (BWI is "Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport") or place and a lofty, inspiring theme (EWR is "Newark Liberty International Airport").
This makes me wonder...when are we going to have corporate sponsorship of airports? The Bose Noise-Canceling Headphone Newark International Airport. The USA Travel Insurance Hartford International Airport. The Boeing Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Think of the possibilities.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Cold Christmas
Twas the day before Thanksgiving in Baltimore, and it is 73 degrees outside. Last weekend, a rose bloomed in my backyard. Did you hear about the updated version of the Irving Berlin classic:
I'm dreaming of a cold Christmas ;-)
I'm dreaming of a cold Christmas ;-)
Sunday, August 26, 2007
11 Simple Things to Reduce Energy Consumption
This post is the second in a series related to 11 simple things we can do to reduce environment impact (and save money). As I mentioned in the original post, this idea was inspired by the movie 11th hour. Today's post focuses on how we can reduce our energy consumption.
11 simple things we can do to reduce our energy consumption.
1) Turn off the lights. It's really simple. When leaving the room, turn off the lights--both at home and work.
2) Turn off appliances or electronic devices. If a TV emits a signal and no one is there to hear it, does it really make a sound? Ask a philosopher, but the TV certainly uses energy. Turn it off when you're not watching it.
3) Unplug the electronic devices and chargers. If your electronic devices are plugged into a power strip, it's really easy to "unplug" them by turning off the power strip. Cell phone chargers? Plug them in only when you're using them. If you have appliances that you use only occasionally, consider unplugging them. This article provides useful information about appliance "vampires" that use energy needlessly.
4) Set the computer to sleep or hibernate. In Windows, the power management settings are within the control panel. For Macs, use the Energy Saver within the system preferences. This article describes power management with Linux. Consider turning off your computer at night.
5) Use revolving doors. Yup. We can save energy by using revolving doors. I'm not even getting into the disconcerting trend that an increasing number of revolving doors have become motorized, or that perhaps we could harness energy from revolving doors (or merry-go-rounds?). Less air is exchanged when using revolving doors, which means less air conditioning or heating required to moderate temperature.
6) Use curtains, blinds or shades strategically. During the summer, consider closing them on days when you're using the air conditioner. During the winter, open the blinds to capture heat and sunlight (but close them at night to retain heat).
7) Clean the filters. In particular, clear the dryer's lint filter after each use, and the clean the air conditioner's filter regularly. Some new air conditioners have a light that comes on when it's time to open up the front panel, remove the filter and dust it off and clean it. A clean filter ensures peak performance and efficiency.
8) Use cold water to wash your clothes. I suppose there might be some stubborn stains that require extra attention (or maybe hot water), but perhaps those could be dealt with separately in a pre-wash effort? Clothes can be washed perfectly well using cold water, which will use less energy. If you can combine clothes into fewer, larger loads, you'll save even more energy.
9) Adjust the thermostats. There are many recommendations for cooling and heating, but since this is a "simple things" list, I will make the following recommendation: adjust the thermostat by one degree (make it one degree higher when using the central air conditioning and one degree lower when using the central heating). If you can manage this simple adjustment, consider adjusting it another degree. Try the same approach for your refrigerator. If your milk has icicles in it, you can probably turn down the thermostat.
And now the items that take some more effort (but offer greater benefits)...
10) If you can afford it, buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. From the Energy Star website:
"If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars."
If you can believe it, WalMart has launched a new Green campaign that includes an emphasis on compact fluorescent light bulbs. BTW, WalMart includes a "10 Easy Things You Can Do to Help" list on their WalMart Green website. I am aware of WalMart's poor track record with labor practices. Only you can decide if you want to support their Green movement.
11) If you can afford it, buy energy efficient appliances. The Energy Star website has information on such appliances and WalMart has listed all their energy efficient appliances into one category.
All of these ideas focus on reducing demand for electricity, but it's also worthwhile to think about the supply as well. We generate most of our electricity from burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, which is a major contributor to air pollution. If you're feeling really motivated, consider purchasing renewable energy credits in the form of wind energy at Renewable Choice Energy. You can also ask your electric utility company what percentage of their energy they generate from renewable sources. If their answer is zero, you might ask them what their plan is for increasing this percentage. If they don't have a plan, you might ask them why not.
Thank you for reducing our impact on the environment.
11 simple things we can do to reduce our energy consumption.
1) Turn off the lights. It's really simple. When leaving the room, turn off the lights--both at home and work.
2) Turn off appliances or electronic devices. If a TV emits a signal and no one is there to hear it, does it really make a sound? Ask a philosopher, but the TV certainly uses energy. Turn it off when you're not watching it.
3) Unplug the electronic devices and chargers. If your electronic devices are plugged into a power strip, it's really easy to "unplug" them by turning off the power strip. Cell phone chargers? Plug them in only when you're using them. If you have appliances that you use only occasionally, consider unplugging them. This article provides useful information about appliance "vampires" that use energy needlessly.
4) Set the computer to sleep or hibernate. In Windows, the power management settings are within the control panel. For Macs, use the Energy Saver within the system preferences. This article describes power management with Linux. Consider turning off your computer at night.
5) Use revolving doors. Yup. We can save energy by using revolving doors. I'm not even getting into the disconcerting trend that an increasing number of revolving doors have become motorized, or that perhaps we could harness energy from revolving doors (or merry-go-rounds?). Less air is exchanged when using revolving doors, which means less air conditioning or heating required to moderate temperature.
6) Use curtains, blinds or shades strategically. During the summer, consider closing them on days when you're using the air conditioner. During the winter, open the blinds to capture heat and sunlight (but close them at night to retain heat).
7) Clean the filters. In particular, clear the dryer's lint filter after each use, and the clean the air conditioner's filter regularly. Some new air conditioners have a light that comes on when it's time to open up the front panel, remove the filter and dust it off and clean it. A clean filter ensures peak performance and efficiency.
8) Use cold water to wash your clothes. I suppose there might be some stubborn stains that require extra attention (or maybe hot water), but perhaps those could be dealt with separately in a pre-wash effort? Clothes can be washed perfectly well using cold water, which will use less energy. If you can combine clothes into fewer, larger loads, you'll save even more energy.
9) Adjust the thermostats. There are many recommendations for cooling and heating, but since this is a "simple things" list, I will make the following recommendation: adjust the thermostat by one degree (make it one degree higher when using the central air conditioning and one degree lower when using the central heating). If you can manage this simple adjustment, consider adjusting it another degree. Try the same approach for your refrigerator. If your milk has icicles in it, you can probably turn down the thermostat.
And now the items that take some more effort (but offer greater benefits)...
10) If you can afford it, buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. From the Energy Star website:
"If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars."
If you can believe it, WalMart has launched a new Green campaign that includes an emphasis on compact fluorescent light bulbs. BTW, WalMart includes a "10 Easy Things You Can Do to Help" list on their WalMart Green website. I am aware of WalMart's poor track record with labor practices. Only you can decide if you want to support their Green movement.
11) If you can afford it, buy energy efficient appliances. The Energy Star website has information on such appliances and WalMart has listed all their energy efficient appliances into one category.
All of these ideas focus on reducing demand for electricity, but it's also worthwhile to think about the supply as well. We generate most of our electricity from burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, which is a major contributor to air pollution. If you're feeling really motivated, consider purchasing renewable energy credits in the form of wind energy at Renewable Choice Energy. You can also ask your electric utility company what percentage of their energy they generate from renewable sources. If their answer is zero, you might ask them what their plan is for increasing this percentage. If they don't have a plan, you might ask them why not.
Thank you for reducing our impact on the environment.
11 Simple Things We Can Do to Reduce Environmental Impact
Arguably, the documentary movie 11th hour picks up from Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. I believe the latter movie was a cohesive, even more compelling offering, but 11th hour certainly offered food for thought. My previous post focused on a specific quote reflecting the vicious cycle most Americans seem to experience: work to earn more money to spend more money to manage more things to work to earn more money...
I once heard that there are an estimated 60,000 storage facilities in the US. People pay money to store things they do not use on a regular basis? Maybe it's time to create an eBay account, sell something on Craigslist, or better yet, check out Freecycle.
One of the principals in 11th hour described the "anesthesizing" effect of wealth and consumerism in the US. Specifically, that our escalating consumerism insulates us from nature, and our isolation from the world leaves us woefully unaware of how other people live (and arguably unaware of the impact of our lifestyles). I'm not convinced that we're anesthetized, which to me implies a state of (albeit artificial) peace. Given the amount of stress, anxiety, violence, etc. in US society, it hardly seems that we're at peace. Perhaps "brainwashing" is a better term.
While it's easy to belabor such points, the movie includes a helpful sequence about personal choices we can make to reduce our impact on the environment. In this spirit, I've decided to offer my own set of "11 things" lists that anyone can do to reduce environmental impact (and save money). Each list will emphasize a specific theme such as reducing our energy or water consumption.
Today's list: 11 simple things we can do to reduce your gasoline consumption.
1) Reduce the warmup period. Even 30 seconds of warming up an engine will suffice on a cold day. The best way to warm up your car is to drive it.
2) Accelerate and brake gently. "Jackrabbit" or sudden acceleration and hard braking use more gasoline.
3) Drive at the speed limit, or even below the speed limit! There are many good reasons for doing this, including saving gas. Driving at 55mph offers about 20% better gas mileage than driving at 65mph or 70mph.
4) Turn off the engine instead of idling it. If you plan to be parked for more than 10 seconds, it's generally a good idea to turn off your engine rather than let it idle (i.e., ten seconds of idling can use more gas than turning your engine on and off).
5) Use the walk through. Instead of using the drive through, consider parking, taking a brief walk and ordering your food at the counter.
6) Park quickly. I'm amazed at the number of times I note people driving around in circles looking for that "ideal" parking spot right near the entrance, when there are plenty of parking spots 100 feet away or one level below or above the entrance level. Parking quickly will also save you time, and offer another chance for a brief walk.
7) Clean out the trunk. It's certainly a good idea to keep emergency supplies in your trunk, but if you're carrying around extra weight for no reason, you're wasting gas.
8) Inflate your tires to the maximum recommended pressure. It takes only a few minutes to do so, but it makes a big difference in your gas mileage.
And now the items that take some more effort (but offer greater benefits)...
9) Carpool. Haven't you always wanted to use those high-occupancy vehicle lanes (at least legally)?
10) Use public transit. If you already use public transit, great. Consider getting off one stop early and taking a walk. Walk whenever possible.
11) If you must keep driving, consider using a Flexcar. If you can afford it, consider buying a vehicle with high fuel efficiency or even a hybrid.
Thanks for reducing our impact on the environment.
I once heard that there are an estimated 60,000 storage facilities in the US. People pay money to store things they do not use on a regular basis? Maybe it's time to create an eBay account, sell something on Craigslist, or better yet, check out Freecycle.
One of the principals in 11th hour described the "anesthesizing" effect of wealth and consumerism in the US. Specifically, that our escalating consumerism insulates us from nature, and our isolation from the world leaves us woefully unaware of how other people live (and arguably unaware of the impact of our lifestyles). I'm not convinced that we're anesthetized, which to me implies a state of (albeit artificial) peace. Given the amount of stress, anxiety, violence, etc. in US society, it hardly seems that we're at peace. Perhaps "brainwashing" is a better term.
While it's easy to belabor such points, the movie includes a helpful sequence about personal choices we can make to reduce our impact on the environment. In this spirit, I've decided to offer my own set of "11 things" lists that anyone can do to reduce environmental impact (and save money). Each list will emphasize a specific theme such as reducing our energy or water consumption.
Today's list: 11 simple things we can do to reduce your gasoline consumption.
1) Reduce the warmup period. Even 30 seconds of warming up an engine will suffice on a cold day. The best way to warm up your car is to drive it.
2) Accelerate and brake gently. "Jackrabbit" or sudden acceleration and hard braking use more gasoline.
3) Drive at the speed limit, or even below the speed limit! There are many good reasons for doing this, including saving gas. Driving at 55mph offers about 20% better gas mileage than driving at 65mph or 70mph.
4) Turn off the engine instead of idling it. If you plan to be parked for more than 10 seconds, it's generally a good idea to turn off your engine rather than let it idle (i.e., ten seconds of idling can use more gas than turning your engine on and off).
5) Use the walk through. Instead of using the drive through, consider parking, taking a brief walk and ordering your food at the counter.
6) Park quickly. I'm amazed at the number of times I note people driving around in circles looking for that "ideal" parking spot right near the entrance, when there are plenty of parking spots 100 feet away or one level below or above the entrance level. Parking quickly will also save you time, and offer another chance for a brief walk.
7) Clean out the trunk. It's certainly a good idea to keep emergency supplies in your trunk, but if you're carrying around extra weight for no reason, you're wasting gas.
8) Inflate your tires to the maximum recommended pressure. It takes only a few minutes to do so, but it makes a big difference in your gas mileage.
And now the items that take some more effort (but offer greater benefits)...
9) Carpool. Haven't you always wanted to use those high-occupancy vehicle lanes (at least legally)?
10) Use public transit. If you already use public transit, great. Consider getting off one stop early and taking a walk. Walk whenever possible.
11) If you must keep driving, consider using a Flexcar. If you can afford it, consider buying a vehicle with high fuel efficiency or even a hybrid.
Thanks for reducing our impact on the environment.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
11th Hour
From the documentary movie about the impending environmental crisis and methods for sustainable design and living 11th hour...
"Things are the thieves of time."
- Nathan Gardels, Editor, New Perspectives Quarterly
"Things are the thieves of time."
- Nathan Gardels, Editor, New Perspectives Quarterly
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Decline of David Beckham
Latest assessment of David Beckham: "I'm not a soccer player, but I play one on TV." ;-)
Saturday, June 02, 2007
The Return of David Beckham
I know that David Beckham has been enjoying a resurgence, one that has propelled Real Madrid into the title race in La Liga. But there's no doubt that the most anticipated milestone in his comeback occurred yesterday when he wore the English national colors in the match against Brazil. Even after a few minutes of play, it was evident that this not Sven Goran-Eriksson's David Beckham.
There were still the precise, even magical, passes, crosses and free kicks, including one that missed the goal barely and the one that met John Terry perfectly for England's goal. But here was someone going back on defense, chasing 50/50 balls, running at defenders, intercepting passes. He even got his uniform dirty. And his hair was a modest buzz cut. Apparently, after the last English national team practice session, Beckham stayed on the pitch to practice another hour. While there have been rumors that the media circus that accompanied Beckham was one of the reasons Steve McClaren opted to drop him, there was no such disruption on this day. His teammates embraced after Beckham after the goal, and the fans applauded him when he was substituted. He played with an intensity that I haven't seen from Beckham in many years. Come to think of it, I don't know if I've ever seen that kind of intensity from David Beckham.
Whatever you think of Beckham, there's no doubt he is considerably gifted as a footballer. The Brazilians apparently believe that he is the one non-Brazilian player most capable of playing with them (OK, maybe Cristiano Ronaldo comes to mind as well). It was encouraging to see this resurgence. Perhaps it took the somewhat absurd series of events that landed him with the LA Galaxy--and off the field for both Real Madrid and England--to energize Beckham. Regardless of what motivated him, it was heartening to see him play this way. I think every soccer fan has to appreciate seeing Beckham playing this way (well, maybe not LA Galaxy fans who not end up seeing much of Beckham).
At the end of the day, literally, England still has its concerns. The defensive lapse that allowed Brazil to score was not terribly disconcerting given that it was a friendly match, and both teams had substituted liberally by this point (I doubt John Terry would have missed marking Diego). But, as much the English might have enjoyed Beckham's performance, England still faces an uphill march for Euro 2008 qualification. The injuries and lapses on defense, and the lack of goals are still problems for the English team.
But you can't blame David Beckham for them anymore.
There were still the precise, even magical, passes, crosses and free kicks, including one that missed the goal barely and the one that met John Terry perfectly for England's goal. But here was someone going back on defense, chasing 50/50 balls, running at defenders, intercepting passes. He even got his uniform dirty. And his hair was a modest buzz cut. Apparently, after the last English national team practice session, Beckham stayed on the pitch to practice another hour. While there have been rumors that the media circus that accompanied Beckham was one of the reasons Steve McClaren opted to drop him, there was no such disruption on this day. His teammates embraced after Beckham after the goal, and the fans applauded him when he was substituted. He played with an intensity that I haven't seen from Beckham in many years. Come to think of it, I don't know if I've ever seen that kind of intensity from David Beckham.
Whatever you think of Beckham, there's no doubt he is considerably gifted as a footballer. The Brazilians apparently believe that he is the one non-Brazilian player most capable of playing with them (OK, maybe Cristiano Ronaldo comes to mind as well). It was encouraging to see this resurgence. Perhaps it took the somewhat absurd series of events that landed him with the LA Galaxy--and off the field for both Real Madrid and England--to energize Beckham. Regardless of what motivated him, it was heartening to see him play this way. I think every soccer fan has to appreciate seeing Beckham playing this way (well, maybe not LA Galaxy fans who not end up seeing much of Beckham).
At the end of the day, literally, England still has its concerns. The defensive lapse that allowed Brazil to score was not terribly disconcerting given that it was a friendly match, and both teams had substituted liberally by this point (I doubt John Terry would have missed marking Diego). But, as much the English might have enjoyed Beckham's performance, England still faces an uphill march for Euro 2008 qualification. The injuries and lapses on defense, and the lack of goals are still problems for the English team.
But you can't blame David Beckham for them anymore.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
FlexCar
I am a member of the Johns Hopkins University Sustainability Committee. The Chair of this Committee has led an effort to bring Flexcar to our neighborhood. A local publication describes Flexcar as "a planet-friendly car-sharing program designed with cost savings, convenience, and conservation in mind."
There are four cars within the campus area. For the period when I wanted a car, three of the four cars were reserved, so I had to rent the most remote car, with "remote" meaning a fifteen minute walk (interesting mindset, eh?). It was a beautiful, warm, sunny, breezy day, so I welcomed the walk. I doubt I'll feel this way when it's cold and blustery (breeze seems to become bluster on cold days).
I was surprised--and disappointed--to note a Mini Cooper upon my arrival. It was my understanding that all of the Flexcars in our neighborhood were hybrid vehicles. One of the reasons I find Flexcar so appealing is the "sustainability" aspect of the program. The Flexcar instructions for activating the car, finding the key, initiating the session, etc. were excellent. Within no time, I had the car started. Getting moving was another matter...
I've rented cars dozens of times. I'm completely comfortable with a range of vehicles, but I found the Mini Cooper unusually disorienting. Why was the tachometer in front of me while the speedometer was in the center of the dashboard? At one point, I tried to raise the volume on the radio, but ended up downshifting while I was driving. After hearing the engine rev up, and noting the tachometer rise sharply (good thing it was in front of me), I quickly shifted up again. After some trial and error, I figured out the radio, and other features of the car. When I thought about why this particular car was disorienting, I realized that the Mini Cooper is a car aimed at the young and hip...I let go of that thought pretty quickly. I was pleased to note that a Flexcar email newsletter included a section on how to start the Mini Cooper, and how to navigate its instrument panel and dashboard. Maybe a lot of older folks are using Flexcars :-)
I drove the Flexcar to the pet store, the mall, and a local Trader Joe's. At the mall, I noted a sign about extended hours and a statement "Defining You." Before I sat down to eat, I returned two of the sauce packets that were given to me, only to receive a strange look. After I finished eating, I returned one of the sauce packets, only to receive an even stranger look. While I was eating, I saw another sign about "Defining You" through "Fabulous stores, great food." I left the mall after eating because, as much as I enjoy their food, I'm not sure I want to be defined by Chick-fil-a.
I parked the Flexcar in prominent locations so that the logo was easily visible. I wondered if anyone would ask me about it. No such luck. Given the ongoing attention to the price of gas, I was surprised that no one asked about this alternative, community-based approach to driving. On subsequent occasions using Flexcar when driving a hybrid vehicle (the Mini Cooper must have been there temporarily), there was still no reaction. I've rented FlexCars several times, but no one has ever said anything to me. Putting aside the sustainability aspects of Flexcar, I thought someone might ask out of sheer curiosity. Maybe Flexcar should make its logo larger on the side doors.
But then again, as I notice the typical range of cars on the road, the way people keep driving around the mall parking lot looking for that spot 30 feet closer to the entrance, or the fact that almost every car has one occupant, I realize that gas prices will have to be much higher before people in the US change their behavior. And gas prices will go up, and there will be a need for adjustment in behavior, and Flexcar will probably become much more popular.
I guess it's not surprising that people don't see the writing on the doors of the Flexcar given that they don't seem to see the writing on the wall.
There are four cars within the campus area. For the period when I wanted a car, three of the four cars were reserved, so I had to rent the most remote car, with "remote" meaning a fifteen minute walk (interesting mindset, eh?). It was a beautiful, warm, sunny, breezy day, so I welcomed the walk. I doubt I'll feel this way when it's cold and blustery (breeze seems to become bluster on cold days).
I was surprised--and disappointed--to note a Mini Cooper upon my arrival. It was my understanding that all of the Flexcars in our neighborhood were hybrid vehicles. One of the reasons I find Flexcar so appealing is the "sustainability" aspect of the program. The Flexcar instructions for activating the car, finding the key, initiating the session, etc. were excellent. Within no time, I had the car started. Getting moving was another matter...
I've rented cars dozens of times. I'm completely comfortable with a range of vehicles, but I found the Mini Cooper unusually disorienting. Why was the tachometer in front of me while the speedometer was in the center of the dashboard? At one point, I tried to raise the volume on the radio, but ended up downshifting while I was driving. After hearing the engine rev up, and noting the tachometer rise sharply (good thing it was in front of me), I quickly shifted up again. After some trial and error, I figured out the radio, and other features of the car. When I thought about why this particular car was disorienting, I realized that the Mini Cooper is a car aimed at the young and hip...I let go of that thought pretty quickly. I was pleased to note that a Flexcar email newsletter included a section on how to start the Mini Cooper, and how to navigate its instrument panel and dashboard. Maybe a lot of older folks are using Flexcars :-)
I drove the Flexcar to the pet store, the mall, and a local Trader Joe's. At the mall, I noted a sign about extended hours and a statement "Defining You." Before I sat down to eat, I returned two of the sauce packets that were given to me, only to receive a strange look. After I finished eating, I returned one of the sauce packets, only to receive an even stranger look. While I was eating, I saw another sign about "Defining You" through "Fabulous stores, great food." I left the mall after eating because, as much as I enjoy their food, I'm not sure I want to be defined by Chick-fil-a.
I parked the Flexcar in prominent locations so that the logo was easily visible. I wondered if anyone would ask me about it. No such luck. Given the ongoing attention to the price of gas, I was surprised that no one asked about this alternative, community-based approach to driving. On subsequent occasions using Flexcar when driving a hybrid vehicle (the Mini Cooper must have been there temporarily), there was still no reaction. I've rented FlexCars several times, but no one has ever said anything to me. Putting aside the sustainability aspects of Flexcar, I thought someone might ask out of sheer curiosity. Maybe Flexcar should make its logo larger on the side doors.
But then again, as I notice the typical range of cars on the road, the way people keep driving around the mall parking lot looking for that spot 30 feet closer to the entrance, or the fact that almost every car has one occupant, I realize that gas prices will have to be much higher before people in the US change their behavior. And gas prices will go up, and there will be a need for adjustment in behavior, and Flexcar will probably become much more popular.
I guess it's not surprising that people don't see the writing on the doors of the Flexcar given that they don't seem to see the writing on the wall.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Cheese Flavored Coke
I've returned from a business trip and brief vacation in Europe. I'm struck by how people in Europe gather in common spaces such as parks for conversation or walks, rather than in shopping malls for consumption. There are more bicycles than people in the Netherlands. People in Europe don't seem to be out to prove something. In the song, What About Everything? the group Carbon Leaf sings about being "in search of some rest, in search of a break. From a life of tests where something's always at stake." Granted, it took Europe a long time to reach this point, and there's quite a bit of damage to others in their history, but even throughout their heyday, there was always the need to learn another language, observe another culture, and experience someone else's food. Someone else's real food.
The US is beginning to actively engage in reflection and conversation about food. Michael Pollan has written The Omnivore's Dilemma, which examines the "lineage" of four meals. It's disturbing, but not surprising, that it's almost impossible to determine the natural history of a happy meal from McDonald's. I'm sure the cows processed in the industrial production chain of McDonald's aren't too happy about those meals. The single point of failure with industrial food production has also resulted in a vulnerability or dependency that can affect large numbers of people or our furry friends. Think of the fast food restaurant problems with vegetables, or the pet food recall that's taking place right now.
Pollan recently wrote an article in the New York Times Magazine ("Unhappy Meals"). He describes an interesting journey in the US of the fascination, even obsession, with micro-nutrients. This view has culminated in the belief that if one can manage to eat the ideal combination and proportion of vitamins, minerals, and avoid the bad stuff like saturated fat, then, voila, one can become healthy. He offers a persuasive argument to eat real food, focusing on natural ingredients because, well, perhaps nature does know best. Or perhaps our adaption to nature over time has resulted in cuisines that actually acknowledge the best balance of local ingredients and our nutritional needs. Pollan begins his article with the following advice: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."
Our (and I include myself in this) reluctance to follow this simple, yet powerful, advice has been fueled by the industrialization of food. As we have moved away from real food, we have correspondingly missed the taste of real food. There's an entire industry associated with artificial flavors. I find it disconcerting that I can close my eyes, smell something from a test tube, and imagine a bacon cheeseburger. Artificial flavors seem to found their true calling with sodas (or soft drinks or pop if you prefer). Just think about the number of variants of Coke. What started out as "new Coke" has now resulted in so many varieties of Coke that perhaps we've overwhelmed ourselves with choices (why is it that there are so many close associations of the words "choice" and "dilemma"?).
My wife has also noted that cheesification of food. There seems to be cheese generously applied to all types of food. Perhaps this happened during the Atkins Diet craze, or perhaps it's an attempt to surpass corn-based derivatives as the "natural" food flavoring additive. I'm sure if cheese can be added to enough food products, the dairy industry will be very happy. So it's occurred to me that there's an obvious conclusion: the happy convergence of high fructose corn syrup and cheese.
Cheese flavored Coke.
Ask for it the next time you supersize your meal at McDonalds.
The US is beginning to actively engage in reflection and conversation about food. Michael Pollan has written The Omnivore's Dilemma, which examines the "lineage" of four meals. It's disturbing, but not surprising, that it's almost impossible to determine the natural history of a happy meal from McDonald's. I'm sure the cows processed in the industrial production chain of McDonald's aren't too happy about those meals. The single point of failure with industrial food production has also resulted in a vulnerability or dependency that can affect large numbers of people or our furry friends. Think of the fast food restaurant problems with vegetables, or the pet food recall that's taking place right now.
Pollan recently wrote an article in the New York Times Magazine ("Unhappy Meals"). He describes an interesting journey in the US of the fascination, even obsession, with micro-nutrients. This view has culminated in the belief that if one can manage to eat the ideal combination and proportion of vitamins, minerals, and avoid the bad stuff like saturated fat, then, voila, one can become healthy. He offers a persuasive argument to eat real food, focusing on natural ingredients because, well, perhaps nature does know best. Or perhaps our adaption to nature over time has resulted in cuisines that actually acknowledge the best balance of local ingredients and our nutritional needs. Pollan begins his article with the following advice: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."
Our (and I include myself in this) reluctance to follow this simple, yet powerful, advice has been fueled by the industrialization of food. As we have moved away from real food, we have correspondingly missed the taste of real food. There's an entire industry associated with artificial flavors. I find it disconcerting that I can close my eyes, smell something from a test tube, and imagine a bacon cheeseburger. Artificial flavors seem to found their true calling with sodas (or soft drinks or pop if you prefer). Just think about the number of variants of Coke. What started out as "new Coke" has now resulted in so many varieties of Coke that perhaps we've overwhelmed ourselves with choices (why is it that there are so many close associations of the words "choice" and "dilemma"?).
My wife has also noted that cheesification of food. There seems to be cheese generously applied to all types of food. Perhaps this happened during the Atkins Diet craze, or perhaps it's an attempt to surpass corn-based derivatives as the "natural" food flavoring additive. I'm sure if cheese can be added to enough food products, the dairy industry will be very happy. So it's occurred to me that there's an obvious conclusion: the happy convergence of high fructose corn syrup and cheese.
Cheese flavored Coke.
Ask for it the next time you supersize your meal at McDonalds.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
David Beckham Saga
There are still numerous news stories about Beckham's "$250 million" contract with the LA Galaxy. It's clear that it isn't clear how much of this contract comprises payment for services potentially rendered versus payment for Beckham striking a pose, or launching a dubious acting career. It's also clear that this move marks the end of Beckham's serious soccer career. Perhaps it just puts the last nail on the coffin.
Beckham's current manager at Real Madrid, Fabio Capello, has stated that Beckham will not play again for Real Madrid. Capello seems determined to dampen the Beckham media spotlight's effect on a team that is easily distracted. I can't imagine Beckham's ego-laden teammates are taking too kindly to this madness. Capello seems keen on getting Beckham out the door as soon as possible, indicating that a loan would be a viable option. As reported in the news:
Asked whether Beckham might leave the Bernabeu before the end of his contract, Capello insisted: 'You will have to ask Beckham that question.'
Perhaps it's more important to note another transfer related to the MLS--in the other direction. One of the US's most promising younger players, Clint Dempsey, is leaving the MLS to join Fulham in the Premier League. Who can blame him? If he succeeds in the Premier League, he will almost certainly raise his game, both in terms of understanding and skill.
Brazil and Italy demonstrate two extremes of soccer development. Typically, almost none of the Brazilians on the national team play club soccer in Brazil; typically, all of the Italians on the national team play in Serie A. They are the most successful teams in the World Cup. One might assume that there's no correlation between a strong domestic league and World Cup success. However, it's clear that having a critical mass of players who play regularly at the highest club level is essential. A domestic league bolsters the prospects for this critical mass, but Brazil shows it can be done through "outsourcing." Even in Brazil's case, the domestic league serves an important role, that of introducing young, talented players for the European clubs to consider.
If the US wishes to strengthen its international standing in soccer, it needs to figure out what role the MLS might offer. Will the MLS serve the role of a "farm system" for European soccer leagues? Or will the MLS ever rise to the level of a Serie A or Premier League? The outflow from the MLS, with players like Clint Dempsey leaving for Europe, reflects the former model. Does the inflow into the MLS through flashy signings like Beckham really bolster the prospects for the latter model?
I seriously doubt it.
Beckham's current manager at Real Madrid, Fabio Capello, has stated that Beckham will not play again for Real Madrid. Capello seems determined to dampen the Beckham media spotlight's effect on a team that is easily distracted. I can't imagine Beckham's ego-laden teammates are taking too kindly to this madness. Capello seems keen on getting Beckham out the door as soon as possible, indicating that a loan would be a viable option. As reported in the news:
Asked whether Beckham might leave the Bernabeu before the end of his contract, Capello insisted: 'You will have to ask Beckham that question.'
Translation: Beckham, I'm begging you to get the hell out NOW!
I think Beckham actually prefers not playing soccer at this point. He'd rather spend more time building up his marketing profile.
Perhaps it's more important to note another transfer related to the MLS--in the other direction. One of the US's most promising younger players, Clint Dempsey, is leaving the MLS to join Fulham in the Premier League. Who can blame him? If he succeeds in the Premier League, he will almost certainly raise his game, both in terms of understanding and skill.
Brazil and Italy demonstrate two extremes of soccer development. Typically, almost none of the Brazilians on the national team play club soccer in Brazil; typically, all of the Italians on the national team play in Serie A. They are the most successful teams in the World Cup. One might assume that there's no correlation between a strong domestic league and World Cup success. However, it's clear that having a critical mass of players who play regularly at the highest club level is essential. A domestic league bolsters the prospects for this critical mass, but Brazil shows it can be done through "outsourcing." Even in Brazil's case, the domestic league serves an important role, that of introducing young, talented players for the European clubs to consider.
If the US wishes to strengthen its international standing in soccer, it needs to figure out what role the MLS might offer. Will the MLS serve the role of a "farm system" for European soccer leagues? Or will the MLS ever rise to the level of a Serie A or Premier League? The outflow from the MLS, with players like Clint Dempsey leaving for Europe, reflects the former model. Does the inflow into the MLS through flashy signings like Beckham really bolster the prospects for the latter model?
I seriously doubt it.
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