- Refuse
Monday, January 07, 2008
7 R's of Anti-Sustainability
From Sustainable is Good:
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Bill Richardson on Energy
Bill Richardson at last night's Democratic candidates debate in New Hampshire:
"You know, what we need is an energy revolution in this country. Not some of the bills that the congress has passed. We need to go to 50 miles per gallon fuel efficiency. We need to have 30 percent of all our electricity renewable. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2040. And we need the American people to sacrifice a little bit."
Now that would be an energy policy I could support. For more details, see http://action.richardsonforpresident.com/page/s/energyplan
How cool is that that we have a woman, an African-American, and a Hispanic running in this race!
"You know, what we need is an energy revolution in this country. Not some of the bills that the congress has passed. We need to go to 50 miles per gallon fuel efficiency. We need to have 30 percent of all our electricity renewable. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2040. And we need the American people to sacrifice a little bit."
Now that would be an energy policy I could support. For more details, see http://action.richardsonforpresident.com/page/s/energyplan
How cool is that that we have a woman, an African-American, and a Hispanic running in this race!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
RIP: Squeeze the Pulp
Squeeze The Pulp (STP) was initially set up as a political forum to counter to OrangePolitics shortly after Carrboro annexed the Homestead Road communities. While OP is a blog, STP was a discussion forum, a technology that I much preferred. Content-wise, STP was angry about the annexation and especially the annexation process. But occasionally the discussions were much more informative than those on OP because the posters weren't all in agreement with each other. On the other hand, some of the discussions were just downright offensive. After a particularly ugly thread on Moses Carey, in which one poster used a number of racial epithets, Fred Black and I left that forum and swore never to return. I went back on that promise during the fall 2007 election when I was supporting someone who I thought the angry posters would also support. Unfortunately, anger was all some of those folks had to contribute to the political dialogue and their vitriol and name calling contributed, in large part, to my candidate's loss. Instead of using the technology to rally around her, they used the technology to trash-talk those they opposed.
Today, a new STP has been unveiled in the form of a wiki rather than a discussion forum. Two "columnists" have been given their own sections of the wiki to moderate. One of those columnists was the most virulent of the angry posters. "We have brought on some of the more controversial posters from the old Pulp as contributors. Each controls their very own slice of the Pulp."
So after a couple of years of blasting OP as someone's private sandbox and criticizing that individual's editorial decisions, now Mr Angry Poster has his own private sandbox in which he can make his own editorial decisions. Talk about hypocrisy.
And then there are the definitions. Apparently the owner of STP has a lot of Mr Angry Poster in him. Here's an example: “BOA” – A term used to denote the governance board of Carrboro, known for its playpen mentality. Only pals are allowed in. Often compared to the monkey house at a zoo, the BOA is known for the figurative flinging of monkey dung at those in opposition to the errors in judgment routinely committed by the BOA." Now there's a great strategy for improving political discourse in the community. The Angry Posters seem to overlook the fact that VOTERS select the Board of Alderman. They were so ineffective in supporting the candidates from their area that they lost what should have been a slam dunk change. Now they resort to name calling. That just about sums up STP.
The owners of STP and OP have the right to do whatever they want with the technology they manage, even in STP's case if that means giving rights to individuals who have less than the best interests of this community in their hearts. We'll see how these changes work. To the STP owner: it would have been nice to have known this was coming so that those of who did invest the time and effort to do research could have pulled our old contributions. I will not be posting at the new site.
Today, a new STP has been unveiled in the form of a wiki rather than a discussion forum. Two "columnists" have been given their own sections of the wiki to moderate. One of those columnists was the most virulent of the angry posters. "We have brought on some of the more controversial posters from the old Pulp as contributors. Each controls their very own slice of the Pulp."
So after a couple of years of blasting OP as someone's private sandbox and criticizing that individual's editorial decisions, now Mr Angry Poster has his own private sandbox in which he can make his own editorial decisions. Talk about hypocrisy.
And then there are the definitions. Apparently the owner of STP has a lot of Mr Angry Poster in him. Here's an example: “BOA” – A term used to denote the governance board of Carrboro, known for its playpen mentality. Only pals are allowed in. Often compared to the monkey house at a zoo, the BOA is known for the figurative flinging of monkey dung at those in opposition to the errors in judgment routinely committed by the BOA." Now there's a great strategy for improving political discourse in the community. The Angry Posters seem to overlook the fact that VOTERS select the Board of Alderman. They were so ineffective in supporting the candidates from their area that they lost what should have been a slam dunk change. Now they resort to name calling. That just about sums up STP.
The owners of STP and OP have the right to do whatever they want with the technology they manage, even in STP's case if that means giving rights to individuals who have less than the best interests of this community in their hearts. We'll see how these changes work. To the STP owner: it would have been nice to have known this was coming so that those of who did invest the time and effort to do research could have pulled our old contributions. I will not be posting at the new site.
Monday, December 31, 2007
New Years Resolutions
I have done a miserable job of fulfilling my Dark Days Eat Local challenge. But in my failure, I have learned that this is not the time of year to take up cooking. While I used to love cooking, over the past 10 years or so, I've let my career take top priority and have fallen into some rather atrocious eating patterns. The Dark Days challenge has put me back into cooking mode, thinking about cooking as a craft that takes time and gives enjoyment rather than just an end-product intended only to assuage hunger or drown my problems with.
So this years New Years Resolutions have to do with food.
1. I renew my vow to fix at least one meal a week that is composed exclusively of locally grown foods, regardless of the season.
2. I also intend to invite friends over for a meal at least once a month. Cooking for others is great motivation to try new recipes.
food budget goes to purchasing commercially produced (e.g., over processed) yogurt. With Maple View Farms milk so easily accessible, there is no reason not to make my own and re duce my reliance on pre-processed food even further.
My other resolution is to get back into documentary making. Today I began documenting old store fronts in Orange County. I'm starting with Cedar Grove Township. Here are two stores on old Highway 86:
3. And last but not least, I plan to begin making my own yogurt. A large portion of my food budget goes to purchasing commercially produced (e.g., over processed) yogurt. With Maple View Farms milk so easily accessible, there is no reason not to make my own and re duce my reliance on pre-processed food even further.
My other resolution is to get back into documentary making. Today I began documenting old store fronts in Orange County. I'm starting with Cedar Grove Township. Here are two stores on old Highway 86:
So this years New Years Resolutions have to do with food.
1. I renew my vow to fix at least one meal a week that is composed exclusively of locally grown foods, regardless of the season.
2. I also intend to invite friends over for a meal at least once a month. Cooking for others is great motivation to try new recipes.
food budget goes to purchasing commercially produced (e.g., over processed) yogurt. With Maple View Farms milk so easily accessible, there is no reason not to make my own and re duce my reliance on pre-processed food even further.
My other resolution is to get back into documentary making. Today I began documenting old store fronts in Orange County. I'm starting with Cedar Grove Township. Here are two stores on old Highway 86:
3. And last but not least, I plan to begin making my own yogurt. A large portion of my food budget goes to purchasing commercially produced (e.g., over processed) yogurt. With Maple View Farms milk so easily accessible, there is no reason not to make my own and re duce my reliance on pre-processed food even further.
My other resolution is to get back into documentary making. Today I began documenting old store fronts in Orange County. I'm starting with Cedar Grove Township. Here are two stores on old Highway 86:
Rain Barrels
With the continuing drought, I need some way to save the few remaining plants I have in my yard. What better way than a rain barrel, especially one that I can make myself thanks to an OWASA workshop. It was fun and easy.Here's what the finished product looks like. It began with a 55- gallon barrel, provided by Mark Ray Rain Barrels. Mark had pre-drilled the holes, one for the spigot and one for the overflow valve, so all we had to do was install the hardware. Apparently these barrels are not only useful, but they are easily obtained through NC Wastetraders. The only problem is that they were originally used to store food products. The one I selected had a distinct eau de dill pickles.
The tricky part of making this barrel is installing the spigot. While the spigot itself simply screws into the predrilled hole, it's necessary to put a washer on the backside of the spigot to keep it in place and leak free. That means.....crawling into the barrel to get to the backside of the spigot. Could anyone ask for a better photo opportunity?For every 1,000 square feet of roof, one inch of rain produces 625 gallons of water. I'm going to need to make a couple of more barrels to collect even a portion of the runoff from my roof. Unfortunately, we're not expected to get that much rain for the next several months so I've got some time.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Caroleena's Tuscan Kitchen
My friend and neighbor, Carol Barrow, who taught me to make the Spanish Tortilla has published a cookbook, Caroleena's Tuscan Kitchen.
Carol, who was once an Italian contessa, will be signing books at Weaver Street Market on Saturday, December 22, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Locavore and Dark Days Challenge Recipes
The Oxford University Press’ 2007 Word of the Year is locavore, meaning a person who endeavors to eat only locally-produced food. “The word ‘locavore’ shows how food-lovers can enjoy what they eat while still appreciating the impact they have on the environment,” said Ben Zimmer, editor for American dictionaries at Oxford University Press. “It’s significant in that it brings together eating and ecology in a new way.”
In my attempt to become a card-carrying locavore, I've taken the Dark Days Eat Local Challenge. This is definitely a much harder challenge to meet than I expected. So far, I've managed one meal a week, but neither meal has meet a full range of nutritional needs. Here's what I've made:
Silken Chicken: Although I am primarily vegetarian, I do occasionally eat chicken or turkey but only if it it is ethically raised (free range, no hormones, etc). For the Dark Days Challenge, chicken is going to be my best bet for locally grown food. For the silken chicken, I was able to use locally produced cream also, but the spices and herbs aren't grown anywhere close to Carrboro.
Spanish Tortilla: This recipe was given to me by Caroleena Barrow. She served it one night when I dropped by for dinner, and I've asked her to make it for me twice since. It has a very simple ingredient list--potatoes, onions, and eggs. Carol insists that white potatoes must be used, but in the spirit of the local challenge, I used locally grown red potatoes and couldn't tell the difference. Latta's cage-free, brown eggs and locally grown yellow onions made this a totally local meal, and once I overcame my fear of messing up a dish that I love, incredibly easy to make. boil potatoes in salt water (I didn't peel them). When cool enough to handle, chop into bite-sized bits. Sautee onion in too much olive oil. Scramble eggs with salt and pepper (no milk). Add in onions and potatoes and turn into a skillet. Cook over low heat so that the eggs cook slowly into omelet-like consistency. Flip when dry enough not to fall apart (I messed this part up). The non-local part came from the salsa used to top the tortilla. I'll be checking for locally produced salsa at Weaver Street since I suspect this dish will become my winter favorite.
In my attempt to become a card-carrying locavore, I've taken the Dark Days Eat Local Challenge. This is definitely a much harder challenge to meet than I expected. So far, I've managed one meal a week, but neither meal has meet a full range of nutritional needs. Here's what I've made:
Silken Chicken: Although I am primarily vegetarian, I do occasionally eat chicken or turkey but only if it it is ethically raised (free range, no hormones, etc). For the Dark Days Challenge, chicken is going to be my best bet for locally grown food. For the silken chicken, I was able to use locally produced cream also, but the spices and herbs aren't grown anywhere close to Carrboro.
Spanish Tortilla: This recipe was given to me by Caroleena Barrow. She served it one night when I dropped by for dinner, and I've asked her to make it for me twice since. It has a very simple ingredient list--potatoes, onions, and eggs. Carol insists that white potatoes must be used, but in the spirit of the local challenge, I used locally grown red potatoes and couldn't tell the difference. Latta's cage-free, brown eggs and locally grown yellow onions made this a totally local meal, and once I overcame my fear of messing up a dish that I love, incredibly easy to make. boil potatoes in salt water (I didn't peel them). When cool enough to handle, chop into bite-sized bits. Sautee onion in too much olive oil. Scramble eggs with salt and pepper (no milk). Add in onions and potatoes and turn into a skillet. Cook over low heat so that the eggs cook slowly into omelet-like consistency. Flip when dry enough not to fall apart (I messed this part up). The non-local part came from the salsa used to top the tortilla. I'll be checking for locally produced salsa at Weaver Street since I suspect this dish will become my winter favorite.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
The Role of Women
This excerpt came from the most recent email update of the E.F. Schumacher Society. It's from a book entitled "Why the Village Movement" by Gandhian philosopher and economist J. C. Kumarappa. The publication date is 1936, once again demonstrating the principle of what's old is new.
CONSUMERS DUTIES
Often buyers are only concerned with satisfying their own requirements as near as possible and as cheaply as they can. This way of going about the business is to shirk one¹s duties. What are the duties of an effective consumer or buyer? When buying an article of everyday use one has to take account of the full repercussions of one¹s transaction.
1) One should know where the article comes from,
2) Who makes the article?
3) Under what conditions do the workers live and work?
4) What proportions of the final price do they get as wages?
5) How is the rest of the money distributed?
6) How is the article produced?
7) How does the industry fit into the national economy?
8) What relation has it to the other nations?
DISCRIMINATE BUYING
If the buyer has to make her influence felt, the further afield she goes for her goods, the less will be the power of her influence at such distance, the less the chances of her information on various points raised being accurate, and the less will be her personal interest. If the goods come from a source which may be tainted with exploitation, either of sweat labor or of the political, financial or economic hold over other nations, or classes, or races, then the buyer of such goods will be a party to such exploitation, just as a person who buys stolen articles from a "chore bazar" creates a market for stolen goods and thus will be encouraging the art of stealing.
Therefore, any one who buys goods indiscriminately is not discharging her full responsibility when the sole criterion of her buying is merely the low price or the good quality of the goods. Hence, we should buy good only from sources from which full information is readily available and which source can be brought under our influence; otherwise we shall have to shoulder a share of the blame for sweat labour, political slavery, or economic stranglehold. We cannot absolve ourselves of the all blame by merely pleading ignorance in regard to the source.
If the raw materials for making cocoa are obtained from plantations on the West coast of Africa which use some form of forced native labour, are carried by vessels on sea routes monopolised or controlled by violence, manufactured in England with sweated labour and brought to India under favorable customs duties enforced by political power, then a buyer of a tin of cocoa patronises the forced labour conditions in the West coast of Africa, utilizes the navy and so partakes in violence, gains by the low wages or bad conditions of the workers in England and takes advantage of the political subjection of India. All this responsibility and more also is put into a little tin of cocoa!
Are we prepared to shoulder this grave responsibility and pander to our palate or shall we content ourselves with a cup of nutritious milk drawn from a well-kept cow at our door? These considerations are not far-fetched but actual. Anyone who looks on life seriously and as a trustee cannot afford to ignore these far-reaching consequences of her actions.
CONSUMERS DUTIES
Often buyers are only concerned with satisfying their own requirements as near as possible and as cheaply as they can. This way of going about the business is to shirk one¹s duties. What are the duties of an effective consumer or buyer? When buying an article of everyday use one has to take account of the full repercussions of one¹s transaction.
1) One should know where the article comes from,
2) Who makes the article?
3) Under what conditions do the workers live and work?
4) What proportions of the final price do they get as wages?
5) How is the rest of the money distributed?
6) How is the article produced?
7) How does the industry fit into the national economy?
8) What relation has it to the other nations?
DISCRIMINATE BUYING
If the buyer has to make her influence felt, the further afield she goes for her goods, the less will be the power of her influence at such distance, the less the chances of her information on various points raised being accurate, and the less will be her personal interest. If the goods come from a source which may be tainted with exploitation, either of sweat labor or of the political, financial or economic hold over other nations, or classes, or races, then the buyer of such goods will be a party to such exploitation, just as a person who buys stolen articles from a "chore bazar" creates a market for stolen goods and thus will be encouraging the art of stealing.
Therefore, any one who buys goods indiscriminately is not discharging her full responsibility when the sole criterion of her buying is merely the low price or the good quality of the goods. Hence, we should buy good only from sources from which full information is readily available and which source can be brought under our influence; otherwise we shall have to shoulder a share of the blame for sweat labour, political slavery, or economic stranglehold. We cannot absolve ourselves of the all blame by merely pleading ignorance in regard to the source.
If the raw materials for making cocoa are obtained from plantations on the West coast of Africa which use some form of forced native labour, are carried by vessels on sea routes monopolised or controlled by violence, manufactured in England with sweated labour and brought to India under favorable customs duties enforced by political power, then a buyer of a tin of cocoa patronises the forced labour conditions in the West coast of Africa, utilizes the navy and so partakes in violence, gains by the low wages or bad conditions of the workers in England and takes advantage of the political subjection of India. All this responsibility and more also is put into a little tin of cocoa!
Are we prepared to shoulder this grave responsibility and pander to our palate or shall we content ourselves with a cup of nutritious milk drawn from a well-kept cow at our door? These considerations are not far-fetched but actual. Anyone who looks on life seriously and as a trustee cannot afford to ignore these far-reaching consequences of her actions.
Dark Days Eat Local Challenge
I hereby accept Urban Hennery's challenge to cook at least one local meal through the lean days of winter. I don't have anything frozen or canned so I will probably have to learn a lot of new sweet potato recipes. Want to take the challenge? Here's the rules:
- Cook one meal a week with at least 90% local ingredients
- Write about it - the triumphs and the challenges
- Local means a 200 mile radius for raw ingredients. For processed foods the company must be within 200 miles and committed to local sources.
- Keep it up through the end of the year, and then re-evaluate on New Year’s Day
- The challenge starts now, or whenever you sign up.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Desegregation then, what now for Chapel Hill?
November 8, 2007 News and Observer
(photo from UNC News Service press release, photographer: Jim Wallace)
Many of us notice. The problem is what to do about it. I do not believe that building luxury housing surrounding the remaining historically black neighborhoods in downtown is an acceptable solution. Gentrification received little to no discussion in last week's municipal election. Will Raymond tried though and I thank him for that.Forty-five years of history fell away at UNC-Chapel Hill on Thursday night.
Participants in Chapel Hill's tumultuous civil rights demonstrations of the early 1960s said that, in some ways, a lot of progress has been made. In others, there's still a long way to go.They met for a panel discussion at UNC's Wilson Library to celebrate the republication of John Ehle's 1965 book "The Free Men," which chronicles Chapel Hill's desegregation.
The movement was marked by dozens of demonstrations, sit-ins, hunger strikes and other protests. Some demonstrators were physically assaulted. Hundreds were arrested.
Several panelists made the distinction between desegregation and integration and said they feel the latter is lacking in Chapel Hill.
James Foushee, who participated in demonstrations, said, "Chapel Hill is going to become, in the next five years, an all-white town."
"We have desegregated," Karen Parker said. "Integration is up to the individual."
"Blacks are priced out. Are the people of Chapel Hill aware of that? No, they're not," said Wayne King, who covered the protests for The Daily Tar Heel, UNC's student newspaper. "It's harder to notice that ... no black people are having breakfast in the Carolina Coffee Shop. ... Would you notice?" he asked the audience.
(photo from UNC News Service press release, photographer: Jim Wallace)
Monday, October 29, 2007
Planning Guidance for Sustainability
If you are thinking a year ahead, sow a seed,
If you are thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree.
If you are thinking one hundred years ahead,
educate the people.
Kuan Tzu Chinese Poet, c. 500 B.C.
If you are thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree.
If you are thinking one hundred years ahead,
educate the people.
Kuan Tzu Chinese Poet, c. 500 B.C.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
How to Avoid DKA, Hypos, and Other Side Effects of Feline Diabetes
Ketones are waste products that result from the body's use of stored fat for energy. In a diabetic, any urinary ketones above trace, or any increase in urinary ketone level, or trace urinary ketones plus some of the symptoms above, are cause to call an emergency vet immediately, at any hour of the day. Diabetic ketoacidosis is caused by a lack of insulin or an insufficient amount of insulin.
Hypoglycemia is dangerously low blood sugar brought on by too much insulin. It can result in seizures, coma, and even death.
These two conditions represent the opposite ends of the diabetic spectrum, from too much insulin to not enough. Managing your cat's diabetes involves navigating between these two potentially lethal side effects. Diet, testing, and regulation are primary considerations in achieving this goal.
There's no sure-fire method for eliminating all risk of hypos, DKA, and other diabetes-related problems, but you can greatly reduce the risk by learning all that you can. Insulin is a powerful hormone. The more you know about it, the safer your cat will be.
Hypoglycemia is dangerously low blood sugar brought on by too much insulin. It can result in seizures, coma, and even death.
These two conditions represent the opposite ends of the diabetic spectrum, from too much insulin to not enough. Managing your cat's diabetes involves navigating between these two potentially lethal side effects. Diet, testing, and regulation are primary considerations in achieving this goal.
- Feed a low-carb wet diet.
If your cat refuses to eat wet food, supplement the dry food with cooked meats as you transition away from the dry. See Dr. Lisa's Transitioning Dry Food Addicts to Canned Food for more ideas. - Use a human glucometer to test your cats blood at home.
Hometesting will give you the information you need to determine when a dose needs to be changed either up or down. If you have a good relationship with your vet, you can call and report your test numbers and work together to determine any dosing adjustments. If your vet doesn't support hometesting, join one of the Insulin Support Groups and work with others who have experience with your particular insulin.
Hometesting video - Use the results of your testing to achieve regulation.
When your cat is first diagnosed with diabetes, your goal is to "regulate" her or his blood glucose, which may take a few weeks or even many months. Eventually you will want to aim for blood sugar levels in the 70 to 200 range. This won't happen right away but by reducing carbohydrates from your cats food and hometesting, you can achieve this goal safely. The well-regulated diabetic cat should look and act the same as he/she did before diabetes. If you have any concerns about your meter reading too low, you can test a non-diabetic cat as your control.
There's no sure-fire method for eliminating all risk of hypos, DKA, and other diabetes-related problems, but you can greatly reduce the risk by learning all that you can. Insulin is a powerful hormone. The more you know about it, the safer your cat will be.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Rebound: A Positive Feedback Loop
A positive feedback loop is a cause and effect response that has no self-correcting mechanism. An example of a positive feedback loop is your bathtub. If you turn the water on and let it run to fill, it will continue running until you manually turn it off, even if that means it floods your bathroom.
Counter intuitively, negative feedback loops are self-correcting. An example of a negative feedback loop is your home thermostat. You set it at the threshold you want, and it continually samples the room temperature and makes corrections to maintain the desired temperature setting (threshold).
In feline diabetes, the way a cat's body uses insulin is both a positive feedback loop and a negative feedback loop. When the body gets too much insulin, the liver releases glycogen (stored glucose) to protect against hypoglycemia. That's the negative feedback loop.
When the body receives too much insulin over time, the liver adjusts its threshold upward. For example, instead of recognizing 50 mg/dl (for felines) as a glucose level that is too low and requires intervention through released glycogen, it starts to think anything lower than 200 mg/dl needs adjustment. So the cat's body stops using the insulin effectively and stays in a continuous hyperglycemic state, also called rebound. The negative feedback loop, which is the natural mechanism, is overwhelmed by too much insulin, which in turns creates the unnatural positive feedback loop.
Since there are no tests for rebound, humans too often continue to increase the insulin dosage in order to alleviate the hyperglycemia, causing the liver to set the 'hypo' threshold even higher. So no matter how much additional insulin the cat receives, the response is in the opposite direction than what is expected.
Unfortunately, a cat in rebound is always subject to hypoglycemia since the liver does not have a endless supply of stored glucose/glycogen. When the glycogen runs out, hypo results.
The only way to break a positive feedback loop is to stop feeding it. In feline diabetes, that means reducing the insulin dosage, hopefully before the cat hypos.
Other examples of positive feedback loops:
Counter intuitively, negative feedback loops are self-correcting. An example of a negative feedback loop is your home thermostat. You set it at the threshold you want, and it continually samples the room temperature and makes corrections to maintain the desired temperature setting (threshold).
In feline diabetes, the way a cat's body uses insulin is both a positive feedback loop and a negative feedback loop. When the body gets too much insulin, the liver releases glycogen (stored glucose) to protect against hypoglycemia. That's the negative feedback loop.
When the body receives too much insulin over time, the liver adjusts its threshold upward. For example, instead of recognizing 50 mg/dl (for felines) as a glucose level that is too low and requires intervention through released glycogen, it starts to think anything lower than 200 mg/dl needs adjustment. So the cat's body stops using the insulin effectively and stays in a continuous hyperglycemic state, also called rebound. The negative feedback loop, which is the natural mechanism, is overwhelmed by too much insulin, which in turns creates the unnatural positive feedback loop.
Since there are no tests for rebound, humans too often continue to increase the insulin dosage in order to alleviate the hyperglycemia, causing the liver to set the 'hypo' threshold even higher. So no matter how much additional insulin the cat receives, the response is in the opposite direction than what is expected.
Unfortunately, a cat in rebound is always subject to hypoglycemia since the liver does not have a endless supply of stored glucose/glycogen. When the glycogen runs out, hypo results.
The only way to break a positive feedback loop is to stop feeding it. In feline diabetes, that means reducing the insulin dosage, hopefully before the cat hypos.
Other examples of positive feedback loops:
- credit card debt (the more you borrow, the deeper in debt you go and the more you need to borrow to cover the debt)
- hyperactive behavior in a child; the more they over-react, the more wound up they get
- alcoholism and drug addiction....any addiction
Drought Restrictions
As of October 1, 2007, the OWASA reservoirs are 56% full. According to the state climatologist, La Nina conditions are expected to continue the drought well into the winter months. La Nina is cooler than normal ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that affect weather patterns in North Carolina. There are about 10-12 reliable indicators, but drought prediction is still a nascent science. So while these predictions could be totally wrong; the state climatologist (Ryan Boyles) just doesn't think so.
And yet, just last week, OWASA wrote to the towns, "We believe there is little risk of running out of water this year, but the community could face a substantially more serious shortage next year, when it will be too late to catch up, if rainfall and streamflow are less than normal this winter."
See page 5 of this letter for a chart of what is and is not allowed at the various stages of water restriction. If OWASA is saying that there will be a serious shortage next year if there is less than normal rainfall this winter, and if the state climatologist is predicting a dry winter, why are we allowing up to 1,000 gallons per day of outdoor irrigation (for those on irrigation meters)?
Last weekend I sent an email to all elected officials in Chapel Hill and Carrboro asking that they request a change in the irrigation restrictions effective immediately. Last night Carrboro asked citizens to voluntarily cut back to 500 gallons and also agreed to contact Chapel Hill and OWASA for tightening the current guidelines: "The board voted to pass a resolution asking its residents to cut back to 500 gallons a day, and agreed that Chilton should contact Mayor Kevin Foy in Chapel Hill and ask that he present the same idea to the Chapel Hill Town Council and that he contact OWASA officials to say the aldermen are strongly in favor of tighter restrictions." (Chapel Hill Herald, October 3, 2007)
OWASA, as a non-profit organization, needs to collect sufficient revenues to pay their costs, even during a drought. Continuing to allow irrigation, especially with their new cost structure, passes the extra financial burden of conservation onto those who abuse the community good. But the long-term risk associated with drought, leaves me to believe the greater community good would be better served through a cost recovery mechanism that does not involve wasting a limited, precious resource.
Serious drought frequency has risen since 2000, whether we attribute it to global warming, growing populations, or changing weather patterns. We as a community need to look into new ways of protecting our water resources while also protecting the financial integrity of OWASA.
And yet, just last week, OWASA wrote to the towns, "We believe there is little risk of running out of water this year, but the community could face a substantially more serious shortage next year, when it will be too late to catch up, if rainfall and streamflow are less than normal this winter."
See page 5 of this letter for a chart of what is and is not allowed at the various stages of water restriction. If OWASA is saying that there will be a serious shortage next year if there is less than normal rainfall this winter, and if the state climatologist is predicting a dry winter, why are we allowing up to 1,000 gallons per day of outdoor irrigation (for those on irrigation meters)?
Last weekend I sent an email to all elected officials in Chapel Hill and Carrboro asking that they request a change in the irrigation restrictions effective immediately. Last night Carrboro asked citizens to voluntarily cut back to 500 gallons and also agreed to contact Chapel Hill and OWASA for tightening the current guidelines: "The board voted to pass a resolution asking its residents to cut back to 500 gallons a day, and agreed that Chilton should contact Mayor Kevin Foy in Chapel Hill and ask that he present the same idea to the Chapel Hill Town Council and that he contact OWASA officials to say the aldermen are strongly in favor of tighter restrictions." (Chapel Hill Herald, October 3, 2007)
OWASA, as a non-profit organization, needs to collect sufficient revenues to pay their costs, even during a drought. Continuing to allow irrigation, especially with their new cost structure, passes the extra financial burden of conservation onto those who abuse the community good. But the long-term risk associated with drought, leaves me to believe the greater community good would be better served through a cost recovery mechanism that does not involve wasting a limited, precious resource.
Serious drought frequency has risen since 2000, whether we attribute it to global warming, growing populations, or changing weather patterns. We as a community need to look into new ways of protecting our water resources while also protecting the financial integrity of OWASA.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Follow Up to Community Journalism
The Chapel Hill News and the Carrboro Citizen have both posted stories/blog entries on the Dan Coleman park incident since I questioned their failure to do so last week. Community journalism is alive and well in Carrboro and Chapel Hill!
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Altar Call for True Believers
I loved Janisse Ray's first book, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood. And now she's done it again with a brilliant article in Orion Magazine, Altar Call for True Believers.
I want to see our communities get more and more localized, with more local food produced and consumed, more local goods bought and sold. I want to see local entrepreneurship and craftsmanship encouraged. I want a renaissance of the hands, so that we use fewer electrical gadgets and motorized tools.
I want to hear of an organization that decides, because of the climate crisis, to cancel its annual conference. I want to see us relying on the mail and conference calls and e-mail for corresponding with distant colleagues, and engaging more deliberately with our neighbors. I want to see us using petroleum as if it were precious, which is to say sparingly and wisely, driving shorter distances and less often; in fact, I want getting in a single-occupancy vehicle to be a last resort.
I want us to get radical. I want us choir members to make even the hardest decisions while holding the Earth in mind.
I want us to raise the bar for ourselves.
New Environmental Paradigm
A environmental assessment tool develop by Dunlap and Van Liere in 1978 to measure attitudes toward environmental protection and the development of a systematic way to address the increasing depletion of natural resources (carrying capacity). This new environmental paradigm contrasts with the dominant social paradigm which "reflects the view of the industrial era where economic and population growth and continued exploitation of natural resources can continue without damage to the environment." (Sussman)
The New Environmental Paradigm Scale
The New Environmental Paradigm Scale
- We are approaching the limit of the number of people the earth can support.
- The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset.
- Humans have the right to modify the natural environment.
- Humankind was created to rule over the rest of nature.
- When humans interfere with nature it often produces disastrous consequences.
- Plants and animals exist primarily to be used by humans.
- To maintain a healthy economy we will have to develop a "steady state" economy where industrial growth is controlled.
- Humans must live in harmony with nature in order to survive.
- The earth is like a spaceship with only limited room and resources.
- Humans need not adapt to the natural environment because they can remake it to suit their needs.
- There are limits to growth beyond which our industrialized society cannot expand.
- Mankind is severely abusing the environment.
Community Journalism?
Community journalism is defined as "reporting of news and information for a certain geographic area... a community, if you will, with the purpose to serve the best interests of that certain group....'Make them happy... make them mad... but whatever you do... make them think.'"
Chapel Hill and Carrboro are served by two newspaper conglomerates, the Herald Sun and the News and Observer, both of which allocate a page to goings-on in each county within their service area. The N&O also owns the subsidiary Chapel Hill News, which covers Orange County in more detail. The most recent addition to the local media scene is the Carrboro Citizen which promised to provide more in depth coverage of local politics and arts. And then there are the broadcast media.
With all this coverage, you would think that our local news would be covered with more than a cursory nod. So where is the coverage on alderman Dan Coleman's assault with a deadly weapon? Both the N&O and the Herald covered the story the day after the incident, although the Herald omitted the fact that it occurred during a Carrboro High School cross country meet. Three days later the Carrboro Citizen still hasn't updated it's electronic version, as it did promptly when John McCormick was arrested.
The police have 5 written, eye-witness accounts to the incident, in addition to Dan's written statement and the verbal report made by the alleged victim. None of these individuals have been interviewed. Carrboro High has not been asked to confirm that an official cross country meet was underway and that Ms Kotecki was an authorized volunteer. Nor has Carrboro Parks and Recreation provided any confirmation that they knew the meet was taking place and that traffic could be disrupted. Isn't it the role of local media to confirm the facts of a case such as this? And yet we know nothing more than was reported the morning after the incident based.
The incident itself is distressing, but what I am more concerned about is this lack of media coverage. Dan was a regular columnist for the Herald prior to his appointment to the BOA and had frequent guest posts in the Chapel Hill News. More than likely he has friendships with the Carrboro Citizen editorial staff. Do these personal and professional ties explain the lack of investigation? This is an election year and Dan will be running for the first time. Will it be left to his detractors to cover this story on Squeeze the Pulp or other citizen-based outlets. Or will the press step forward and try to provide a more detailed and unbiased account?
Sometime back Fred Black wrote that the financial model of print newspapers precludes investigative journalism. And yet looking at the number of outlets dedicated just to Orange County, I find it hard to believe that staffing can explain this current failure. Is local journalism broken or just protecting one of its own?
Chapel Hill and Carrboro are served by two newspaper conglomerates, the Herald Sun and the News and Observer, both of which allocate a page to goings-on in each county within their service area. The N&O also owns the subsidiary Chapel Hill News, which covers Orange County in more detail. The most recent addition to the local media scene is the Carrboro Citizen which promised to provide more in depth coverage of local politics and arts. And then there are the broadcast media.
With all this coverage, you would think that our local news would be covered with more than a cursory nod. So where is the coverage on alderman Dan Coleman's assault with a deadly weapon? Both the N&O and the Herald covered the story the day after the incident, although the Herald omitted the fact that it occurred during a Carrboro High School cross country meet. Three days later the Carrboro Citizen still hasn't updated it's electronic version, as it did promptly when John McCormick was arrested.
The police have 5 written, eye-witness accounts to the incident, in addition to Dan's written statement and the verbal report made by the alleged victim. None of these individuals have been interviewed. Carrboro High has not been asked to confirm that an official cross country meet was underway and that Ms Kotecki was an authorized volunteer. Nor has Carrboro Parks and Recreation provided any confirmation that they knew the meet was taking place and that traffic could be disrupted. Isn't it the role of local media to confirm the facts of a case such as this? And yet we know nothing more than was reported the morning after the incident based.
The incident itself is distressing, but what I am more concerned about is this lack of media coverage. Dan was a regular columnist for the Herald prior to his appointment to the BOA and had frequent guest posts in the Chapel Hill News. More than likely he has friendships with the Carrboro Citizen editorial staff. Do these personal and professional ties explain the lack of investigation? This is an election year and Dan will be running for the first time. Will it be left to his detractors to cover this story on Squeeze the Pulp or other citizen-based outlets. Or will the press step forward and try to provide a more detailed and unbiased account?
Sometime back Fred Black wrote that the financial model of print newspapers precludes investigative journalism. And yet looking at the number of outlets dedicated just to Orange County, I find it hard to believe that staffing can explain this current failure. Is local journalism broken or just protecting one of its own?
Monday, September 03, 2007
Garden Quotes
I'm cleaning out all the dead plants from my garden today. Drought is brutal. Hopefully some of my native perennials have simply gone dormant and will return next year although I'm rethinking my entire garden design. Going to be looking for shrubs this fall. Even though I've been quite diligent about planting drought resistant perennials, they still need SOME water.
"I can't resist a pretty plant. When I see it, I want it, I buy it, take it home, and plant it where ever I can find a place. If I had a similar moral code when it comes to romance, I would be divorced several times over by now. That is the reason I grow a cottage garden. I can stick everything in with complete abandon and no discrimination whatsoever."
-- Cassandra Danz, Mrs. Greenthumbs Plows Ahead: Five Steps to the Drop-Dead Gorgeous Garden of Your Dreams
"Gardening... is a painstaking exploration of place; everything that happens in my garden--the thriving and dying of particular plants, the maraudings of various insects and other pests--teaches me to know this patch of land more intimately, its geology and microclimate, the particular ecology of its local weeds and animals and insects. ... Lawns work on the opposite principle. They depend for their success on the overcoming of local conditions."
-- Michael Pollan, Second Nature
"I sometimes believe that acknowledging a consciousness and a conscience within nature actually holds the last best hope for a humanity seemingly bent on destroying this fair Earth."
- Jim Nollman, Why We Garden: Cultivating a Sense of Place
"I can't resist a pretty plant. When I see it, I want it, I buy it, take it home, and plant it where ever I can find a place. If I had a similar moral code when it comes to romance, I would be divorced several times over by now. That is the reason I grow a cottage garden. I can stick everything in with complete abandon and no discrimination whatsoever."
-- Cassandra Danz, Mrs. Greenthumbs Plows Ahead: Five Steps to the Drop-Dead Gorgeous Garden of Your Dreams
"Gardening... is a painstaking exploration of place; everything that happens in my garden--the thriving and dying of particular plants, the maraudings of various insects and other pests--teaches me to know this patch of land more intimately, its geology and microclimate, the particular ecology of its local weeds and animals and insects. ... Lawns work on the opposite principle. They depend for their success on the overcoming of local conditions."
-- Michael Pollan, Second Nature
"I sometimes believe that acknowledging a consciousness and a conscience within nature actually holds the last best hope for a humanity seemingly bent on destroying this fair Earth."
- Jim Nollman, Why We Garden: Cultivating a Sense of Place
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Letter to the Editor: Sustainability
Excellent letter praising the county for creating the Lands Legacy Program in today's Chapel Hill News. But what I liked was the call to define sustainability in terms of Orange County in order to incorporate it, with metrics, into the comprehensive plan.
Sustainability is easy to talk about. Putting it into practice, balancing out the various aspects from affordability to environmental conservation, will require political leadership and collective action. Do we have will to pursue this challenge?
The next step should be to continue funding Lands Legacy, but also to define what sustainability means. With a broad commitment and emphasis on sustainability, the comprehensive plan should describe the processes by which the basic needs of our citizens are provided and protected without depleting the quality of life. It should set up an annual measurement of the natural and man-made indicators of sustainability, such as water supply and air quality, and add new ones like the supply of locally grown agricultural products and foods. This annual report would reflect the quality of our planning and our successes.
Sustainability is easy to talk about. Putting it into practice, balancing out the various aspects from affordability to environmental conservation, will require political leadership and collective action. Do we have will to pursue this challenge?
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