jim's blog http://www.netzingers.com/blog/2/atom/feed 2008-08-22T00:01:01-04:00 Hey buddy, can you spare $45,000,000,000,000? http://www.netzingers.com/content/hey-buddy-can-you-spare-45000000000000 2008-09-05T00:01:01-04:00 2008-09-05T00:01:01-04:00 jim According to the International Energy Agency, the world needs to invest $45 trillion dollars in energy generation by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2005 levels.  I seem to remember emissions in 2005 had to be reduced to 1985 levels, so unless they numbers are jumping around, this tells me by 2050 we will be too broke to do anything about global warming.

]]> According to the International Energy Agency, the world needs to invest $45 trillion dollars in energy generation by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2005 levels.  I seem to remember emissions in 2005 had to be reduced to 1985 levels, so unless they numbers are jumping around, this tells me by 2050 we will be too broke to do anything about global warming.

]]> Eat the White House lawn http://www.netzingers.com/content/eat-white-house-lawn 2008-09-04T23:26:59-04:00 2008-09-04T23:28:17-04:00 jim This lawn is my lawn, this lawn is your lawn. I would recommend taking some of the White House lawn back from the President in order to make a point about supporting kitchen gardeners. Tell the Commander In Chief that is better to lead with the power of your example than lead by the example of your power, buy back some of our turf today!

Here's how:


]]> This lawn is my lawn, this lawn is your lawn. I would recommend taking some of the White House lawn back from the President in order to make a point about supporting kitchen gardeners. Tell the Commander In Chief that is better to lead with the power of your example than lead by the example of your power, buy back some of our turf today!

Here's how:


]]> From gasoline power to food power http://www.netzingers.com/content/from-gasoline-power-food-power 2008-09-04T00:01:01-04:00 2008-09-04T00:01:01-04:00 jim Kids walking to school saves gasoline, and fights obesity.  This sounds like trading an expensive form of energy (gasoline) for a cheaper alternative (food).  Now, there are initiatives to install sidewalks to undo decades of suburban-style development.

]]> Kids walking to school saves gasoline, and fights obesity.  This sounds like trading an expensive form of energy (gasoline) for a cheaper alternative (food).  Now, there are initiatives to install sidewalks to undo decades of suburban-style development.

]]> Lifestyle diseases to become biggest killers http://www.netzingers.com/content/lifestyle-diseases-become-biggest-killers 2008-09-03T00:01:02-04:00 2008-09-03T00:01:02-04:00 jim It's official: the way you live has more impact on life expectancy than infectious diseases.  Come this year, chronic - that is, so-called "lifestyle" diseases - will outstrip infectious disease for the first time in history.

So that cigarette or that bowl of cheese fries may make the difference between retirement and dying a slow, miserable death in poverty.  It's not enough to say "I'm going to die of something," it's down to how you are going to die.  Since we are aren't suffering from infections and contagions as much, what we put into our bodies matters more now that we are living longer.

The choice is in your hands.  A little less satisfaction in the short term will lead to a healthier long term.

]]> It's official: the way you live has more impact on life expectancy than infectious diseases.  Come this year, chronic - that is, so-called "lifestyle" diseases - will outstrip infectious disease for the first time in history.

So that cigarette or that bowl of cheese fries may make the difference between retirement and dying a slow, miserable death in poverty.  It's not enough to say "I'm going to die of something," it's down to how you are going to die.  Since we are aren't suffering from infections and contagions as much, what we put into our bodies matters more now that we are living longer.

The choice is in your hands.  A little less satisfaction in the short term will lead to a healthier long term.

]]> The little extras will cost you when eating out http://www.netzingers.com/content/the-little-extras-will-cost-you-when-eating-out 2008-09-02T00:01:02-04:00 2008-09-02T00:01:02-04:00 jim Price hikes due to fuel costs are forcing restaurantuers to add fees to their menus and cut back dishes in subtle ways.  Charging for toppings and smaller protion sizes are one way to cut expenses.  The question is, will the customers mind too much and cut back their patronage?  The dining industry may be the next section of the economy set to collapse.

]]> Price hikes due to fuel costs are forcing restaurantuers to add fees to their menus and cut back dishes in subtle ways.  Charging for toppings and smaller protion sizes are one way to cut expenses.  The question is, will the customers mind too much and cut back their patronage?  The dining industry may be the next section of the economy set to collapse.

]]> Hunger invades the classroom http://www.netzingers.com/content/hunger-invades-classroom 2008-09-01T17:38:51-04:00 2008-09-01T17:38:51-04:00 jim More families are facing the dilemma of paying for food or paying to get their kids to school.  More and more kids are showing up for school lunches, and more households are qualifying for assistance.  School districts across the country are feeling the strain of coping with the cost of the additional benefits and their own soaring food and energy costs.  This could form a vicious cycle, as more district employees suffer pay cuts or loose their jobs.

]]> More families are facing the dilemma of paying for food or paying to get their kids to school.  More and more kids are showing up for school lunches, and more households are qualifying for assistance.  School districts across the country are feeling the strain of coping with the cost of the additional benefits and their own soaring food and energy costs.  This could form a vicious cycle, as more district employees suffer pay cuts or loose their jobs.

]]> Your food bill is $30,000,000,000.00 http://www.netzingers.com/content/your-food-bill-3000000000000 2008-09-01T00:01:01-04:00 2008-09-01T00:01:01-04:00 jim The U.N. says that lack of progress on food development has lead to a $30 billion shortfall on efforts to stabilize the food supply.  This means, since no one will foot the bill, that the future will be filled with starvation and conflict over resources.   The cause of the deficit may be lack of investment, competition from development and biofuels, or both.

]]> The U.N. says that lack of progress on food development has lead to a $30 billion shortfall on efforts to stabilize the food supply.  This means, since no one will foot the bill, that the future will be filled with starvation and conflict over resources.   The cause of the deficit may be lack of investment, competition from development and biofuels, or both.

]]> New food poisoning bug emerges from Atlanta restaurant http://www.netzingers.com/content/new-food-poisoning-bug-emerges-atlanta-restaurant 2008-08-30T21:20:12-04:00 2008-08-30T21:20:12-04:00 jim Something new on the menu is E. Coli 0111, a strain of the fecal bacteria not normally seen in outbreaks.  One person is dead and 116 have fallen ill, many with severe symptoms requiring life support.  The suspected cause is water from a contaminated well, but we all know the know the source: the digestive tract of an animal, most likely livestock.

]]> Something new on the menu is E. Coli 0111, a strain of the fecal bacteria not normally seen in outbreaks.  One person is dead and 116 have fallen ill, many with severe symptoms requiring life support.  The suspected cause is water from a contaminated well, but we all know the know the source: the digestive tract of an animal, most likely livestock.

]]> Spend ten bucks, shoot a wolf http://www.netzingers.com/content/spend-ten-bucks-shoot-a-wolf 2008-08-29T00:01:01-04:00 2008-08-29T00:01:01-04:00 jim With wolves off the endangered species list, hunters in Idaho can purchase a license to hunt them this September.  Any day now, they may be back to being endangered.

]]> With wolves off the endangered species list, hunters in Idaho can purchase a license to hunt them this September.  Any day now, they may be back to being endangered.

]]> Biofuel versus biofood http://www.netzingers.com/content/biofuel-versus-biofood 2008-08-28T00:01:01-04:00 2008-08-28T00:01:01-04:00 jim The global food crisis has grown into a massive tug of war between the wealthy consumer and the needy masses.  One Westerner filling up their SUV might just push a family of four into the abyss of starvation.  It's not a fair fight, since the governments in the superpowers are on the side of the consumer.

]]> The global food crisis has grown into a massive tug of war between the wealthy consumer and the needy masses.  One Westerner filling up their SUV might just push a family of four into the abyss of starvation.  It's not a fair fight, since the governments in the superpowers are on the side of the consumer.

]]> Grease thieves strike gold behind restaurants http://www.netzingers.com/content/grease-thieves-strike-gold-behind-restaurants 2008-08-27T00:01:01-04:00 2008-08-27T00:01:01-04:00 jim Stealing used fryer fat is big business now that the price of oil is so high. The dirty vegetable oil is turned into biodiesel by fuel recycling plants. What was once trash is now a commodity, to be bought and sold - legitimately obtained or not - to the hightest bidder.

]]> Stealing used fryer fat is big business now that the price of oil is so high. The dirty vegetable oil is turned into biodiesel by fuel recycling plants. What was once trash is now a commodity, to be bought and sold - legitimately obtained or not - to the hightest bidder.

]]> Fertilizer market goes to the birds http://www.netzingers.com/content/fertilizer-market-goes-birds 2008-08-26T00:01:01-04:00 2008-08-26T00:01:01-04:00 jim So it's come down to this: returning to the colonial practice of digging for guano in Peru to slake demand for nitrogen fertilizers.  At least it's organic, that is until the birds starve from the rapidly depleting fishery stocks and the dung vanishes from the barren coastline.

]]> So it's come down to this: returning to the colonial practice of digging for guano in Peru to slake demand for nitrogen fertilizers.  At least it's organic, that is until the birds starve from the rapidly depleting fishery stocks and the dung vanishes from the barren coastline.

]]> No grain for you http://www.netzingers.com/content/no-grain-you 2008-08-25T00:01:01-04:00 2008-08-25T00:01:01-04:00 jim The poor lose out when it comes to competing for grain - no surprise there.  The shocker comes when the ranks of the wealthy suddenly expand to the legions of India and China, and millions more are pressed closer to the precipice of starvation.

]]> The poor lose out when it comes to competing for grain - no surprise there.  The shocker comes when the ranks of the wealthy suddenly expand to the legions of India and China, and millions more are pressed closer to the precipice of starvation.

]]> Sudden death overtime among former athletes http://www.netzingers.com/content/sudden-death-overtime-among-former-athletes 2008-08-22T13:40:36-04:00 2008-08-22T13:40:36-04:00 jim The shocking death of Gene Upshaw from pancreatic cancer raises questions about the health of former athletes.  You rarely hear of an elderly jock, and this may well be due to a high-protein diet while in training.

]]> The shocking death of Gene Upshaw from pancreatic cancer raises questions about the health of former athletes.  You rarely hear of an elderly jock, and this may well be due to a high-protein diet while in training.

]]> Obesity rates top out, but still weigh heavily on teens http://www.netzingers.com/content/obesity-rates-top-out-still-weigh-heavily-teens 2008-08-22T00:01:01-04:00 2008-08-22T00:01:01-04:00 jim According to a recent survey, the rates for childhood obesity - an important predictor for future health problems - has topped out.  Yet, there is no cause for celebration, since the levels of obesity haven't shown a decrease.  The fat kids are still fat, and all the future ills await them unless there is a dramatic intervention in the Standard American Diet.

And if you are offended by the term "fat kid," let me hasten to mention that I have been overweight for most of my life.  I was a "fat kid."  Kids in the school yard used to yell out, "Hey, fat boy!" to see if they could make me turn around so they could laugh at me.  So don't tell me about the word "fat," OK?  I own it, dammit.  I earned that right.

]]> According to a recent survey, the rates for childhood obesity - an important predictor for future health problems - has topped out.  Yet, there is no cause for celebration, since the levels of obesity haven't shown a decrease.  The fat kids are still fat, and all the future ills await them unless there is a dramatic intervention in the Standard American Diet.

And if you are offended by the term "fat kid," let me hasten to mention that I have been overweight for most of my life.  I was a "fat kid."  Kids in the school yard used to yell out, "Hey, fat boy!" to see if they could make me turn around so they could laugh at me.  So don't tell me about the word "fat," OK?  I own it, dammit.  I earned that right.

]]>