Julie Callaway Blog » Environment and Green

gone to the squirrels

Julie — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:24:58 +0000

Every day I drive to my office downtown, park in a lot about 1/2 block away and proceed to walk, across two streets and to the front door. On my way to the door, I pass several businesses, including a bakery, but I pass these businesses on the back side of the buildings as opposed to the front.

So, I was walking up the sidewalk, getting ready to cross the first of the two streets that I cross, when I see the strangest sight coming across the parking lot behind the bakery. At first I could not tell exactly what it was, but as it came closer, I could make out a squirrel. Now a squirrel is not an unusual sight during the springtime, but this one was, for it was carrying in it’s little jaws a large, chocolate cupcake, wrapped in plastic wrap.

It struck me as unusually humorous, since you seldom see a sight like this one. The cupcake was almost larger than the carrier!! He managed to get it across the street, and make his way carefully up a tree. It started my day off with a smile.

Arsenic and….baby formula?

Julie — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:52:55 +0000

First it was unwashed fresh fruit, then it was fruit juice, and now brown rice syrup and baby formula? What are they trying to do to us? It’s bad enough we have to worry about e-coli contaminating our fruits and vegetables, but now we have to worry about a deadly poison as well? And in of all things, baby formula!!!

I think that the FDA had better get busy and start regulating our food products a little more stringently. After all, our tax dollars write their paychecks.

Our enemies don’t have to worry about getting rid of us, our government will take care of it for them by not monitoring what is in our food.

Today is Earth Day – April 22

Julie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:00:12 +0000

There were some Earth Day presentations going on today at the local library at noon, so I went there to see them during my lunch break.Â I couldn’t find anyplace to park, so I eventually gave up and went back to work, disappointed.Â I feel strongly that we need to pay closer attention to what we are doing to the Earth and do a lot more to protect it from the harm that industry is doing to it, and to do whatever we can to repair the damage that has already been done.

What Happened?

Julie — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:02:54 +0000

It seems that we got short changed with the much anticipated Spring weather that we were all so looking forward to enjoying. It has been in the 90′s for several weeks now and I’m sick of it. Can’t have any fun in that type of heat. It is only June, we should still be in the 70′s and 80′s for Pete’s sake!

It’s About Time

Julie — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:52:37 +0000

We are finally experiencing some nice weather around here. It had been such a terribly long hard winter that most people were getting pretty crabby and really needing a break from all that goes along with the cold winters. I know I’m getting anxious to get my hands in my garden and get on with Spring time!

Clean Up the Grill

Julie — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:58:51 +0000

With Spring almost here, I decided to bring the grill out of the garage and clean it up. As soon as it is warm enough to be outside without a jacket, I will be using the grill to cook dinner. I love food cooked on the grill – it adds a special flavor to the meats that you just can’t duplicate on the stove or in the oven. I also like to use marinades on the meats if i am going to be grilling. So I will have a much larger variety of flavors for all the different meats very soon.

Earthquake

Julie — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:02:15 +0000

This morning I saw on the TV news that there was a devastating earthquake in Chile early this morning. Sadly, the earthquake happened about 3:30 in the morning, so obviously most people were sound asleep by then. This is too soon to know how many injuries and fatalities are the result. I hope that the numbers are low and that we can send humanitarian help right away.

New job market

Julie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:24:02 +0000

I’ve been reading a few articles lately about how one of the things that is going to “save” the planet, and the economy, is “green jobs.” “Green jobs” are jobs that are jobs related to work that are going to have a positive impact on our environment. Yet none of the articles are specific as to exactly WHAT those green jobs are going to be – they are very vague.

The last article that I read indicated that they don’t have to be manual labor jobs, but “green collar jobs” are being considered manual labor jobs. And the article indicated that people would be making at least $15 an hour to start. Well, that’s not the BEST money in the world, but it is pretty good starting pay for someone who is just starting out, so I’d like more information on that! It would be really nice if we could start to see more information about these “green jobs” and how people might get “into” a “green job” whether it is manual labor or otherwise.

Drinking water

Julie — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:22:35 +0000

I was reading an article on the LATimes website that a recent study of bottled water has shown that in many cases the bottled water is no safer than regular tap water. The article did not say what brands of water was tested (and I sure wish it HAD said that) but it indicated that in the ten brands tested there were contaminants such as bacteria and 38 chemicals. The chemicals include caffeine, acetaminophen, fertilizer, solvents, plastic ingredients and strontium (which are radioactive.)

That freaks me out! Bottled water with strontium in it? I’m not sure I’ll ever buy bottled water again! I think I’m better off buying soda if I’m “out and about” and thirsty and without my own refreshment!

Jobs in the Green Market

Julie — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:40:28 +0000

I was reading on the Forbes.com news website that the “hottest” job trends are in the “green” market.Â The article indicates that Washington DC, Boston MA, Houston TX, San Fransisco, San Diego and Las Angelas are all going to be huge markets for “green” industries.

I sure hope that’s true.Â We could use some job growth around here!Â Lately it seems to have been all “doom and gloom” news about the economy and people losing jobs.Â We sure need more jobs, and better jobs right here in the area!