I watched the film Chasing Ice, which chronicles the amazingly rapid pace at which the glaciers are melting, with a few mama friends last night. At the end of the movie, we talked about how difficult it can be to watch movies like that and feel like you don’t even know where to start in addressing … Continue reading
Genetically Engineered Foods? Not on My Plate!
This week I received my ballot for the fall elections. There are a lot of important things to vote for (or against) this cycle, even though it’s an “off” year. Initiative 522 is at the top of my list. 522 calls for the labeling of foods that are genetically modified, aka GMOs. It was put … Continue reading
Bee Helpful to Your Insect Friends
Researchers estimate that one in three bites of food comes from a plant that was pollinated by a bee or other insect. When you consider how much bees have been in the news lately – and not in good ways – it is pretty frightening to think that we might be endangering our food security … Continue reading
Drink More Draught Beer (and Less Bottled Water)
After hearing Chris Jordan speak a few years ago in support of Seattle’s plastic bag ban, my awareness about the problems of plastic grew by leaps and bounds. Chris uses digital images to help us understand what large numbers of things look like so that we can wrap our brains around the impact that we … Continue reading
What to Wear?
I grew up in L.A., a fact which I seldom cop to here in the Pacific Northwest. Mostly because most people are somewhat shocked to find out that I am an Angelena. I have managed to erase most telltale signs with my permanent ponytail, complete lack of make-up, refusal to carry an umbrella and the … Continue reading
Hoping for Change
When Pope Francis was recently elevated to his position as head of the Catholic Church, I was initially pleased. After all, I graduated from a Catholic university where I met some amazing and progressive Jesuit priests. Francis’s Jesuit beginnings gave me hope that he could be a forward-looking pope. Within a day of his election, … Continue reading
The One Where the Straight Girl Talks About Her Gay Friends
The last time I loved Facebook this much was during the 2008 presidential election cycle. Not when Obama won, but before that, when my left-leaning friends were trying to decide which candidate to support and my middle-of-the-road friends were assessing the choice between McCain and Obama. As an early supporter of Obama, I was constantly … Continue reading
Pulling the Plug
It’s February. For those of you who know me well, I should say no more. Every year this month I get blue from the damp and dark, and false promises of spring. This year, my recent milestone birthday is also weighing heavily, especially as I also contemplate the upcoming transition I will be undergoing when … Continue reading
Divestment – It’s Time to Shun the Gun
Let me begin by saying that I am all about gun control, and always have been. As a vegetarian and a pacifist, I do not understand the need to have a gun to kill other living beings, animal or person. I do not understand target shooting as a “sport.” And frankly, I do not care … Continue reading
All in Favor, Hold Hands
I remember a long time ago (aka, “college”) talking with some friends about whether or not it mattered if gays could legally marry. I found it surprising that several of my gay friends passionately expressed feelings that it didn’t matter. Marriage was a “straight institution” that they didn’t want any part of. Plus, none of … Continue reading
Idealist Girl! 