Untitled Document What are the environmental pros and cons of switching to plant-based “biofuels” to reduce our reliance on oil? Because ethanol and biodiesel are derived from agricultural crops, they are inherently renewable, and ethanol and biodiesel emit less particulate pollution than traditional petroleum-based gasoline and diesel fuels. They also do not contribute to global […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
Reel to real
Untitled Document Every time I interview Tony Kerasotes, he presents me with the exact same problem: How do I ask a follow-up question when my chin is on the floor? We first talked in January, just after he had exercised his extraordinary powers as the CEO of Kerasotes Showplace Theaters — which owns […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Alternative to plastic
Untitled Document Dairy products such as yogurt always seem to come in packages that aren’t easily recycled. Aren’t there more eco-friendly containers these companies could use? It is technically possible to recycle polypropylene, the material used in many food containers. The challenge lies in separating it from other plastics, including its own many variations, once […]
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A parent’s intuition
Untitled Document I’ve got a belated Valentine. I’m a day late, but everything’s relative: The love story I’m about to tell you was delayed for nearly a decade. It begins with a pair of high-school sweethearts — Heather Siebert and Jason Morgan. They started dating in July 1994 and broke up eight months later. “He […]
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Green buildings
Untitled Document What does it mean for a building to be “LEED-certified?” Does that mean it is a green building? LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the U.S. Green Building Council’s national program for certifying environmentally sustainable design, construction, and resource-use practices for the American building industry. The organization launched the rating […]
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Something fishy
Untitled Document What are the pros and cons of marine aquaculture, of raising ocean fish instead of catching them in the wild? Marine aquaculture has grown in popularity in response to dwindling supplies of wild fish in the world’s oceans. According to the Pew Oceans Commission, a blue-ribbon panel of fisheries and marine-biology experts, high-tech […]
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Celebrating Lincoln’s life
Untitled Document For the fourth year, we’re delighted to present poems about Abraham Lincoln’s life, written by author and professor Dan Guillory as though the Great Emancipator had penned the verse himself. Chronicling the events and people in the life of the 16th president, the poems offer a glimpse into the great and mundane events […]
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Chip off my shoulder
Do me a favor: Skip this column. If you’re a regular reader, you already know the truth; if you’re not, you likely won’t care. If you don’t avert your eyes now, you’re going to get a shot of a middle-aged reporter’s full-frontal pettiness, and it isn’t going to be pretty. I’ve tried other options. Forgiving, […]
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Cutting edge
Untitled Document Are the animals used in classroom dissection taken from the wild? If so, wouldn’t this be endangering their populations? Are there other environmental issues associated with classroom dissection? According to the Humane Society of the United States, most animals used in dissection — including amphibians, birds, snakes, turtles, fish, and invertebrates — are […]
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Green threads
Untitled Document Where can I find fashionable clothing brands that use organic materials? Increased environmental concerns worldwide have not escaped the notice of the fashion industry, which has been fast incorporating organic materials into its designs. Materials such as hemp and bamboo are coming on strong, but organic cotton is by far the fabric of […]
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Non-toxic paints
Untitled Document I’m moving into a freshly painted apartment and am curious as to whether it makes any sense to repaint the walls with nontoxic paint in the hope of covering up the toxic stuff already there — or is it too late? Conventional indoor paints do indeed release potentially toxic chemicals during and shortly […]
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Time to learn
Untitled Document Though you may not be able to engage in many outdoor gardening activities at this time of year, this period of enforced inactivity is a great time to learn more about your favorite hobby. University of Illinois Extension is offering several programs for gardeners. Garden Basics — In cooperation with the Springfield Civic […]
