When I called Elbert Kern last week, the first words out of his mouth were simply “I’m done.” Kern’s tone reinforced that sentiment: His voice was low, hollow, tired, resigned, as though he couldn’t even muster the energy to be bitter or mad. As we talked, he kept shrugging off questions by saying things like […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: Do government “Energy Star” ratings for major appliances take into account their “cradle-to-grave” impacts, or are they just concerned with energy efficiency? — Fred von Mechow, by e-mail The Energy Star program, set up back in 1992, is designed to help consumers determine the energy efficiency of various appliances, home electronics, office […]
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A taste of his own medicine
I got an e-mail recently from an unlikely source. A roiling tale of police shenanigans ranging from political incorrectness to official misconduct, it might’ve been the beginning of a good little news story if it were accurate. But it’s not easy to get within spitting distance of reality when two of the three players involved […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: What are religious leaders and organizations doing to communicate the importance of safeguarding our natural environment? — Peter Toot, Taos, N.M. Perhaps it’s not surprising that those who care for God’s creation take environmental issues seriously. But only in recent years have Sunday sermons and other religious services put green topics front […]
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Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: What is the environmental impact of sugar, aside from its not-so-healthy aspects? I’ve heard that the industry is no friend to the environment. — Mary Oakes, via e-mail Sugar is ever-present in products we consume every day, yet we rarely give a second thought as to how and where it is produced […]
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Care of fresh-cut flowers
Flowers are a great way to celebrate a special occasion — holiday, birthday, anniversary, new baby. Of course, you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy fresh-cut flowers or a flowering potted plant: Sending flowers shows thoughtfulness and is a good way to brighten a person’s day. At Valentine’s Day and year-round, roses are the […]
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Catalog the possibilities
It is hard to believe, but many gardeners have already started working on their garden “to do” lists. Even though it’s winter, they’re dreaming about the colorful weed-free flowerbeds that will adorn their front yards this summer. To help visualize these dreams, many gardeners thumb through garden catalogs, full of colorful pictures and vivid descriptions. […]
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The verdict
You’ve heard this story a million times: Jury sits through a trial, listens in earnest, deliberates in good faith, delivers a verdict. Then sometime later — usually just as the credits roll, if it’s on TV — it dawns on the ladies and gentlemen of the jury that the verdict won’t be carried out in […]
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Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: What is the deal with plastics recycling these days? Can you explain what the different numbers molded onto the bottoms of plastic containers stand for? —Tom Croarkin, Fairfield, Conn. Confusion over what we can and cannot recycle continues to confound consumers. Plastics are especially troublesome because different forms of plastic require differing […]
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The wedding crasher
It was, by all accounts, a lovely wedding. Some 300 guests gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to observe the nuptials of the happy couple — the beautiful bride a health-care provider, the handsome groom an up-and-coming public sector attorney. The bridesmaids wore black gowns with platinum accents and carried red roses — […]
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Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: Someone told me that methane gas emitted by cows is a major contributor to global warming. I thought it was a joke, but is this true? — David Rietz, Goose Creek, S.C. Accumulation of methane in the Earth’s atmosphere has nearly doubled around the globe over the past 200 years. Scientists believe […]
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Earth Talk
Dear “Earth Talk”: How many Americans are adversely affected by air pollution, and what can we do to improve air quality? — Tom Weaver, Sioux City, Iowa According to the State of the Air 2005 report, published by the American Lung Association, air-pollution levels improved in many parts of the nation during the first few years […]
