An Insufferable Truth

Really alarming news on the rat front, comrades. Apparently they have extended their axis of evil to encompass global warming as an ally.

This from the New York Times, teller of truths:

... a recent stretch of warm winters has reduced the proportion of the rodent population that would normally be eliminated each year by the cold.

The time to fight may be close at hand. I hope you are prepared.

The rat that was circling André Thomas’s feet was big and brazen, measuring more than a foot from the tip of its tail to a pointed snout that arched upward to the aroma of Mr. Thomas’s ham and cheese sandwich.

Good God! Read more of the horror:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/10/nyregion/10rats.html

Until next time, stay far, far away from City Hall!

Fairly Young Woman In Front of the Milk Cooler in a Big City

So my New Year's resolution this year was to try to live a more environmentally-friendly life. When I started out, it was pretty overwhelming. But the resolution was meant to be empowering, not debilitating. So it was onward toward that far-away goal of green, one small step at a time.

I shopped at Whole Foods and bought as much organic as I could. I reused bags. My carbon footprint was already pretty small compared to non-city folk, thanks to the MTA. As our light bulbs blew, we replaced them with the eco-friendly ones. Instead of throwing things out, I gave them away on craigslist. And I became pretty vigilant about recycling (G has the scars to prove it).

But there are many grey areas to green. Case in point, tonight I found myself in front of the milk cooler pondering whether to buy the new brand of organic fat free milk or stick with the Stonyfield organic, even though I'd have to buy 2% because that is all they had. So what should be my priority here? My arteries, which probably don't need 2% fat? The price? The cuteness of the cows featured on the packaging? Honestly, I don't know. But here is how I made the decision: I rolled the cartons onto their sides to see where they were from. Fat-free was California-based. Stonyfield is New Hampshire-based. So I picked Stonyfield, since it probably didn't travel as far, and therefore produced less carbon. Cholesterol be damned.

Until next time, green like you mean it!

Underground activities

I spend a lot of time on the subway, probably about 50 minutes a day, sometimes more. And I've noticed there are about a million ways to spend your time on the underground love train.

The very industrious read things such as The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. But let's face it, a broadsheet is difficult to manage; it's just so ... broad. And sheety. That is why the Post and the freebie tabloids around the subway station are big faves. Also, the Post and the tabs are just more hard-hitting. For instance, I bet the NYT story about the coyote in Central Park lacked any reference to Wile E. Coyote, a journalistic transgression the Post would never, ever commit. (http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/65817.htm) [Sadly, Hal the Coyote died in captivity. Now he is a martyr. For more extremely reliable breaking news you absolutely need to know about Hal, Google "coyote Central Park New York Post."]

In short, the folding factor plays a big part in reading choices. I see more magazines jammed in people's bags and in people's hands here than I ever saw in a doctor's office. Also popular: used paperbacks (usually fantasy or action/intrigue/adventure) and the Bible. (Minus the Book of Judas ... http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002916272_judas07.html ... a tip from Dad.)

But not everyone reads. Some sleep. Some sing to themselves, oblivious we can hear them over their MP3 players. And they are out of tune. Some meditate, which I have tried while sitting, but it is hard to focus with someone's bum in your face.

Mostly, we all just sit there, gazing off into the ether in a pre- or post-work daze. I spent a whole ride home one night trying to remember the last name of Maggie on Northern Exposure (O'Connell). I spent another trying to remember all of the main characters from King of the Hill. (I was stuck on Dale's last name -- Gribble -- and Bill's -- Dauterive.) So you can see I'm really making good use of my time.

Speaking of Time, G often gets a copy of that magazine from his place of employ for me. And here is what I learned last week while actually reading on the subway: Alaska and the British Isles are on the same longitude, so if the Gulf Stream shifts, it's going to be mighty cold in the motherland. Also, the polar ice caps are melting at such an astonishing rate, polar bears are turning up drowned because they have no place to swim to. Extinction is on the horizon. (If you are interested, I recommend the Time with the sad polar bear on the cover. And if you are spurred to act or learn more, I recommend undoit.org. If you buy Silk, Clif, Odwalla or Stonyfield Farm products, you're already supporting the cause.)

So now you've learned just about everything I've learned on the subway in the past month or so, plus a little more. Feel educated? :)

Until Tuesday, I'll be taking reading recommendations.

P.S. The bugs appear to still be here. Something is biting me at night. I'll assume it is bugs. Grrr, bugs. Grrrr.